From Clinical Laboratory Technician to Coffee Meister: 20 Years of Passion in One Cup

Passion for Coffee: 20 Years of Training Leads to Opening of Coffee Shop

Ishikawa Coffee is located in Fuchi-cho, Oita City, where fragrant coffee is roasted in a corner of the center of the city. The master of this store, Takayuki Ishikawa, opened the shop after 20 years of training in the pursuit of "good coffee. I started it after quitting my job. I also like music, so it was my dream to roast coffee while listening to music," says Ishikawa.

From Clinical Laboratory Technician to Coffee Meister

His fascination with coffee began when he was a student, when a coffee-loving cousin, who was a year older than him, took him on a tour of cafes. At first I didn't understand coffee. I was curious about what good coffee was," he says, and his journey to find the answer began. While working as a clinical technologist, he was fortunate enough to receive instruction at the long-established "Coffee Shop Mimatsu" in Oita City. He spent 20 years mastering the art of roasting coffee, believing that "good coffee is determined by roasting.

Mr. Ishikawa's Passion for Coffee

Mr. Ishikawa is particular about "coffee that is clear and free of impurities. The difficulty of roasting, which is the key to this, lies in the fact that he has to deal with raw coffee beans. The beans must be cooked all the way through to the hard core in a single shot, but neither burnt nor uncooked beans are acceptable. He searches for the optimum conditions, as the method of heating depends on the temperature and humidity of the kiln and the outside air, as well as the type of bean.

It is not only roasting that requires a lot of time and effort. The beans are hand-picked to remove any defects that could spoil the flavor. This painstaking attention to detail is what makes each cup of Ishikawa Coffee a cup of pure coffee.

Connecting People with People

Mr. Ishikawa values the role of the store as a "connection between people," and hopes to root the now fading coffee shop culture in Oita.

He holds galleries and concerts seasonally. He also opens the store from 9:00 a.m. for customers from outside the prefecture, where mornings are more common, and it has become a place where coffee lovers from outside the prefecture and locals can exchange information and mingle.

Walking with Coffee into the Future

Mr. Ishikawa says, "There is no right answer for coffee, but there are many tastes. There is no right answer, but there are many tastes, and I want people to enjoy the diversity," Ishikawa says with a quiet smile. Ishikawa Coffee, with its delicious coffee and pleasant music, is a coffee shop in the center of Oita City with a cozy atmosphere that makes you want to stay forever.