Issou Coffee “A Day in Yakushima”

Yakushima is a small island located in the south-west of Kyushu, Japan. But every year, many tourists come here to enjoy sightseeing, hiking, snorkeling and so on. We are trying to spread news and information not only about Yakushima’s nature, but also its fantastic food and culture here.

―”When I am in Yakushima, I can take time to stop and think. If I ran a coffee shop in Tokyo, new trends would gradually force their way on me, and I would feel like I’m losing my own style. But this doesn’t happen in Yakushima, and so I appreciate how it is now.“

Coffee bean roaster Tadayuki Takata opened his coffee shop in Yakushima ten years ago. Since then people from many countries have visited his cosy cafe in Issou town.

Issou Coffee
http://issou-coffee.com/

Coffee Shop in Issou Town, Yakushima

I was born in Tokyo and raised in Kumamoto. My wife’s family is from Issou in Yakushima (and that’s why I run a coffee shop in Yakushima).

I have a chronic bronchitis. When I’m in Tokyo I have a terrible cough, but I don’t cough at all in Yakushima.

In the morning, I usually get up around 7:00, my son leaves for school at 8:00, and then I start roasting coffee beans. I hope that people can enjoy the sweet and fruity-bitter taste of the coffee more than anything.

Beginning with “Blue Bottle Coffee”

I went to an organic marketplace called “Ferry Building” in San Francisco, and I happened to come across a pop-up style “Blue Bottle Coffee” shop.

The cafe latte that I had there was very delicious.

Looking closely, information such as organic milk and fair trade coffee beans was specifically written.

It was very impressive because a lot of consideration was given in order to introduce lots of things without being overbearing. It made me want to open a similar kind of coffee shop.

What Yakushima gives

When I am in Yakushima, I can take time to stop and think.

If I ran a coffee shop in Tokyo, new trends would gradually force their way on me, and I would feel like I’m losing my own style. But this doesn’t happen in Yakushima, and so I appreciate how it is now.