David George

David George is a longtime coffee expert with a deep background in sourcing, roasting, and café culture.

In Tokyo, he was struck by how wide the coffee landscape is, from meticulous, reservation‑only coffee omakase to old kissaten serving dark-roast pour-overs in fully smoking rooms. His recommendations reflect that range: places shaped by community, places defined by craft, and places that feel like time capsules.

A roaster’s guide to coffee in Tokyo

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David George is the owner and roaster for Afternoon Roasting in Gainesville, FL. The business began out of David's desire to roast coffee for his friend's brunch restaurant, Afternoon. The coffee quickly developed a following, so he and his team scaled up and started wholesaling roasted coffee to other restaurants and coffee shops throughout Florida. This past year, they also opened a small coffee bar. Before starting Afternoon Roasting, David worked in coffee in the Pacific Northwest for over 15 years, 12 of those years with the legendary company and pioneer of Direct Trade, Stumptown.

Dg, coffee, and Tokyo

David George’s take on the Tokyo coffee scene

I think what impressed me most about Tokyo’s coffee scene was the overall quality and variety. During our trip, we tried everything from a Michelin star-level coffee omakase to old-school shops selling pour-over dark roasts alongside cigarettes, and everyone had its charm and was executed at a high level. There are endless shops to explore, but here are a few we visited that I think are worth checking out:

Paddlers, Nishihara

Owner Daisuke spent a lot of time in Portland, Oregon, so this shop has a strong Pacific Northwest-meets-Tokyo vibe that I absolutely love. It’s very well established and known not only for great coffee and their hot dogs, which you must try, but also for the fact that they host rotating pop-ups in a small room inside the shop. Grab a drink, enjoy the outdoor space, and people watch while you figure out what you’re going to check out next in the neighborhood.

Bear Pond Espresso, Shimokitazawa

Looking at the reviews, it's definitely a polarizing coffee shop. You either love it or hate it. As someone who visits a lot of coffee shops, I really appreciate it for its unique take on espresso and overall style. It’s not the kind of coffee shop you’re going to post up for an hour. I think it’s worth getting an espresso and any of the milk drinks. There is no other place quite like it.

Light Up Coffee, Kichijōji

I had such a wonderful experience here! The coffees are fantastic and served by really friendly and passionate baristas. They definitely know their stuff. You can’t go wrong with any of the pour-over options. The location we went to had a very bright and modern aesthetic. If I had more time, I would have checked out their other locations. Huge fan.

Coffee Embassy, Kamiyacho

In complete transparency, this spot wasn’t on my list and I’m not a smoker. However, when I saw a sign outside a coffeeshop that read “All Seats Smoking,” I had to go check it out. They have lots of different pourover options, a pretty substantial food menu, and of course, a huge selection of Japanese cigarettes. The coffee is on the dark side and reads like a coffee menu from the 90s - Java Robusta, Jamaican Blue Mountain, plus a bunch of signature blends. Not my favorite style of coffee, but then again any light roast coffee’s nuance would probably be lost in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

Coffee L’ambre, Shinjuku

When you walk down the stairs to this subterranean coffeeshop you feel like you just stepped out of a time machine. This is not your hip neighborhood specialty shop serving single origin espressos, seasonal drinks, and matcha lattes. In fact, it’s probably the furthest thing from it, but that's what I found refreshing. Find a cozy corner in the dark and moody dining area and order a “wiener coffee” and a little snack and sit back and enjoy the people watching and the unique atmosphere.

Cokuun, Omotesandō

Cokuun is a coffee omakase. Owner Miki Suzuki is a 3 time Japanese barista champion and serves 5-6 meticulously prepared coffee creations over the course of an hour. There are only 4 seats at a time, so book far in advance. Imagine “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”, but with coffee. Mind-blowing.

7‑Eleven, On every street corner in Tokyo

You cannot go to Japan without going to a 7 Eleven. The tamago sandwich is a rite of passage. Luckily, 7 Elevens are everywhere in Japan and a much better version of what we are accustomed to in the States. The hot coffee is surprisingly good for a convenience store, and they have a huge selection of iced coffees. When I first arrived and was battling jet lag, 7 Eleven coffee and snacks were a godsend. Wherever you are staying, there is bound to be one close by.