ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA

One weekend morning, before running some errands near Kintetsu Nara Station, I stopped by a café called ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA. Open every day from 8:00 a.m., it is one of the few places in the Kintetsu Nara Station area where you can enjoy breakfast. From the name, I imagined it would be a very stylish café, but when I actually visited the store…

It’s a minimalist space like a coworking space, but the coffee is among the best in the country… ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA is a place like this…

ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA gave me the impression of a coworking space rather than a stylish café. The front of the store is made entirely of glass, allowing you to see inside. Upon entering, there is a cash register counter on the right and a neatly organized product display area on the left. Beyond that lies the guest seating area, which reportedly has a total of 40 seats, but even the seating area is equipped with only the bare essentials, perfectly fitting the term “minimalist.” The store offers free Wi-Fi, making it an ideal spot for working with a laptop.

But this store has more to offer. It originated as the café “ROCOCO,” established in 1974, and in 2015, it began roasting its own coffee beans, rebranding as a specialty coffee shop. In other words, this store already has over 50 years of history. Additionally, the owner has a history of winning the JAPAN COFFEE ROASTING CHAMPIONSHIP, a competition where roasting techniques are judged. With a coffee shop serving top-class coffee located right next to Kintetsu Nara Station, it’s no wonder it’s become a popular spot.  

How was the coffee from the barista who ranked first in Japan? I ordered the morning set at ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA.

Now, let me introduce the morning set I ordered at ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA on that day, available until 11 AM. This morning set includes a drink and a croissant (choose one from three types: plain, French croissant, or seasonal croissant). The French croissant set I chose costs 920 yen including tax…  

After waiting about 10 minutes, the completed French croissant morning set looked like this (the French croissant alone costs 480 yen including tax). By the way, there are 12 drink options in total, but this time I chose the Rokumei Blend, which is the store’s signature coffee (630 yen including tax when ordered alone).  

Let’s give this French croissant a try… This croissant has a crispy, aromatic crust, but the inside is soaked in egg batter like French toast. So, in the mouth, in addition to the crispy texture, there is the rich creaminess and fluffy sweetness of the egg batter. Choosing the French croissant out of the three options was the right decision. Although maple syrup comes with this croissant, I didn’t need it at all.  

The Rokumei Blend, made with beans roasted by a barista who won first place nationally, is a coffee that balances sweetness, bitterness, and acidity perfectly. There’s no unpleasant aftertaste, and I was convinced, “No wonder they won first place nationally.” This coffee is also just right for washing away the egg batter flavor of the French croissant. It’s light and refreshing overall, so I drank it quickly and the cup was empty before I knew it.

By the time I finished the morning set, it was the perfect time to head out, so I left ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA to run some errands. Finding such a great morning spot near the Kintetsu Nara Station entrance was a personal highlight. Next time I visit this place, I might bring my laptop and enjoy a few refills while relaxing… though it’s a pretty popular spot, so it’s a bit noisier than a coworking space.  

ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA Drink Menu Examples (Prices include tax)  

• Coffee of the Day 580 yen  
• Seasonal Blend 650 yen  
• Cold Brew 580 yen  
• Single Espresso 480 yen  
• Caffè Latte 650 yen  
• Cappuccino 650 yen  
• Decaf Latte 680 yen

Note: ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA has a one-drink policy.

The store also sells original goods such as coffee beans and offers online shopping… ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA is located a 1-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line.

At ROKUMEI COFFEE CO. NARA, original goods such as coffee beans and cups are sold in the store. Drip bags are also available, so even those who cannot grind beans at home or at work can enjoy them. Additionally, they have an online store, so these products can also be purchased online. Why not try the coffee made by the barista who won first place nationwide?

Here are the store details…