Hidden down the backstreets of Ebisu, this charming space is everything you hope for from a quaint little neighbourhood coffee shop. It’s reassuringly homely, set in a remodelled house whose entrance is almost entirely covered up by lush leafy plants. It’s the perfect place to stay idle over coffee and cake (the gorgonzola cheesecake is a winner), but make sure to check out the second-floor gallery for its selection of handbags, jewellery and ceramics by local designers.
Drip Bar started out as a retail shop in Aoyama with a small coffee counter before moving to its current Ebisu hideout to focus on the beans. The four-man team deals directly with farmers mostly in Africa and South America, while the roasting happens weekly at another location near Kichijoji, which sells beans but doesn’t serve coffee. So this offshoot café offers a better experience, as you can drink in and also buy beans from as little as 30g.
With a focus on single-origin varieties, Drip Bar roasts its beans in small batches to maintain greater control over quality while minimising waste. Each cup of coffee is handdripped to order, using exclusive drippers made to fit just 15g of ground coffee at a time. The dual-language menu is straightforward, with six bean options organised from the lightest to the darkest roast.