[Kasugai City] Try Out the Home-roasted Coffee at COFFEE POLITE

This time, I would like to introduce the home-roasted coffee shop "COFFEE POLITE" in Shinmei-cho, Kachigawa area of Kasugai city.

You can use it as a casual daily tea time or a quiet time for yourself. If you want to enjoy a relaxing time with a cup of coffee in your hand, this is the place to visit.

The name of the shop "POLITE" itself describes a lot.

The coffee, which is carefully brewed by the owner, from procurement to roasting and drip, has a mild taste that makes you want to drink it every day. We interviewed about the establishment of the shop, the commitment to coffee, the thoughts of the owner, and the story of the POLITE Regular Service.

A Coffee Shop with a Connection

Don't you feel like a coffee specialty store is a bit too formal? Mr. Sugisawa, the owner of the shop, understands that feeling. First, we were told the story of the birth of “COFFEE POLITE”.

Actually, Mr. Sugisawa was not good at coffee, but since he was a teenager, he dreamed of opening a coffee shop in his hometown, Oharu-cho. He wanted to create a place of relaxation where family, friends, and locals could gather.

– What kind of start was it?

Mr. Sugisawa:“I thought about what I should start with when opening a coffee shop. To be honest, I was surprised that there was so much demand for coffee. I learned that many people enjoy coffee and that coffee is a part of their lives. What is the appeal of coffee like that? To find the answer, I drank coffee a lot. At first, when I was visiting chain stores, coffee was just bitter and I didn't know how good it was. Still, I didn't want to end up not being good at it, so next time I went to specialty stores.

green beans before roasting

Mr. Sugisawa: "There, I encountered a sight that I hadn't seen at chain stores. The state of the coffee beans before and after roasting, as well as how they were ground and brewed, differed from store to store. I was surprised by the diversity of coffee. When I discovered a fruity, lightly roasted coffee that I thought was really delicious, I started to enjoy coffee more and more.

– So coffee gradually became familiar to you.

Mr. Sugisawa:“I wanted to know more about coffee, and when I was looking for a more specialized way of working, I was introduced to a bean shop. I worked at the store: It was very refreshing to learn about the process from roasting to selling coffee beans to being served as a drink, including from the perspective of business.

While I was engrossed in trying to learn, I was entrusted with the roasting. It was a heavy responsibility to play an important role in creating the flavor of the restaurant, and I learned a lot. ”

I want to convey the diverse flavors that can be brought out by roasting. Because he was not good at coffee at first, Mr. Sugisawa decided to become a coffee shop because he could propose a way to enjoy it for people who are not good at it.

Beginning at the Eaves of a Beauty Salon

“I casually talked about my dream at my favorite beauty salon, and they said that I could use the parking lot of their store.

From there, I opened stores in style of marchés, and gradually expanded the range of products in the form of mobile sales.

That's how I opened my long-awaited coffee shop in Oharu-cho, my hometown. We spent a lot of time and effort to create a space that we love.

Mr. Sugisawa: "I am very happy that the people who have been indebted to me so far have been pleased and that my dream has come true. Even now, the memory is clear. I started the store with "coffee" and "space" in mind.

When the business started, it was more difficult than I imagined to continue the shop. Although I never cut corners on "working carefully" and "valuing people", it was difficult to continue the store with that alone. ”

The coffee shop in Oharu-cho closed in December 2019, regrettably by many fans. What should I do again? He felt like he was back to square one.

Mr. Sugisawa: "When we left Oharu-cho, I received requests from regular customers to send them coffee on a regular basis, but I wasn't ready to satisfy them."

Fortunate to have a chance in Kasugai City

As luck would have it, the conversation progressed quickly. In December of the same month, in the Kachigawa area of Kasugai City, he decided to offer coffee in a corner of a shop where the artist's consignment products are lined up.

The new location was a rented space, but Mr. Sugisawa has always valued "space" and "coffee." Sales will begin while doing trial and error how to convey them.

At that point, the environment was changing dramatically due to the COVID-19. Customers became sparse. At the same time, people around the world prefer a lifestyle that enriches their time at home.

To convey delicious coffee

Mr. Sugisawa decided to take a temporary break from "in-store eating and drinking," which he cherished, in order to change the way he works. That's how "POLITE Regular Delivery" was born, which delivers delicious coffee beans on a regular basis. He thought this would also allow him to keep in touch with customers in Oharu-cho and during mobile sales.

Now open your own shop!

In February 2021, he had a new beginning after finishing the rental business for about a year where he learned a lot.

He chose the same Kachigawa area because he wanted to cherish the connections in Kasugai. After his dream in Oharu-cho came true, I had another dream, which was to open a shop in an old Japanese-style house.

How to Enjoy COFFEE POLITE

COFFEE POLITE old private house

When you pass through the piloti of the apartment facing the street, you can see the one-story COFFEE POLITE.

COFFEE POLITE's old private house is located in a secluded space in a residential area that you might miss if you were careless. That's why it's so quiet.

When you step into the premises, you can see the roasting process on the wide porch side, and the fragrant aroma of coffee surrounds the area.

A wonderful space in a renovated old house

The interior of the 50-year-old old private house has been nicely renovated while retaining the good old things of the old private house.

While it has a clean and sharp impression, the interior is warm with carefully selected items that you want to cherish.

The dried plant, which was given to commemorate the opening, was carefully displayed.

Seasonal flowers and plants are displayed here and there.

The tables are laid out so that you can spend your time without worrying about your surroundings. Whether you are alone or with someone special, you can relax and unwind.

The owner loves books. You can enjoy reading time even if you are empty-handed.

A work by Taki Nao. An exhibition has been held before.

This shelf can be read here or purchased as a second-hand book. They are also considering holding a book club in the future.

A wind chime's gentle tone was delivered to the quiet space.

Commitment to Coffee Beans

All POLITE's coffees are specialty coffees. Specialty coffee is high-quality coffee that meets certain standards. Only about 12% of the total.

Coffee beans, which are the fruits, are mostly cultivated on slopes and picked by hand in production areas other than Brazil. Production is truly labor-intensive, and only about 250 grams can be harvested from each tree, which explains its rarity.

It is said that there are people's thoughts in the background. Coffee arrives in the hands of growers, transporters, buyers, roasters, and brewers. "I want people to know that a cup of coffee contains so much thought and care," says Mr. Sugisawa.

And by purchasing at a reasonable price, it protects the production of beans and the employment of those involved, and allows us to enjoy coffee sustainably.

As of October 2021, they handle coffee beans from 6 countries.

Commitment is "Taste of the store"

Mr. Sugisawa: “We are particular about blended coffee I can create my own original taste."

After the arrival of the third wave in the coffee fashion, people began to prefer coffee grounded from a single bean, called "single origin". The good thing is that you can easily see the producers and the production process. In addition, you can enjoy the characteristics of the taste depending on the country of production. However, there is also the aspect that it is difficult to bring out the original taste of the store with single origin.

“We value single origins, but the most important thing is to create a blend that is unique to POLITE,” says Mr. Sugisawa. While looking at the condition of the raw beans, such as the aroma and season, the beans are blended with a finer sense. It's a handmade taste.

By focusing on blending, the flow of raw beans is improved and freshness can be delivered. It also includes the idea that customers can continue to "enjoy delicious coffee in the space of the shop".

A recommended menu for both coffee lovers and beginners to enjoy

COFFEE POLITE's "Itsumo aru Coffee (a coffee which is there anytime)" is an original blend roasted in the image of everyday scenes, with 3 types of asake, hiruke, and yufuke.

In addition, one type of single origin recommended by the owner is prepared every month as "Coffee of the Month".

From light roast to dark roast, you can order according to your taste and mood.If you are a beginner or unsure, please consult Mr. Sugisawa. I am also a novice at coffee specialty stores, so I was instructed very carefully, and I ordered a "comparison of two types of coffee" on their recommendation.

Fresh beans are roasted at the shop and extracted freshly ground.

Coffee brewed with careful handwork is a simple expression, but it is very delicious.

“Comparison of Two Kinds of Coffee” (770 yen, all prices below include tax). On the left is the fruity and refreshingly sour light roasted “Asaoto”, and on the right is the fragrant and deep roasted medium-deep roasted single-origin “Coffee of the Month” (Brazil at the time of the interview).

It has a refreshing taste that reminds me that coffee is a fruit, and I enjoyed the deep rich flavor along with the aroma that I like.

If you want to drink something a little different, we recommend the Lemon Coffee, which has a refreshing lemon scent, or the Homemade Lemonade, even if you're not in the mood for coffee.

Accompaniment to coffee

It's even nicer if you have someone to accompany you with delicious coffee. Mr. Sugisawa, who has always loved Japanese sweets, has always wanted to make an original "accompaniment" for his shop.

If you order with coffee at the shop, one is 165 yen.

Momo, who was also a customer, now helps out at the store a few days a week. Mr. Sugisawa started by helping with coffee, and was entrusted with accompanying Mr. Sugisawa because of his desire to "do things that only that person can do."

Momo's "POLITE's Dorayaki" was born over a period of about 2 months after repeated trial production. Soft azuki beans are simmered in a moist dough made from tofu. The additive-free, mild flavor is recommended for everyone from children to the elderly.

It goes very well with coffee.

Perfect for a souvenir, too!

Takeout is 198 yen per piece. 5 for 891 yen.