Nagoya is known throughout Japan as a city with a thriving morning breakfast and coffee shop culture. One of the most popular morning breakfast and coffee shops in Nagoya is "Coffee House Kako Hanaguruma Honten (main store)"! ​ 

It is supported by a wide range of generations, and proposes not only coffee but also original toast menus. I will introduce their commitment to coffee, thoughts, toast menu, etc.

Founded in 1972.
A shop that drives the cafe culture of Nagoya.

"Coffee House Kako Hanaguruma Main Store" is located near the "Yanagibashi" intersection near Nagoya Station. Established in 1972, this coffee shop is characterized by its elegant appearance.

It is the first coffee shop in Nagoya to introduce in-house roasting, and the atmosphere is also attractive. Retro-modern stained glass and bay windows are very impressive.

When you step into the shop, there are only two table seats and a counter. Although it is a small coffee shop, it is crowded with many customers from morning.

The historical interior, such as old-fashioned lighting and a large old clock, is also soothing.

High-quality raw beans and fresh coffee

The biggest attraction of “Coffee House Kako Hanguruma Honten” is that it is the first shop in Nagoya to introduce in-house roasting. They still focus on “home roasting”, which was rare at the time.

In addition to careful selection of raw beans and brand designation, they also hand-pick beans before roasting to carefully remove any beans that may be harmful to health (e.g., insect-eaten beans, fermented beans, etc.).

It is said that coffee beans deteriorate within 2-3 weeks after roasting. At this shop, they carefully roast and serve freshly brewed coffee every day with the idea of "we want our customers to drink it while it's fresh."

The coffee brewed carefully by the owner is full of aroma. While pouring hot water of about 85 degrees rhythmically, brew the beans one by one while feeling the swelling and aroma of the beans.

When he first introduced home-roasted coffee, it was very difficult to purchase it. However, "A coffee shop is a place to enjoy coffee. That's why I wanted to be more particular about coffee than anyone else!" The owner of the coffee shop was able to offer home-roasted coffee to his customers.

Inside the store, you can taste various coffees such as straight coffee, blends of Colombian Supremo, Brazil, Guatemala, etc.

Also pay attention to the homemade fruit confiture!

The recommendation of “Coffee House Kako Hanaguma Honten” is the homemade fruit confiture. It has been made since its founding, and its taste is superb. It is a dish that is boiled down using only fruits and sugar procured from contracted farmers.

There are a total of 18 types, from standard ones to fruit confitures using seasonal fruits.

The most popular item is the “Orange Marmalade”. It has been made since its inception. The flavor of the orange spreads, and it is a very popular product among repeat customers.

Since the establishment of the shop, the owner has been particular about "handmade". He wanted to make marmalade by hand as well, and so he started by looking at the backs of jars of jams sold on the market and tried to make the best jam.

And what he finally devised was this orange marmalade made with only granulated sugar and lemon juice to bring out the original deliciousness of the fruit.

You should try it at least once! The gorgeous toast will make your heart skip a beat!

The most popular item on the menu at "Coffee House Kako Hanaguma Honten" is this toast "Chantilly Rouge Special (700 yen)". Nagoya's specialty, ogura toast, topped with our original fruit confiture.

On the day I visited, it was topped with fruit confiture of figs, kabosu, oranges, blueberries, bananas, and Earl Gray. The harmony of homemade whipped cream and homemade red bean paste and butter will fill your mouth. This is a must-try dish when you visit here.

The volume is also perfect! It is also recommended when you are hungry or for morning breakfast. Other recommended items include toast with cream cheese, and recently, Ogura Banana Sandwich (600 yen) with homemade whipped cream, homemade red bean paste, and fresh bananas.

The Yanagibashi shop, which is located about a 2-3 minute walk from Coffee House Kako Hanaguma, also offers a Chantilly Rouge Special!

This is a long-established coffee shop that insists on roasting its own coffee in order for customers to enjoy delicious coffee. The coffee shop is open not only for the morning breakfast but also for lunch, so it can be used for a variety of occasions. In 2022, they will celebrate their 50th anniversary and open from 7:00 a.m. on New Year's Day!

Photography / Miyu Maezawa (Suzuki Photo Studio Co., Ltd.)