[Meieki] Enjoy the world of syphons with all five senses - Syphon no Ma

Syphon no Ma is a hot spot newly opened in Meieki in June 2023. Here, visitors can fully enjoy coffee and tea carefully brewed by a famous syphonist.

This time, I spoke to owner and syphonist Mr. Nakayama about the reason for opening Syphon no Ma and the shop's commitment.

"Syphon no Ma" owner Mr. Nakayama

"More than a cafe, less than a museum"
I want it to be a place like that

1 minute walk from Kokusai Center Station on Nagoya Municipal Subway Sakuradori Line. On June 1, 2023, a new shop opened in Meieki where you can enjoy coffee and tea brewed with a syphon.

"Syphon no Ma" is located on the second floor of the 18 Building. The large lantern and curtain at the entrance of the building are landmarks.

The restaurant has a calm atmosphere where you can enjoy a relaxing and quality time.

You can choose between special counter seats and table seats. Special counter seats are recommended for those who want to see the syphon up close and enjoy conversation with the staff.

Every seat is decorated with bonsai. Having a cup of tea in front of your favorite bonsai is sure to get you excited.

You can enjoy a relaxing café time at a table while looking outside. You will have a wonderful time with your friends and family.

Children are welcome in “Syphon no Ma”! There is an elevator and there is plenty of space between the seats, so you can also come with a stroller.

You can also purchase mini bonsai in the store.

Since the bonsai that matches the season are displayed, all types are changed once every month. Another way to enjoy your time at Syphon no Ma is to feel the changing seasons through the bonsai every time you visit the shop.

The bonsai pots come in different colors and shapes, and you can also purchase water receptacles of your choice, so you are sure to find your own personal favorite.

Using his experience of winning the world competition, 
conveying the charm of the syphon to many people.

– Please tell me about the circumstances behind opening “Syphon no Ma”.

Mr. Nakayama: "I originally worked in a different industry, but I left my job and started working in the coffee industry because I wanted to do something coffee-related. This year will be my 13th year.

After entering the coffee industry, I began to learn about syphons in earnest, and in my second year participating, I was able to win the Japanese syphon competition (I won twice since then, making me the most wins in history).

It was also the influence of COVID-19 that led me to seriously consider becoming independent.

The number of customers decreased in Corona and more people started to enjoy coffee at home. This led to store closures and many baristas leaving the coffee industry.

When the situation around me changed completely, I thought about what I wanted to do in the future. The first thing that came to my mind was to provide food that I thought was delicious to as many people as possible, so I decided to become independent."

– Please tell us about the special features of “Syphon no Ma”.

Mr. Nakayama: "At Syphon no Ma, we are always thinking about expanding the possibilities of syphons.''

The most attractive thing about syphon-brewed drink is its aroma. At our store, our motto is to deliver that aroma as a work of art to our customers.

We think of aroma as a landscape, and show a picture of the imagined landscape on the menu, and guide customers to the coffee and other items that suit them in the siphonist's own words.

We hope you will enjoy this sense of the world by using all of your senses while gazing at the bonsai trees on your seat while your drink is being served.

Also, I think there is a strong impression that a syphon is something that makes coffee, but in reality, it can also be used to make tea, black tea, and soup stock.
However, it is also true that there are few syphonists who can properly extract tea and other products. I hope to continue to foster many highly skilled syphonists. ”

Feel the individuality of the fragrance with your own sensibility in the fragrant room that adorns the tray
​

The store name "Syphon (sai-hon) no Ma'' was chosen from the idea that "we want people to enjoy the colors ('sai') on the tray ('hon').''

The menu at Syphon no Ma offers a wide variety of drinks and food. In addition to a wide variety of coffees and teas, it also offers black tea, Japanese herbal tea, and alcohol.

The food menu always features items created in collaboration with owner Nakayama's favorite shops, including popular bakeries, cake shops, and Japanese confectionery shops in Aichi prefecture.

The drinks and food offered vary depending on the day, such as rainy day menus and seasonal menus, so there's always something to look forward to no matter when you visit.

Just like a real bonsai?! Limited edition of 10 puddings per day

Click here for the restaurant's recommended menu.

The homemade pudding "Bonsai Tapudding'' (1,100 yen) is supervised by Osaka's "Pudding Kenkyujo''
A playful, original pudding that you can enjoy visually. The slightly hard and elastic pudding is decorated with so many decorations that you might mistake it for a real bonsai.

The toppings used for this pudding also change with the seasons.
The autumn version of the "Bonsai Tappuding" I had this time was made with sweet potatoes and egg white sponge, making it a luxurious pudding with not only a great taste but also a great texture.

If you wish, you can have a drink to go with the dessert you ordered.

If you tell them your mood and preferences for the day, they can create the best match just for you, so it is recommend for those who want to experience a special feeling.

To deliver the unique scent of syphon to the world.

– Please tell us about your future prospects and new initiatives you would like to take on.

Mr. Nakayama: "In the future, we plan to hold various events that take advantage of the characteristics of this shop. Thanks to our customers, our "Siphon Coffee Extraction Seminar" and "Bonsai Making Workshop" have become very popular.

In addition, we would like to continue to expand the possibilities of "Syphon no Ma" through vigorous activities, such as increasing the number of collaborative menus with other restaurants and collaborations with other industries.

We are also planning a reservation-only seating course where everything will be delivered via syphon. The menu allows you to enjoy not only coffee and tea, but also dashi soup and alcohol, so please look forward to it. "

The owner, Mr. Nakayama, is highly professional and full of love for syphons and bonsai.

Once you visit "Syphon no Ma," you will be hooked on the charm of syphons and bonsai.
I will keep my eyes on "Syphon no Ma" as they continue to take on new challenges.

Why not sharpen your five senses and visit Saibon no Ma to find your favorite drink?