Welcome to Your Journey of Finding the Perfect Coffee

Do you ever think, 'I want to brew the most delicious coffee at home, but I don't know which beans to choose,' or 'I always pick the same beans, but I'd love to discover new flavors'?
The SlowCoffee Roastery, located in a corner of the Keiyo Distribution Center in Matsudo-Shinden, Chiba, is a place that supports customers on this quest for a special cup of coffee.

As a specialty coffee roastery with over 20 years of experience in fair-trade and organic beans, we carefully select high-quality beans from around the world and roast them with expert skill to bring out their richest natural flavors. We offer various forms of support to help our customers find their 'perfect preference,' and our most popular offering is the in-store coffee bean tasting experience. Let us guide you on a journey to discover the depths of coffee, much like a multi-course meal curated by a master chef.

The Challenge of Choosing Coffee and Our Solution

When choosing coffee beans, it's difficult to imagine the actual taste and aroma just from the package description. Words like 'acidity,' 'bitterness,' and 'body' alone can leave you feeling unsure if you've truly found a coffee you'll love. Especially in the vast world of specialty coffee, with its many unique and characterful beans, it's natural to feel lost about what to choose.

We also often hear concerns about brewing at home, like, 'Why doesn't it taste as good as it does at a café?' or 'The flavor is inconsistent every time I brew.' In particular, the high mineral hardness of the water in Chiba can affect extraction, and some may find it brings out an unpleasant, astringent taste.

At the SlowCoffee Roastery, we provide detailed support to solve these various coffee-related problems, ensuring that every customer can enjoy a truly satisfying coffee life. We are a place where we take the time to deeply understand your taste preferences and brewing methods to propose the optimal 'course' for you.

First Step: An Adventure in Taste with In-Store Coffee Bean Tastings

The most important thing in choosing coffee is to 'actually taste it.' At the SlowCoffee Roastery, we offer carefully selected specialty coffee beans for in-store tasting, allowing you to confirm the flavor for yourself. This is the beginning of our 'chef's recommended course.' Let's start by exploring your taste preferences.

The World of Coffee That Opens Up Through Tasting

• A rich, fresh-brewed aroma that packages can't convey
• Subtle differences in acidity, bitterness, sweetness, body, and even the aftertaste
• Changes in flavor based on bean characteristics and roast level

By tasting, your preferences become clearer, and you might make new discoveries like, 'I wouldn't normally choose this, but it's surprisingly delicious!' Our staff will listen to your feedback and help suggest the next cup for you to try.

Tasting Tips to Find Your Preference

To make the most of your in-store coffee bean tasting, here are a few tips:

1. First, take a deep breath of the aroma: Bring the cup close and inhale the rising fragrance. You should be able to detect various scents, such as fruity, nutty, or chocolatey notes.
2. Take a slow first sip: Take a small amount into your mouth and let it cover your entire tongue. Notice the balance of acidity, bitterness, and sweetness, as well as the mouthfeel (body).
3. Jot down your impressions: Try to put what you taste into words, like 'This bean is floral,' 'This one has a full body,' or 'Maybe a little too acidic.' This also helps start a conversation with our staff.

Through this kind of tasting, your unique preferences will become much clearer.

Our Pride and Joy: Yirgacheffe and Natural Process Beans

The SlowCoffee Roastery is especially proud to offer our highly-rated 'Yirgacheffe' and our fruity 'Natural Process Beans.' Both are available to sample during our in-store coffee bean tastings.

• Yirgacheffe: Known for its vibrant floral aroma and bright, citrus-like acidity. Its clean, clear taste is highly esteemed by coffee connoisseurs.
• Natural Process Beans: Featuring a rich aroma reminiscent of fruit and a mellow body with prominent sweetness. You can enjoy a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from the more common washed process.

Why not expand your coffee palate by experiencing the unique character of these beans through an in-store tasting?

Second Step: The Path to Recreating Professional Flavor at Home

At the SlowCoffee Roastery, we don't just help you choose delicious coffee beans; we also provide free, expert advice on how to bring out their full potential at home. This is a crucial step in helping you recreate the 'chef's recommended course' in your own kitchen.

Brewing Advice Tailored for Chiba's Water

Tap water in Chiba generally has a high mineral content, which can easily lead to an astringent taste when brewing coffee. To solve this regional challenge, our experts offer direct advice on delicious brewing methods that take Chiba's water hardness into account.

• Water temperature settings: Adjusting to the optimal temperature for the water's hardness
• Extraction time and speed: Tips to suppress astringency and draw out a clean flavor
• Choosing the right water: Pointers for when using mineral water

This kind of specific advice will dramatically improve the taste of your home-brewed coffee. We've even received feedback from an anonymous customer who said, 'Chiba's water is hard and can be astringent. Adjusting the water temperature and hardness makes it incredibly delicious.'

Secrets to Getting the Most Out of Your Home Equipment

Whether you use a 'hand drip,' 'coffee maker,' or 'French press,' everyone's home brewing setup is different. We offer suggestions for the optimal extraction method tailored to the type and characteristics of your equipment. Whatever gear you use, we can share tips for brewing the best possible coffee, so please don't hesitate to ask.

• Choosing a dripper and the right type of paper filter
• How grind size and method affect taste
• The optimal coffee-to-water ratio

We also offer consultations on coffee brewing equipment, providing thorough support so that even beginners can confidently enjoy the world of specialty coffee.

The Special Course: Authentic Specialty Coffee, Kind to People and the Planet

At the heart of the SlowCoffee Roastery's 'chef's recommended course' is an unwavering commitment to quality. We want to provide coffee that is not only delicious but also something you can feel good about enjoying.

Specializing in Fair Trade & Organic for People and the Planet

For over 20 years, our roastery has been dedicated to 'Fair Trade & Organic.' This is our mission to care for producers' livelihoods and the environment.

• Fair Trade: We support coffee producers by ensuring they receive fair prices for their beans, allowing them to maintain sustainable livelihoods.
• Organic: We exclusively select coffee beans grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It's coffee that is gentle on the earth and on your body.

You can savor a cup of coffee knowing it connects to the smiles of producers far away and a healthy global environment.

Guaranteed Quality Forged Over 20 Years of Experience

At SlowCoffee Roastery, our roasters with over 20 years of experience carefully roast high-quality beans selected from around the globe. This extensive experience and knowledge allow us to bring out the very best of each bean's inherent flavor.

• Optimal roasting profiles that highlight each bean's unique character
• A commitment to freshness, delivering 'just-roasted' quality
• Thorough quality control to provide consistently delicious coffee

This dedication to our locally roasted coffee in Matsudo is why customers praise its delicious taste. We deliver a deep, satisfying flavor you can enjoy every day, backed by quality you can trust.

The Dessert Course: A Flavorful Decaf Option for Everyone

For those who think, 'I want to drink coffee, but I'm concerned about caffeine,' the SlowCoffee Roastery has a wonderful option to round out the 'chef's recommended course.'

A Luxurious Treat Without the Caffeine

We want everyone to enjoy their coffee time to the fullest, including those who are pregnant or wish to avoid caffeine. That's why we offer a wide selection of flavorful decaf coffees. You can relax with a delicious cup at night or any time without worry.

• High-quality decaf beans processed with care
• A gentle flavor popular with expectant mothers
• A wide decaf lineup that also makes a great gift

Decaf coffee may also be available for in-store tasting, so please feel free to ask our staff.

Uncompromising Flavor, Even in Decaf

You might think, 'Isn't decaf coffee lacking in flavor?' However, our decaf allows you to fully enjoy the rich aroma and taste characteristic of specialty coffee without the caffeine. By providing freshly roasted beans, we achieve an uncompromisingly delicious flavor even in our decaf. We invite you to taste the quality for yourself.

Prices start from 800 yen per 100g for specialty coffee beans and 900 yen per 100g for decaf coffee beans. Considering the quality and flavor, we are confident you will be more than satisfied.

A Guide to the Ultimate Coffee Discovery Experience

Here are the practical steps to make the most of your special coffee experience at the SlowCoffee Roastery. We hope this guide helps make your time at our Matsudo-Shinden roastery an unforgettable one.

Steps from Arrival to Bean Selection

1. Visit us at the Keiyo Distribution Center: Our shop is located in a corner of the Keiyo Distribution Center in Matsudo, Chiba. We have ample parking available, so you can easily visit by car. (Parking available)
2. A Warm Welcome: The moment you step inside, you'll be greeted by the rich aroma of coffee. Our staff will be waiting with a warm smile to assist you.
3. Explore Flavors with In-Store Coffee Bean Tasting: Start by trying our recommended beans for tasting. If any bean catches your interest, please let our staff know.
4. Consultation Time: Our staff will ask about your preferences and lifestyle with questions like, 'What flavors do you like?' 'What kind of equipment do you usually brew with?' and 'Are you concerned about caffeine?'
5. Brewing Advice: Based on the beans you purchase, we will provide specific advice on how to brew them deliciously at home, including tips for Chiba's hard water.
6. Payment: We accept various payment methods, including credit cards, cash, PayPay, and public transit IC cards.

Through these steps, you are sure to have the best direct-sale coffee bean experience in Matsudo.

A Checklist of Questions for Your Tasting

You might wonder what to ask during your in-store coffee bean tasting. Here are some examples of questions for our staff:

• What kind of food does this bean pair well with?
• What's the recommended roast level?
• What should I know about proper storage?
• What other types of decaffeinated beans do you have?
• Could you tell me more about your subscription service?

Please feel free to ask any question, no matter how small. Our expertise is here to help enrich your coffee life.

Tips for Brewing Your Take-Home Beans Deliciously

Here are a few tips to enjoy the locally roasted coffee from Matsudo you purchased even more at home:

• Storage: Beans degrade when exposed to air. Storing them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place is recommended. Freezing is also an option, but be mindful of condensation when taking them out.
• Use Fresh Water: Delicious coffee requires delicious water. We recommend using filtered water or low-hardness mineral water if possible.
• Grind Timing: Coffee begins to oxidize the moment it's ground. Grinding just before brewing is the secret to unlocking the best flavor.
• Temperature Control: Maintaining the proper extraction temperature (generally around 90°C / 194°F) leads to a clean taste free of off-flavors.

Use these tips to turn the special beans you got at our local direct-sale coffee shop into the perfect cup at home.

Find Your Special Cup at the SlowCoffee Roastery.

The SlowCoffee Roastery is a place where you can meet your 'perfect coffee' through in-store bean tastings. As a Matsudo-Shinden roastery specializing in fair-trade and organic coffee for over 20 years, we offer high-quality specialty coffee and thoughtful advice tailored to each customer.

For those who want to enrich their coffee time at home, for those who want to enjoy coffee without caffeine, and above all, for those who are in pursuit of 'delicious coffee'—we invite you to visit our roastery. We look forward to welcoming you with freshly roasted beans and warm hospitality.

We at the SlowCoffee Roastery will prepare your 'ultimate coffee experience' with the same care and dedication as a chef. We invite you to embark on this special coffee journey with us.