Tokyo coffee shop tour
~Introducing Monosus members' favorites~

Do you have a favorite coffee shop or cafe that you drop into when you want to take a break or relax?

While shopping, during a break at work, or on your way home from work.
Spending some time relaxing in a favorite place with a delicious cup of coffee or tea may seem like a small thing, but it's an important time to step back from the daily grind of doing various things and return to your own pace, allowing your mind and feelings to slowly shift.

This time, we will introduce the favorite coffee shops of two Monosus members.
I stopped by Aiyo, a traditional coffee shop in Tsukiji that I frequented late at night when I was tipsy, and Private Coffee Elementary School, run by a former teacher who brings back fond memories of the after-school atmosphere there!

Tsukiji "Aiyo"'s "Half" Toast and Soft-boiled Egg

"Let's take a walk to Tsukiji."

11pm, Nakano.
The bar district in front of the station is packed with office workers and young people, even though it's past the last train.
It all started when a friend came up with the idea on a whim after a drinking party and we had missed the last train.

"Apparently there's a cool coffee shop in Tsukiji that's open early in the morning," I said.

The distance is 12 km and it takes about 3 hours to walk there.
I definitely wouldn't have thought of doing something like that if I was sober. The power of alcohol is scary. At the time, I was determined to go.

We travel along Ome Kaido, through Shinjuku, and past Yotsuya, before finally arriving at the Imperial Palace.

How many times have I thought, "I should stop now"?
However, as a man, he can't take back what he has said.
From the second half onwards, the team was eager to get to the goal.

By the time we arrived at Tsukiji, it was already beginning to get light.

"Here it is."

"Coffee Shop Aiyo"

It was a worn-out sign, like something out of a scene in an old movie.
The inside of the shop is long and narrow, with a counter and several tables on either side. Both ends have entrances, allowing a comfortable breeze to pass through.

I sat down at the counter and looked at the menu. It seemed that they only had one type of food: toast.

"Toast and coffee," I said.

The owner then asks, "Do you want regular toast or half?"

"…? Half."

A few minutes later, the toast was brought out, carefully cut into eight pieces, half spread with strawberry jam and half with butter, and a soft-boiled egg elegantly placed on an egg stand. The plate had the word "AIYO" written on it in a modest but striking font.

There's nothing bad about this, but it's not particularly tasty either.
It's a nostalgic taste that I feel like I've had somewhere before.

I'll come back before this atmosphere moves away and disappears.
I forgot about my tiredness and headed home in a great spirit.

Small blend coffee from "Private Coffee Elementary School" in Daikanyama

On a weekend afternoon, when you feel like taking a breather, this is the place you'll inevitably head to.
"Private Coffee Elementary School." Commonly known as Coffee Small.

The reason for the "elementary school" in the name comes from the fact that the owner, Mr. Yoshida, used to be an elementary school teacher. Everyone who comes to Coffee Little calls Mr. Yoshida "teacher." The teacher calls the customers "students." Every time I hear these terms being used, I feel a warm feeling in my heart.

It's a menu, disguised as an attendance book.

Whenever I go, I always sit at the counter. It's a special seat where I can see the inside and outside of the shop, as well as the teacher making coffee. Sometimes I just stare blankly at the counter, but other times I naturally start a conversation with the person sitting next to me.
After school may have been like this. Standing aimlessly in an empty classroom, enjoying pointless conversations with teachers and friends. Sometimes I'm reminded of such things.

On this day, I ordered a small blend of coffee. After grinding the beans, the waiter moves smoothly and smoothly until he faces the dripper and server. When he turns away, it's a signal to start hand-dripping. From then on, the passage of time feels as slow as coffee dripping through a filter.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he says as he brings me a fresh cup. Because the cup has no handle, the gesture of covering it with your hand and bringing it to your mouth makes me feel even more grateful for the cup.

The desire to take a breather is also an indication of the desire to let out what is inside. This is possible only in a place where you can relax and feel at ease. For me, Coffee Little is such a place.

What did you think?
The taste of the toast you get after walking three hours in the middle of the night must have become a memory that is hard to replace. Tsukiji Market will soon be relocating. You won't be able to enjoy the atmosphere of this long-established store that has been in business for over 50 years for much longer. And there is a mysterious sense of security in drinking coffee at a coffee shop run by a former school teacher, calling the owner "teacher" and feeling at ease.

I hope I can introduce you to another of my favorite coffee shops!