[Naka-ku, Nagoya] Q.O.L. COFFEE, a Roaster Cafe where the Owner Shima Honed his Skills in Melbourne

Age doesn't matter when you start something

Mr. Shima: “My days in Melbourne were a series of miraculous events. I was able to work where I wanted to work, meet people I wanted to meet, and became able to work and build connections. Age doesn't matter when it comes to starting something.

Above all, the culture is completely different. People line up at cafes in the morning and go to their favorite cafes, so there are almost no chain stores. Only tourists go to Starbucks. Mornings and afternoons, everyone hangs around with coffee cups. I came back to Japan after finishing my experience as a barista while being exposed to that kind of culture.

After returning to Japan, I looked for a place to live while working and found my current place. I liked the building because I used to go here often. When I was given a tour of the building, I was able to get an image of the kind of restaurant I wanted to create. There is a park around the store and the view is great. The Sakae/Hisaya area is close by, and Nagoya Castle is also nearby, so there are many tourists. I thought it would be easier to expand if the city was closer, and I also wanted to transmit culture.

Also, Nagoya has a thriving coffee culture, so we wanted to do it in a nearby location where similar coffee shops are doing well. People come to visit from overseas or out of prefecture, and it's easier to get around if it's close by. Tokyo and Fukuoka have a cluster of coffee shops, but Nagoya doesn't, so I hope this place will be a place that attracts the younger generation, even if just a little."

I want to enrich my life through coffee

Mr. Shima: "I wanted to name the store using the word 'Quality' and 'Life'. Quality is based on my own experience: no matter how good the roasting and coffee production is, if the beans themselves are not of good quality, you cannot serve good coffee. I want to serve coffee that is of good quality. Of course, it's not just coffee, but cakes and baked goods as well."

The showcase is also lined with delicious baked sweets that match the season.

Life is a lifestyle and a desire for people to enjoy coffee on a daily basis. We also sell original cups, coffee utensils, and T-shirts. When I was searching for a word that would fit these two words, I came across the term 'Q.O.L. (quality of life)'. I want to enrich the lives of our customers through coffee and the meaning of this word."