Coffee Mostro is a specialty coffee shop that opened in Mabi in November 2024.
At the back of the shop, there is a large roasting machine, and various coffee beans roasted by the owner are displayed at the front. The interior is filled with retro toys and gashapon, creating a playful atmosphere.
Introducing "Coffee Mostro," a place that aims to be not only for enjoying coffee but also for immigration consultations.
About "Coffee Mostro"
"Coffee Mostro" is a coffee specialty shop that opened in Arai, Mabi in November 2024.
You can purchase coffee beans roasted by the owner, Norihiko Akazawa, and enjoy drinks and sweets in the shop.
The Trigger for Opening
Mr. Akazawa has been practicing sumo since he was a student and was invited to work for a company that started a sumo club, leading him to get a job in Tokyo.
He has experience as a champion in the East Japan region while belonging to a corporate team.
Even after the sumo club disbanded, he continued to work there, but Mr. Akazawa always thought, "I want to return to Okayama someday."
In January 2022, he decided that if he was going to quit, now was the time during a transfer opportunity.
Since he liked coffee, he consulted with his wife about wanting to open a coffee shop.
With his wife's encouragement, saying, "It's good to do what we both like," he impulsively quit and began preparing to start his business.
While starting to study on his own, he met Mr. Toshihide Horiguchi, who runs the Horiguchi Coffee Institute in Tokyo.
Mr. Akazawa went to ask Mr. Horiguchi, "I want to open a coffee shop in Okayama. Can I do it even though I'm a beginner?"
Mr. Horiguchi advised him, "You can do it. First, learn to taste coffee. However, you need to develop the ability to distinguish the quality of coffee beans, which are the raw materials. For that, you should attend for two years," and he attended for two and a half years.
Through this, he developed the skill to judge the quality of green coffee beans by tasting various coffees each time.
The Atmosphere of the Shop
The interior of Coffee Mostro has a total of 9 seats, with 3 table seats and 6 counter seats by the window, creating a spacious and relaxing atmosphere.
Around the kitchen, there are retro toys and decorations, and in front of the register, there is a gashapon with stickers of characters.
The gashapon offers coffee tickets if you get a prize, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.
Coffee Mostro's Menu
Here is an introduction to Coffee Mostro's menu.
The coffee served at Coffee Mostro is mainly dark roasted.
Menu and tax-inclusive prices as of May 2025
While dark roasts often have a strong bitterness, the dark roast at Coffee Mostro is characterized by being refreshingly easy to drink with less off-flavors, despite its bitterness. It also has a pleasant aroma that can be enjoyed until the last sip.
To complement the coffee, there are also sweets handmade by Mr. Akazawa.
During the interview, I had the limited-time matcha cheesecake.
It was a moist and dense cheesecake with the aroma of matcha spreading in my mouth. The sweetness was moderate, making it a perfect match with the coffee.
The matcha cheesecake was available for a limited time until May 6, 2025
Usually, there are plain cheesecakes and Italian puddings with a firm texture, making it hard to choose.
About the Character
What stands out at Coffee Mostro is the character that appears on the exterior and packaging.
Since the name "Mostro" means monster in Italian, it was named "Mosubo."
As a character that customers can relate to, Mr. Akazawa sketched a retro American image that clearly indicates it's a coffee shop, and an illustrator finished it.
Looking at the packaging of the coffee beans displayed in the shop, the color of Mosubo changes with each package. It is said to match the color of the national flag of the coffee bean's country of origin, reflecting Mr. Akazawa's desire to entertain customers.
Despite being a coffee specialty shop, Mr. Akazawa is challenging various things, and I asked him about his dedication and thoughts.
Coffee Mostro Data
| Name | Coffee Mostro |
|---|---|
| Address | 69-10, Ari, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 1st Floor, Hikari Building |
| Contact | 086-441-2031 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Monday, Tuesday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | No |
| Seats | 9 seats: Table seats: 3, Counter seats: 6 |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Coffee Mostro (Instagram) |
