A cup of coffee spins "connections between people" A place for relaxation in the town center where the circle gently expands
Streets magazine Editors
February 1, 2024
This article has been automatically translated from the Japanese version.
A place where connections are made between people
TAKENISHI TERRACE is located in Chuo-cho, Oita City. It is a shared space consisting of three small restaurants.
One of the stores is a coffee shop called "YOAKE COFFEE. The owner of the store is Yohei Houmitsu. He first encountered coffee while on a working holiday in Australia, and after training at famous coffee shops in Nagano and Fukuoka, he opened YOAKE COFFEE in his hometown of Oita in March 2021.
I want to make it a place where people can connect with each other.
For Mr. Houmitsu, who aims to open a store with this in mind, the encounter with TAKENISHI TERRACE was a fateful one.
Yohei Houmitsu, owner of the restaurant His calm tone of voice is perfect for the relaxed atmosphere.
YOAKE COFFEE sign with stylish logo
YOAKE COFFEE's unique store format
TAKENISHI TERRACE is a space that is easily visible from the main street and easy to drop in on a whim. In the center of the floor is a free space that can be used for eating and drinking, and three stores are loosely connected around it.
YOAKE COFFEE is a compact counter-style store. You can have a drink at the counter. You can also relax in the free space in the center. There is also a terrace in front of the entrance on the opposite side of the street, so on a sunny day, it is recommended to enjoy a relaxing drink in the open air.
Entrance to the side with terrace seating.
Free space is open and relaxing.
Chai is also a staple of this restaurant.
Coffee is served with the highest quality specialty coffees. There are deep-roasted blended coffees, designated origin and single origin coffees from the recommendations of the moment. The single origin coffees are medium roasted to enhance the fruity sweetness of the coffee.
In addition to coffee, a much favored drink is "chai. It is made without sugar and sweetened with honey. It is very popular among women for its aromatic and gentle sweetness, just like the specialty stores in Australia that Mr. Houmitsu once visited.
Trained at a famous restaurant outside of the prefecture, Mr. Houmitsu's bowls have many fans.
YOAKE COFFEE Another fun feature of YOAKE COFFEE is its irregular night hours. In addition to the café menu, the restaurant also serves wine and other alcoholic beverages.
In the future, Mr. Houmitsu says he would like to add food items to the menu to complement the coffee and wine.
This store is the place where I met coffee.
Mr. Houmitsu had actually never had coffee until he quit his job as an office worker to visit Australia. That is why his encounter with the coffee culture in Australia was so shocking. I want people to encounter coffee, meet people, and enjoy their daily lives here, just as I did when I first met them."
Mr. Houmitsu, the owner of YOAKE COFFEE, is looking forward to meeting customers who drop by today.