Japan's Coffee Obsession Explained (James Hoffmann) - Page 2

#11: Post by **Milligan** » March 17th, 2023, 2:20 pm

baldheadracing wrote:Kissaten traditionally roasted their own coffee using manual roasting machines. It can be a slow process (not a real-time video, but you should get the idea). This style of roaster is still being made, albeit no longer by Fuji Royal:
video

Here's a classic kissaten, now closed. Commentary is by James Freeman, the Blue Bottle guy. This clip is from the excellent 2014 film, video
video
As an aside, I find that the grinder in the video - an older Fuji Royal R-440 - is excellent for dark roast pourover. Shipping from Japan can be awfully expensive though.

Thanks for those videos. But surely the coffee wasn't roasted to order? That is why I didn't get how "slow roasting" had anything to do with a fast lifestyle.

#12: Post by **LewBK** » March 17th, 2023, 2:21 pm

Fascinating stuff about the marketing by Nescafe and imprinting kids with the candy. On an aside, I wish someone with expertise here or Hoffmann himself would do a review of Japanese slow drip coffee makers like the Oji: https://www.o-ji.com/en/ At the very least, they're beautiful to look at, but I happen to like slow drip as opposed to the cold brew where you just soak the beans.

#13: Post by **jedovaty** » March 19th, 2023, 10:49 am

This makes me unreasonably uncomfortable.

#14: Post by **WWWired** » April 27th, 2023, 3:51 pm

Just talked to a Japanese friend who says the Nipon culture has banned James Hoffman due to his misinformation. Something about his smarmy attitude although I don't see it.

#15: Post by **Capuchin Monk** » April 28th, 2023, 9:03 pm

WWWired wrote:Nipon culture has banned James Hoffman due to his misinformation.

Is Nipon culture a small group in Japan? Because I looked up "James Hoffman banned in Japan" but came up empty.