There’s nothing like a hot cup of coffee in the morning. Freshly brewed coffee is one of the best smells in the world, and there are so many different ways to make it.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn the art of coffee, you can find many coffee & barista courses in Japan.
As of July 2022, Japan is getting ready to open up to tourists again, so why not pop over to learn some Latte art in Tokyo?
Here are 6 coffee and barista courses in Japan to consider if you want to learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee!
By Kim.
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#1 Barista Training Lab Tokyo Offers The Whole Experience
If you’re looking to become the real deal and want to learn everything you need, Barista Training Lab Tokyo (BTL) is the place to go.
Their regular course teaches everything from operating an espresso machine to tasting and flavor discovery and eventually making your latte art.
If you already know all of that, you might want to take their customized course, which teaches how to do quality control and competition preparation.
Barista Training Lab does sadly not offer English classes at the time of writing.
Unlimited Coffee
BTL is a part of the Unlimited Coffee Roaster trio and sits comfortably in the shadow of Tokyo Sky Tree.
The Unlimited Coffee trio is made up of;
- Barista Training Lab; is where they train new baristas
- Unlimited Coffee Bar; here, you can experience what they teach
- Unlimited Coffee Roasters; provides the coffee beans for both BTL and UCB
You can find them at 1-18-2 Sumida-ku, Narihira, Tokyo
4 Coffee Gear & Coffee Recommendations
- Breville Barista Pro – An excellent manual espresso machine for home use
- Philips 3200 Series Espresso Machine – Easy-to-use fully automatic coffee machine for small office or home use
- Rancilio Egro ONE Touch – High capacity fully automatic commercial coffee machine for professional use
- Koa Coffee – Premium hand-picked Hawaiian coffee. Have you tried American coffee yet?
#2 UCC Coffee Academy Tokyo Welcomes Everyone
Ueshima Coffee Company is one of the biggest coffee businesses in Japan.
They invented the first canned coffee!
You can study at the UCC Coffee Academy Tokyo to learn their secrets.
The coffee academy has a wide variety of coffee& barista courses to accommodate everyone, no matter your experience level or knowledge.
Enjoy Experience Seminars For Complete Beginners
Their 90-minute “experience seminars” teach coffee’s fundamentals and how to pair certain flavors with certain foods. This is great for those with no previous knowledge about coffee.
The Basic Course Suits Those Who Want To Go Further
If you already know the fundamentals, this basic course teaches you how to use different tools and choose beans for the perfect cup of coffee.
Perfect for those who want to deepen your knowledge about coffee without going into the deep end.
Professional Course For The Aspiring Barista
If you’re looking to open your cafe, this course is for you.
You’ll learn everything there is to know, including things like;
- Coffee Tasting
- How to make your own blend
- Specialty coffee
- Tools of the trade
After this course, you’ll be well on your way to working as a professional barista!
UCC Coffee Academy is located at 6−1−11 Shinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo
How About A Quick Latte Art Class In Tokyo?
Some of us don’t want, or have time, to learn everything there is about coffee.
Maybe we just want to do something fun involving coffee. That’s when you can attend a quick latte art class in Tokyo.
#3 Get Taught By An Award-Winning Champion At ‘Up To You Coffee’
Run by multiple award-winning champion Takehito Okudaira, Up to You Coffee will invite customers for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience the magic of real coffee by working his magic and brewing a cup of goodness right in front of your eyes.
Having won several latte art competitions around Japan, he began competing in overseas events, with the 2018 Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship in Denver ranking him third overall.
If anyone knows how to turn any cup of coffee into a mini artwork, it’s Okudaira.
Not only does he have some serious latte art skills, but, even better, he’s also developed some new techniques during his training that makes him a definite must-see if you’re in the vicinity.
Unfortunately, due to Covid, the 2-hour classes have been suspended until further notice.
You can catch him on Instagram to stay updated on when the lessons will resume.
#4 At Onibus Coffee, You Can Create Your Own Lesson
Onibus Coffee has 4 different cafes around Tokyo for quick and easy access, no matter where you are. You can even find a store in Vietnam!
They have been operating since 2012, and for anyone interested, they offer customized lessons.
Even if you just want a quick session on latte art, Onibus will deliver.
Check out their explanatory Youtube video for a sneak peek at the process.
#5 Enoteca Primodine For Some Family Fun
You can bring the whole family to learn how to make latte art at this small Italian-inspired cafe.
While it doesn’t look like much from the outside, Enoteca has offered lessons for over a decade. Their course has been featured in both newspapers and on local TV shows.
What’s unique about their latte art course is that they use smaller espresso machines made for personal use.
Their family course is so popular that they’ve had to temporarily stop taking new applications due to high demand.
#6 How About A Coffee Course In Tokyo For Hand Drip Coffee?
Sometimes, you only want a simple black coffee without all the fuss. At iki Espresso, you can take a quick barista course on how to hand drip coffee like an expert.
The teachers have traveled around the world and experienced the coffee culture of many countries before deciding to settle down in Tokyo and open their cafe.
They’ve successfully helped open several other coffee shops around Tokyo, so you know you’re getting quality training!
There you have it.
6 coffee & barista courses in Japan to consider taking when you’re over there. Although Japan is currently closed to tourists who want to travel without a travel agency, it may not be long until it opens, and I can’t wait to go back.
While it may be hard for non-Japanese speakers to find a suitable course, places like iki Espresso and Onibus Coffee have internationally experienced members and may be able to accommodate any language barriers.
Photos by freestocks-photos and Ketut Subiyanto
