Sabo Tokyo
Asakusabashi, Taito · Tokyo · Steep Index 8.3/10
A newly opened Asakusabashi stand doing matcha and coffee side by side, built around a room of large stone brought in from Toyama.
The Steep Index
The matcha is the reason to come. The Yame Yabukita, stone-milled and sourced direct from Nishio, Fukuoka and Shizuoka, is exceptional, and the staff will walk you through how it is made without being asked. The coffee is the softer half of the menu, a Colombian Chiroso that read flat rather than showing the bright, floral character the variety is usually known for. Staying power is held down by the format: mostly takeout, limited ground-floor seating, and a second floor still being finished.
- Coffee / Drink Quality: 8.0/10
- Atmosphere: 8.8/10
- Solo-Friendliness: 7.9/10
- Value: 8.4/10
- Staying Power: 8.2/10
- Overall: 8.3/10
Perfect for: espresso pilgrimage
Specialty: matcha
The Space
Stylish and minimal, built around slabs of stone brought in from Toyama. New enough that the second floor was still under construction on this visit, so the ground floor, with its handful of seats, is what you get for now.
The Coffee
Order the Yame Yabukita iced matcha, stone-milled and sourced direct from growers in Nishio, Fukuoka and Shizuoka. The coffee runs on Colombian Chiroso beans, a rare and usually vibrant variety, but the cup came out flat and short on character rather than showing what the bean can do.
A rare Colombian varietal on the coffee side, and the matcha still wins.
The Vibe
Staff are uber-friendly and will explain the sourcing and the process without you having to ask. Warm, attentive, and clearly proud of what they are building.
The Verdict
Go for the matcha and treat the coffee as a work in progress. This is a takeout stop for now, not a place to settle in, but worth watching as the second floor opens up.
Practical information
- Address: 杉原ビル, 1-26-10 Asakusabashi, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0053
- Price: ¥¥
- Type: matcha stand
More in Asakusabashi
- nano-coffeeroaster Steep PickAsakusabashi, Taito · Steep Index 8.6/10
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