Izayoi Coffee

So I have been searching for a good coffee house in Osaka, Japan, ever since I arrived here. I am happy to say that the search, while it continues, is not as important anymore.

This place is in Tennoji, a ward in the city of Osaka, near Shitennojimae yuhigaoka (四天王寺湯日ヶ丘駅）station. Right near the exit, in fact, on the east side of the street.

To get there from Tennoji station, simply take the Tanimachi (谷町）line from Tennoji station for one stop. Alternatively, you can easily walk there and stop by Shitennoji Temple on the way. Be sure to visit the nearby 上町ラグナ Restaurant for a great dinner.

So the cafe itself is small, but cozy and well cared for. Upon entering via the sliding door, you'll see a machine to your left. I'm not sure exactly what it is. Still, it looks pretty interesting, and adds to the overall atmosphere. Next to that you'll see a shelf with an assortment of coffees, unroasted, as well as white-bean coffees from around the world. There are also an assortment of grinders and other accessories for you to buy and take home.

Take a look at the photos for more! Pictures say a lot more than words in this case.

English menus are available, just be sure to ask the owner for them.

If you've ever been to a Starbucks here in Japan, you'll quickly notice how the coffee tastes burnt, due to how they tend to overroast their beans.

Because my friend and I were going to dinner later in the evening, I decided to get a regular cup of coffee. For about 480 yen, I got an Ethiopia blend... and it tasted quite amazing. It was a light roast, and was served in a pre-warmed cup, at a perfect temperature where I could start drinking it right away. I didn't have to wait for it to cool.

My friend bought a latte, which was just as good. The espresso was, again, not over-roasted. The milk didn't cover up the taste of the caffeine.

The cafe also serves a variety of different foods, but we opted for cakes. My friend got a fruit cake (more delicious than you might think) and I got a chocolate cake. The cafe's owner does offer a combination price, which gives you a slightly lower price. Combining with a latte, however, will be charged higher than a normal coffee.

Take a look at the delicious photos below.

Yes, look at the coffee and the cup its in. The cup is stoneware, which is awesome. Not china, but actual stoneware