If you are a coffee lover, Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire (梟焙煎研究所) is the place to go close to Gōtokuji. You will find the locally rumored “ultimate espresso (究極のエスプレッソ)” here. Apparently, the owner, Takayama-san (髙山さん), worked at a Michelin three-star restaurant in France, thus the French cafe name and the delicious food and coffee served! Not only does Takayama-san make the food himself at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire, but even the benches and tables are homemade!
The best thing about Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire is that it is a spot for anyone and everyone. Decaf drinks and juices are available for those who can’t drink coffee. You will also fall in love with the cakes and pastries, such as apple pies and scones!
Moreover, a flat rate of 250 yen applies to all drinks for children up to elementary school students. Pets are also allowed in the cafe.
Table of Contents
- About Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
- The Coffee at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
- Customizing Your Coffee at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
- Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire’s Business Hours and Access Information
About Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
If you directly translate the cafe’s name, it means Owl Roasting Research Institute (梟焙煎研究所). The name came from a memory in France that there were houses that used statues of cats and owls to decorate a building’s roof. Another reason for having an owl in the cafe’s name is because it is believed that owls bring happiness. Together with the beckoning cats at Gōtokuji that bring good luck, Takayama-san hopes his customers will be blessed after visiting his cafe.
Furthermore, you can see the tram running on the Setagaya Line from the cafe’s window. If you are lucky, the Manekineko Tram might drive past during your coffee break!
In addition to the quality of food and service, another reason to visit Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire is you will be contributing back to society. 25% of the proceeds from coffee beans go to charities and support coffee farming.
The cafe also tries its best to be more environmentally friendly, including eliminating plastic straws, cups, and paper coffee filters. Coffee grounds are used to make highly nutritious soil to grow vegetables and fruits.
The Coffee at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
Being trained at a three-star restaurant, Takayama-san aims to bring out the best in the ingredients. It is his way of paying respect to the farmers and customers. Beans are roasted in-house in a Dutch roaster at a lower temperature than usual to bring out the original flavor of the beans.
The expresso is slowly brewed from carefully roasted beans. Therefore, it is a cup of the essence of the coffee beans and has stronger bitterness, sweetness, and sourness. Instead of the usual expresso, the Drop Shot Tonic (ドロップショットトニック) mixed the espresso with tonic water. The drink combines the bitterness of espresso with the refreshing taste of tonic, making it taste like a cocktail.
Customizing Your Coffee at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire
As a coffee roaster, the coffee experience at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire is different from most cafes. The cafe’s coffee menu is simple. But you might be pleasantly surprised by the end result.
Once you let the staff know you want a cup of coffee, they will confirm your preference with you, including milk and bean’s roasting level. If you are unsure what sort of coffee you might like, the experienced barrister will give you suggestions based on your answers.
Most customers are highly satisfied with the coffee at Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire after the first sip. You might also be one of those people who would be surprised by how fruity a cup of coffee can be!
Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm from Wednesday to Monday or until sold out.
- The last order is taken at 5 pm.
- The cafe is a 5-minute walk from Odakyu’s Gotokuji Station (豪徳寺駅) or Setagaya Line’s Yamashita Station (山下駅)..
