Common Well

One afternoon, I was searching online for a place to have a late lunch in Shijo-Karasuma when I happened to come across a café called Common Well. Apparently, this café was opened by a barista named Shusei Shimoyama, who has won the World Latte Art Championship twice. The moment I found that out, I thought, “Maybe I’ll have lunch here and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee…” so I hurried over to the café. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, lunch service had already ended, but instead (?) I stumbled upon something quite intriguing…

They call it “Melbourne style”… This is what Common Well is like…

But before that, let me give you a quick introduction to the shop. Common Well is located on the first floor of HOTEL RINGS KYOTO, which is situated along Sakaimachi-dori in Kyoto, a short walk south of the Inoda Coffee Main Store. Looking at the shop’s website, it seems they’re promoting a “Melbourne style.” There doesn’t seem to be a strict definition of “Melbourne style,” but roughly speaking…

1. It’s an independently owned shop tucked away in a back alley.
2. They offer a drink called a “flat white,” which is espresso topped with frothed milk.
3. You can customize the coffee brewing method and milk type in great detail.

Those seem to be the main characteristics. I see, I see. Regardless of the specifics, as a coffee lover, I can’t help but be thrilled that I can customize my coffee in such detail.

That aside, according to Tabelog, Common Well has 33 seats. I visited a little after 3:00 p.m., and the place was almost full and quite lively. The wall facing Sakaimachi-dori is made of large glass panels, creating an open, airy atmosphere that’s very comfortable. Hmm, “Melbourne-style”—it might actually be pretty good…

Is this actually good for the body? I tried Common Well’s Charcoal Latte—so, what was it like?

Well then, let’s move on to introducing the interesting menu item I came across at Common Well that day. It’s called the “Charcoal Latte”—a latte that’s turned pitch black because it actually contains charcoal (price: 650 yen, tax included). It’s made by mixing edible charcoal powder into a latte, but who on earth came up with this idea? I Googled it and found out it originated in Australia and is supposedly good for detoxing and beauty…

About 10 minutes after ordering, the Charcoal Latte was brought to my table. As you can see, it’s truly pitch black. Is it just my imagination, or does it have an incredible visual impact even though it’s just that?

That aside, the most important thing is the taste. Let’s give it a try… The first sip is just a tiny bit bitter, but after that, the smoothness of the steamed milk envelops the bitterness, and the gentle sweetness of the milk comes through softly. The aftertaste is refreshing, too. Since edible charcoal is virtually tasteless and odorless, there’s no need to be wary just because it contains charcoal. Aside from the black color, it’s just a regular, high-quality café latte.

I liked this charcoal latte so much that I ordered a second cup. For the second one, they drew a different latte art design. I lingered at Common Well for about an hour, savoring these two cups. The price is reasonable, and since it’s good for health with the charcoal, I’ll definitely be coming back.

Examples of Other Drinks on the Common Well Menu (Regular Size, Prices Include Tax)

• Mocha: 800 yen
• Matcha Latte: 800 yen
• Chai: 700 yen
• Cappuccino: 600 yen
• Flat White: 600 yen
• Short Macchiato: 550 yen
• Long Black: 550 yen

They serve breakfast… Common Well is a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line, the nearest station.

At Common Well, they serve breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. Apparently, you can enjoy a healthy breakfast featuring seasonal Kyoto vegetables and daily-changing bread delivered from the popular Kyoto bakery, Yoshida Pan Kobo. I wonder if they serve charcoal lattes first thing in the morning? Since I’m here, maybe I’ll take it easy and have breakfast on my day off…

Here are the details about the shop…

It’s a 6-minute walk from the neighboring Kyoto Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

P.S. If you’re looking for a cozy café in Kyoto, be sure to check out this article as well…