Len Kawaramachi, Kyoto

Coffee is international, even as you stay local.

Most visitors to the city will arrive at the main Kyoto Station, and one of the closest cafés is Len Kyoto Kawaramachi. Which is why it’s also a hostel for design-conscious backpackers and doubles as a trendy bar at night. We get off the bus at Kawaramachi Station and walk for a few minutes, with the views of the mountains in the distance as we approach.

The vibe is international, thanks to hostel guests from around the world. The interior is all warm woods and dim lighting; the music loud as though to compete with the coffee to give us a jolt. Speaking of coffee…

Beans at Len Kyoto Kawaramachi is supplied by Tokyo-based roaster Onibus Coffee. Based in Setagaya, Onibus is run by Atsushi Sakao who has won accolades for his style of roasting – which no doubt has influenced the rise of specialty coffee in Kyoto. Consider it a reawakening of the Japanese coffee scene here, from the traditional kissaten (coffee shops) to a new breed of cafés that elevates the craft of making coffee.

Our cappuccino is sweet and creamy, thanks to the Onibus Original Blend – a mix of natural-processed Brazilian and Ethiopian beans, and fully washed Guatemalan beans. Lovely with one of their pastries or croissants.

For drip coffee, we enjoy a couple of different fully washed coffees: an Ethiopian Heirloom(Duromina #8) that is floral and complex, as well as a Rwanda Coko, a Bourbon varietal that has a nutty and long aftertaste.

From 5pm onwards, the bar shifts gears, from brewing artisanal coffee to serving craft beer from the region as well as imported bottled beer. It’s definitely a place coffee lovers can linger and share conversations with strangers from different countries – conversations that continue well into the night with cocktails.

靠近京都車站的Len Kyoto Kawaramachi，白天是一家咖啡館，
到了晚間則搖身一變成了一家時新的酒吧，
而且更是一家背包旅社；這樣一家多重角色店家，
會受遊客和當地居民喜愛，一點也叫人不意外。

推開咖啡館的大門，吧檯那白色的瓷磚墻，
別緻的吊燈，搭配著木質家具，
靠近入口處那有大片的落地窗，簡潔明亮，
再往裡頭去，光線逐漸減弱，
配上淡黃色的燈光，又是不同的情調，
而耳邊還不時傳來各個國家的語言對話，
更是其他咖啡館比較少見情景。

雖然是一家多重角色的咖啡館，
但這裡對的咖啡品質和要求卻毫不含糊。
選用來自東京著名烘豆坊Onibus 烘焙的豆子，
無論是奶咖啡所用的瓜地馬拉、衣索比亞和巴西綜合豆，
又或是單品的衣索比亞和盧旺達，都讓人享受。