If you want to make your coffee at home taste better, try brewing coffee with freshly roasted coffee beans.
Coffee brewed with freshly roasted, high-quality coffee beans has an exceptional aroma and flavor.
No special tools or techniques are needed, and it becomes easy to enjoy delicious coffee, so I have started to buy only freshly roasted coffee beans.
I would like to introduce my go-to specialty coffee bean shop, Coffee Roast TERU Mabi (hereafter referred to as Coffee Roast TERU).
Coffee Roast TERU is a specialty coffee bean shop in Mabi
Coffee Roast TERU was opened by the owner, Suzumoto Sachiko, in January 2016.
The shop was once affected by the heavy rain disaster in July 2018, but it relocated and reopened in Mabi in October 2020.
Inside the shop, there are over 30 types of raw coffee beans displayed, and you can choose your preferred beans, which will be roasted on the spot.
If you are unsure which beans to choose, feel free to consult with Suzumoto.
If you express your preferences, such as "I don't like acidity" or "I prefer something rich," she will help you select the recommended beans.
I have consulted with Suzumoto to purchase beans that pair well with milk or are refreshing to drink after a meal.
On the shop's Instagram, limited coffee beans are also introduced.
Coffee mills, drippers, and sweets that pair well with coffee are also available for sale.
Custom roasting tailored to your preferences and the characteristics of the coffee beans
The flavor and aroma of coffee beans change significantly depending on the degree of roasting, with light roasts having acidity and aroma, while dark roasts have bitterness and a toasty flavor.
Moreover, the ideal roasting degree varies depending on the type of coffee bean.
Custom roasting tailored to your preferences and the characteristics of the coffee beans is one of the charms of Coffee Roast TERU.
As the beans are roasted, the initially pale green raw beans, resembling broad beans, transform into shiny dark brown beans.
The popping sound of the beans and the gradually wafting toasty aroma can be enjoyed, which is unique to roasting shops.
While waiting for about 20 minutes for the roasting, there is a coffee service.
This service coffee is brewed by Suzumoto, who selects the recommended beans for each customer.
With a clean taste that makes you want to savor it straight to the end, it is evident that it has been carefully hand-dripped.
Many customers must be looking forward to enjoying this service coffee, right?
Original blended coffee
At Coffee Roast TERU, there are three original blends inspired by Mabi: Gekka, Kaguya, and Miyabi, along with seasonal limited original blends.
My favorite is "Miyabi."
With a moderate bitterness, I enjoy it straight with sweet snacks or with plenty of milk when I want to take a relaxing break.
The seasonal original blends include names like Habataki, Ryusei, and Suzunone, showcasing Suzumoto's sensibility.
Enticed by those unique names, I can't help but try the new blends when they come out.
Customers seem to be looking forward to "What will the next name be?"
Suzumoto laughs, saying, "I can't give them ordinary names."
A place where you can find your favorite coffee, Coffee Roast TERU.
I interviewed the owner, Suzumoto Sachiko, about the motivation behind starting the shop and her thoughts.
Interview with the owner, Suzumoto Sachiko
I interviewed the owner, Suzumoto Sachiko, about the motivation behind starting the shop and her thoughts.
From loving coffee to making it my job
Can you tell us what motivated you to open the shop?
Suzumoto (no honorific)
After becoming ill and undergoing surgery, I wanted to try doing something that would lead to a step up in my life.
That’s when I started studying coffee, which was my passion.
However, at first, I didn’t intend to open my own shop.
What made you change your mind about wanting to own your own shop?
Suzumoto
The person at the shop where I used to buy coffee beans always worked with such enthusiasm.
One day, I casually mentioned at that shop, "I'm currently studying coffee," and "I want to work with that kind of enthusiasm too."
Then they said, "Why not do it? I will support you!"
At that time, I was half in doubt, thinking, "Can I really do this!?" but I went with the flow and ended up opening.
Rather than having a strong desire to do this, I feel like I was blessed with connections and timing.
Why did you choose to be a specialty coffee bean shop instead of a café?
Suzumoto
I love drinking coffee at cafés, but I think the best coffee is the one you can enjoy at home, at your own pace, with your favorite person.
Also, doesn't having delicious coffee at home make life feel a little richer?
The taste of coffee changes depending on the type of beans, roasting, and brewing method.
It's fun to deepen your knowledge about which roast is good for which beans, or what temperature is best for brewing coffee.
But I think it's also good to not overthink it and just look for what you find delicious.
I want to delight customers through coffee
Please tell us about your sense of fulfillment and happy moments.
Suzumoto
It's when customers become repeat visitors.
As I talk with the same customers multiple times, I gradually understand what kind of coffee they like and the situations in which they drink coffee.
When they say, "I don't like acidity, but I think I might like this," and they enjoy my recommendation, or when they request, "I want to try something different from usual," I feel a sense of fulfillment as their coffee preferences expand.
Indeed, you seem to have a lot of conversations with customers.
Suzumoto
Of course, we talk about coffee, but we often talk about other things as well.
My husband even says, "How do you have so many things to talk about one after another?" (laughs)
There are even customers who, if the shop is busy and it seems like we can't chat leisurely, say, "I'll come back another day" and leave, so I think there are people who look forward to chatting with me.
What are the challenges you face?
Suzumoto
The challenge is physical strength.
On busy days, there are times when I stand from morning until evening.
It's a good thing that many customers come, so being busy is a joy.
However, I tend to push myself to give 120% to satisfy customers, which can lead to fatigue.
I believe that consistently providing the same quality of service contributes to customer satisfaction, so I want to value taking breaks when needed.
In Conclusion
When you open the door to Coffee Roast TERU, a circle of conversation always spreads.
I, too, have been captivated by the conversations with Suzumoto and have become a repeat customer of the shop.
In the interview, I felt again Suzumoto's desire to not only provide delicious coffee beans but also to delight customers through coffee.
Her next dream is to "gift a café where her husband can brew coffee."
I can imagine it becoming a café where you can enjoy delicious coffee in a comfortable space, and I am already looking forward to it.
Data for Coffee Roast TERU Mabi Store
| Name | Coffee Roast TERU Mabi Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 2059-8 Kawabe, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-486-2893 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Closed | Wednesday, Saturday |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | Coffee Roast TERU Mabi Store Website |
