"Shaf Coffee Roasters" A stylish coffee stand with a giraffe as a landmark, standing in a back alley in Higashi Okazaki

About an 8-minute walk from Meitetsu Higashi-Okazaki Station, the coffee stand Shaf Coffee Roasters is located in a back alley near Otogawa.

Located in a corner of a commercial building with several shops, the interior of the coffee stand is casual yet calm and stylish.

*Information is current at the time of the interview.
Please check the latest information of each facility and store.

The right side is the entrance of "Shaf Coffee Roasters"

Order and pay at the small window at the entrance and enter the store.

The shop has four tables and is lined with sundries and accessories.

Natural light pours in, creating a bright atmosphere.

"Shaf Coffee Roasters" is a recommended spot to stop by when walking around Okazaki, where you can casually enjoy specialty coffee, as well as baked sweets, hot sandwiches, and seasonal drinks.

For this interview, I asked Mr. Kinoshita, the owner of the stand, about his commitment to coffee and its appeal.

Mr. Kinoshita, owner of Shaf Coffee Roasters

Inspired by his experience at Starbucks
I set his sights on opening a café.

Shaf Coffee Roasters opened in July 2022. After working at Starbucks for about two years, Mr. Kinoshita-san decided that he wanted to pursue a career in customer service and café management. While studying and training in coffee for the next six years, he met the owner of this building and decided to open "Shaf Coffee Roasters" in Okazaki.

When the shop opened, it was run by three members, including Mr. Kinoshita. Originally, Mr. Kinoshita majored in science and engineering at university, but decided to open a cafe and dropped out of university. The other two had also quit the company, so there is a story behind the fact that they added "Shaf" to the name of the stand because they said, "We are social misfits ('SHA'kai 'F'uteikigousya)."

There are also Shaf-kun stickers and other goods.

The giraffe that has become a signboard, stickers, and SNS icon is called "Shaf-kun" and is a character devised by Mr. Kinoshita.

Kinoshita: "At Starbucks, we often write illustrations and messages on the back of cups, and we wanted to create a character that would not be the same as other staff members, so we came up with Shaf, the giraffe. We also subtly incorporate the giraffe's yellow color into the store."

The coffee machine was repainted yellow by themselves.

There is also a mirror in the shape of Schaff at the entrance of the store.

With the motto "Enriching people's lives with coffee",
serve specialty coffee

The beans handled by "Shaf Coffee Roasters" are all specialty coffees. The coffee, which uses the highest quality beans carefully selected from all over the world with a focus on production areas, farms, varieties, and refining methods, has an exceptional aroma and taste.

There are various kinds of beans, but he says that he especially chooses beans that ``make you feel fresh when you drink'' and ``break your preconceptions about coffee''. There are always 5 types of beans in the shop, and it is also recommended to tell Mr. Kinoshita what you like and how you feel at the time of ordering.

They also sell coffee beans.

For those who don't have a coffee machine at home, there is also a drip bag that just pours hot water.

Mr. Kinoshita: “Coffee beans vary greatly in aroma and taste depending on the soil of the mountains, the variety, and the method of refining, but the appeal of coffee is that every element is updated every day. Brushing up each element continues to produce more delicious coffee. Right now, we handle five types of beans, but in the future I would like to increase the number of types. I also want to actively participate in roasting and latte art competitions.”

Mr. Kinoshita pouring a latte. It's a wonderful skill!

Recommended menu of "Shaf Coffee Roasters"

Mr. Kinoshita chose the recommended menu that you should definitely try when you come to "Shaf Coffee Roasters",

poor over

Pour Over 600 yen (tax included)

Choose your favorite beans from the lineup of the day and have them brewed by hand drip.

The photo shows a variety called "Ethiopia Yigacheffe G/1 KONGA Washed", which can be said to be the standard of "Shaf Coffee Roasters". The scent of jasmine, the sweet and sour taste of mandarin oranges, and the sweet aftertaste of white peach.
Along with the coffee, you will receive a card with information on the flavor characteristics, production area, farm, etc.

If you can't decide which to buy, ask Mr. Kinoshita and he will explain the characteristics and flavor of the beans in an easy-to-understand manner.

Latté

Latte (blend) 650 yen (tax included)

Latte base espresso can be chosen from fruity single origin or bitter blend. The bitterness of the espresso is soft and mild, but you can enjoy the full flavor. It looks cute and makes you want to take a picture.

Honey cheese hot sandwich

Honey cheese hot sandwich 500 yen (tax included)

A hot sandwich with plenty of honey and cheese. The rich cheese and gentle sweetness of honey, combined with the mellow flavor of butter, create a luxurious taste. Of course, the compatibility with coffee is outstanding. The hot sandwich menu also has bacon cheese egg and blueberry sour cream.

Strawberry snow frappe

Strawberry Snow Frappe 990 yen (tax included)

A popular menu limited to 5 cups per day for a limited time until the end of March. The combination of sweet and sour seasonal strawberries, fresh cream, and white chocolate is absolutely delicious. It looks like a parfait, but since it's a frappe, you can eat it with just a straw.
The limited-time menu will be renewed according to the season, so please check it out on Instagram.

Shuf cookies

Shuff cookie 350 yen (tax included)

Shaf-kun's cookies are also a standard menu item. Recommended when you're feeling a little hungry or just want a little sweets to accompany your coffee.

In addition to these, there are sweets such as cakes and waffles, as well as an original drink menu arranged by mixing coffee and alcohol, so you will never get tired of the lineup no matter how many times you come.

When strolling around Okazaki,
have a coffee break at "Shaf Coffee Roasters"!

"Shaf Coffee Roasters" is a coffee stand where you can casually enjoy specialty coffee. Mr. Kinoshita says that even those who are not familiar with coffee should feel free to ask questions about the characteristics of taste and aroma, points when brewing coffee at home, etc.

There is a parking lot, so it is also attractive that you can stop by when you go out.
The Okazaki area, which is also the land of Ieyasu Tokugawa 's connection, has been showing excitement in recent years. How about stopping by "Shaf Coffee Roasters" when you stroll around Okazaki?

Coffee time on the banks of the Oto River