As a coffee and bar lover, I had to visit this holy place. Honestly, I didn't quite understand coffee cocktails, but they were delicious. I started with a classic Irish coffee, which was incredibly tasty. The whipped cream had a great mix of flavors that changed as I drank it. It was a wonderful cup. For my second drink, I tried a Gimlet to reset my palate, and it was also delicious. Whether it's coffee or cocktails, they really know their stuff here. Next, I ordered an Espresso Martini, which was vodka-based and explosively delicious. This place was a gem to find on my bar-hopping adventures.

I always felt curious but hesitated to enter this suspicious-looking shop. However, I finally decided to go in and have a chat at Toko Coffee. The barista there was incredibly knowledgeable about specialty coffee, explaining the benefits of different beans, roasts, extractions, and the goodness of light and medium roasts. They also introduced me to coffee cocktails made with seasonal fruits, creating a whole new world of flavors that I had never experienced before. While this shop may seem intimidating to some, I highly recommend giving it a try!

We went to a special restaurant after our dinner at a yakiniku place. We were surprised to find such a stylish bar at the top of a narrow staircase. My husband had coffee and alcohol, while my child and I had coffee and pudding (all chosen by the bartender). The bartender, who is well-known in the industry for pursuing the path of both a bartender and a barista, engaged us in friendly conversation and created a lively atmosphere with his excellent communication skills. The homemade pudding was slightly firm and sweet. If we had come earlier, there would have been other dessert options available. I enjoyed a coffee made from a unique coffee bean, although I can't remember the name. It had a mild acidity and a refreshing aftertaste, perfect for savoring the aroma in a black coffee. My husband, slightly tipsy, left for the blacksmith town area after sending us home.

Located at 4-4-9 Uomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, on the 2nd floor is COFFEE BAR J. This is the establishment of Junpei Ishii, who has won the Kitakyushu Cocktail Competition three years in a row. He is a barista and bartender, offering unique coffee cocktails that you won't find elsewhere. The cafe opened in January 2018, following Cafe Caliari. In September 2018, I'm COFFEE STAND, a casual coffee shop, also opened in Kokura. It is conveniently located near the Monorail Tanga Station. The cozy 2nd-floor space has 12 seats, no private rooms, smoking allowed, no credit cards accepted, no parking available, and operating hours are from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am with irregular holidays (mostly on Mondays). The WCIGSC, an original coffee cocktail competition organized by the European Specialty Coffee Association, held its first Japan competition in 2013. Junpei Ishii was one of the six finalists in this year's Japan competition, determining the top coffee cocktail. It's amazing that you can enjoy this level of coffee cocktails in Kokura. The reviewer visited this place with a companion, not knowing about the finalist's coffee cocktail, and was impressed by the quality of the drinks. The atmosphere of the bar is sophisticated and welcoming, with a charming touch of Japanese patterns on the coasters. The reviewer tried various fruit cocktails and was particularly impressed by the Pudding and the Colombian Geisha coffee. Junpei Ishii, who runs both a coffee bar and a coffee stand, is known for his passion for coffee culture in Fukuoka. It was a delightful night with great drinks and a wonderful experience.

Today's 8th stop is a bar on the 2nd floor of Manten, recommended by a local reviewer who is knowledgeable about bars. From the exterior, it looks like a casual bar. The name "Coffee Bar" is quite unique. The entrance reminds me of a small law office in an old American building. I haven't been there, though. When sitting at the counter, the wall decorated with tiles in front is impressive. Shelves and the counter are lined with bottles, giving a neatly cluttered feel that I like. The bartender is quite handsome. I intended to have just a light drink, but the cocktails served by the bartender were all high quality, and the service was excellent. Perhaps due to the presence of a beautiful companion, I ended up having about 5 drinks even though it was the 8th stop. By the way, the local reviewer companion probably had about 6 or 7 drinks, right? I won't go into details, but it seems that the bartender has a deep knowledge and strong commitment to coffee, as expected from the name "Coffee Bar." I ordered the classic Irish coffee from their specialty coffee cocktails. Followed by a Bloody Mary, Martini, Ardberg highball, and finished with the recommended coffee. I forgot the brand, sorry. This bar is a rare find with a great atmosphere, good drinks, a friendly bartender, and good value for money. If it were in Kure, I would definitely visit every month. Among the bars I have visited in Fukuoka Prefecture, this one hits the spot the best (though Bar Oscar was also good). The bill for about 10-12 drinks for 2 people was around 12,000 yen. It's close to the station, and I'm glad I was recommended this great place.

I wanted to have a delicious coffee as I had about an hour left until my scheduled time. Also, because of the typhoon, I wanted to find a place to take shelter. I found a coffee specialty shop in the ranking in Kokura Kita-ku, which was close by when I searched. It was called "CAFFE CAGLIALI" in the search results, but when I arrived, it was actually "COFFEE BAR J". I must have gotten it wrong... I checked the website again and saw that "COFFEE BAR J" was written below "CAFFE CAGLIALI" in small letters. The location was along the monorail between Tanga and Heiwa-dori stations, closer to Tanga station, and the second floor of a store with a neon sign of "Marlboro" shining at night when viewed from the monorail side. The first floor is a sushi restaurant called "Manten". When I arrived, the blue door was closed. Could it be closed on purpose because of the typhoon? If it doesn't open, I'll go somewhere else... My hair is getting messy because of the strong wind from the typhoon. I tried pulling the blue door, and it opened. I entered and looked up the stairs, it was dark. Could it be closed today? I didn't check the regular holiday... Should I go up even though it might be closed? It felt like sneaking into a school at midnight. Well... I would never sneak into a school at midnight. I put my hand on the door and it opened. Seriously? I must have surprised myself more than anyone else. I greeted and entered. Maybe the owner thought it was strange to have a first-time customer dressed like coming back from the gym during a typhoon... I must have seemed pretty creepy since I didn't talk much. I'm a scary customer who might be mistaken for a ghost. Finally, the long introduction of "Peko's Great Adventure" has ended. I entered the shop around 9:00 pm. The shop was pleasantly small. There were 3 tables and 4 counter seats. There were no other customers, probably because of the typhoon. The wind was too strong to be drinking. The lighting, interior, atmosphere, and music all combined to create a "slowly flowing time at a bar" feeling. There were various items on the menu, making it hard to decide what to order. It's a bar, so there were also alcoholic drinks and cocktails that I wanted to try, but I couldn't drink because I was refraining from driving. There were dessert items like "Chocolate Fondant" and "Pudding" written on the wall above the counter seats, tempting me. I resisted the temptation and ordered a "Caramel Latte". I came here today to drink delicious coffee after all. While waiting, I observed the shop. The wind outside was making a scary noise due to the typhoon. Natural disasters are terrifying. After a while, the Caramel Latte & Charm arrived. Oh, it's cute. The simple yet cute latte art was impressive. I took a picture and tried the Caramel Latte. It had a soft, gentle taste and the foam was pleasant. It was different from other places where the caramel is mixed from the beginning and blurs the taste of coffee. While drinking, I remembered that you could order something original from the menu, but I had already let go of the menu. Oh well.

The speed of service is slow but the staff are handsome and the drinks are delicious. The sister store has a better atmosphere but a different menu.

Looking for a Coffee Highball, I headed to "COFFEE BAR J". I climbed the stairs to the second floor and found a lively atmosphere with about 6 people in a group just arriving. The small interior was bustling with excitement, with counter and table seating for about 13 people. The person mentioned in the magazine wasn't there, but a female bartender was efficiently serving the group. I sat next to them and ordered my drink, asking for it to be made slowly. While waiting, I picked up a book titled "IKKO's Words of Wisdom 200" by a local celebrity from Kitakyushu. Soon, my order arrived: a Coffee Highball, which had a subtle coffee flavor that didn't overpower the classic Highball taste. It was delicious. I also tried the Corentro Cafe Mocha, a sweet and smooth drink with chocolate sauce and orange slices. Later, J appeared and engaged in a relaxed conversation with me, showing a unique and welcoming personality. Overall, despite the initial busyness, I think it's a great place. Caffeine fix complete. Thank you for the meal.

I happened to stop by this shop on this day. It's called "COFFEE BAR J" located near the Konnakamachi bus stop in Kokura Kita-ku. I sat at a vacant table and carefully looked through the menu. After about 6.9 seconds of consideration, I ordered a "Coffee Highball". The Coffee Highball was amazing! I was really surprised by how delicious it was. If I hadn't come across this shop, I might have never known that such a tasty "Coffee Highball" existed. I'm satisfied, truly satisfied. For more details, please check here: https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/nana_tabelog/36110984.html

4-4 Uomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Cafe CAGLIARI. Located in front of the Konyamachi bus stop, on the 2nd floor of the Tansugoya Tai Sushi Manten building. Opened in October 2012. The world's first cafe of the coffee brand CAGLIARI, founded in Italy, Modena. It is also a cafe bar that operates until late at night. It has 12 seats. Opening hours are from 12:00 to 27:00. Closed irregularly. Cafe CAGLIARI is a coffee brand founded in 1909 in Modena, Italy. The blend created by the founder, Ambrogio Cagliari, is known for its unique taste and aroma, captivating not only food lovers but also those who are not fond of coffee, earning the nickname "Cagliari's magic". Cagliari has been enjoyed by people all over the world since its founding. In Japan, the distribution of beans through import agents and tasting in in-shop locations has been limited. Owner Takahiko Yabunai fell in love with the taste of the beans and negotiated to open a cafe, making it the first store in the world to be allowed to operate. The store was known to the Yabu bar yab chain. While enjoying cocktails, I discovered a dessert made with their coffee, which was delicious. I later visited this cafe to try their coffee, but since I had only reviewed Manten on the first floor and not this cafe, I decided to write a consecutive review of both establishments on the same day. After leaving Manten, I went to the second floor next door. It was bar time. There was a sign on the stairs indicating that the business was open. As the door inside was not visible, I felt reassured by this sign. The interior is small, with the main seating being at the counter and two small tables. It was quiet at this time, and I chose a table at the far end. A snack platter was served. There is a ¥300 charge after 6:00 pm. The interior was dark, making it difficult to read the menu on the wall. Background music was playing. I strained my eyes to read the menu in my hands. The bartender mentioned that "Yabu celebrated its 14th anniversary yesterday." The bartender, who has been working at this establishment for three and a half years, mentioned that the owner was absent, and a young bartender was managing the place alone. The bartender mentioned that they were following the example of Yabu's female manager when it came to alcohol. I started with a glass of champagne. When I ordered a glass of champagne, it turned out to be Champagne Paul Jess Brut, a major Maison supplying to France and abroad. It has been used for a long time as the house champagne at Maxim de Paris and in first-class cabins of airlines such as Air France and ANA. It has a rich fruit flavor with black grape predominance. Wine is available from ¥750 per glass. I also tried the Cagliari Screw cocktail, which is made with Italian lemon liqueur and blood orange. Cocktails are priced from ¥750. Coffee cocktails are priced at ¥800. The hot dog I ordered had an additional charge for toppings, and I added salsa for ¥50. There is a hot dog set available, which comes with salad and soup for ¥800. I also tried the Moretti beer, a 330ml bottle of Pilsner-type beer from Italy's oldest beer maker. It has a crisp taste with 4.6% alcohol content. The homemade potato salad I ordered was a recommended snack of the month. It had a strong flavor suitable for drinking. Fresh fruit cocktails are mostly priced at ¥1000. I could see the types of fruits on the blackboard on the wall, although it was somewhat blurry. I tried the Banana cocktail, which was a rich banana cocktail with cocoa powder covering half of the surface and a single strawberry inside. It was a refreshing dessert cocktail. I also tried the Setoka cocktail, which combines citrus Setoka and brandy in the style of a Sidecar. I felt a connection with Yabu while enjoying it. The bar also had a good atmosphere. I ordered a platter of fresh fruit and chocolate for ¥1000, which was recommended as a snack of the month. The chocolates had different flavors, which made me excited. Lastly, I had to have a coffee. There are few places in Kitakyushu that serve latte art, but this cafe does, so I ordered a cappuccino. When I saw the finished art, the bartender said, "It's a boy wearing a cat costume." It was a delicious cappuccino. The cafe and bar have different atmospheres during the day and night, and the space is not large but versatile. I felt like I wanted to delve deeper into the world of Cagliari.

When I read an article about the new cafe Caliari in Nakasu on the Ogura Economic Newspaper on the internet at the beginning of the year, I remembered seeing Caliari somewhere before. I searched on Tabelog and found out that it was located on the second floor of Manten (a sushi restaurant), just as I suspected. Before going to the main store, I wanted to see what kind of coffee they served as I aspire to be a cafe master, so I visited the cafe. The cafe was small with a counter and a few small tables for two people. I ordered an espresso (single) for ¥300 and a tiramisu for ¥500. I actually wanted to order a cappuccino, but I mistakenly thought that if it's an Italian coffee, it must be espresso. The espresso was strong and had a nice fruity aroma. I realized my mistake but enjoyed it nonetheless. I also ordered an Italian soda (peach) for ¥580 to go with the tiramisu. The tiramisu was different from what I had before, with a cheesecake-like layer on top of a cookie and meringue sprinkled with cocoa powder. It was a cultural shock for me, but I enjoyed the fluffy meringue. The Italian soda was a bit like peach-flavored syrup mixed with soda water. It was my first time dining at an authentic Italian cafe, and it was a valuable experience. I look forward to experiencing Nakasu next time. Thank you for the meal.

Carriari, an Italian coffee brand known for its excellent espresso, is a cafe located in Ogura, with a history of over 100 years. As of June 2014, it is the only cafe in Japan (excluding the main store) allowed to use the Carriari name. During my visit in June, I tried the Cafe Fred Shakeletto for 500 yen, which is an espresso with sugar shaken in a shaker to create a foamy, chilled coffee. It had a cocktail-like finish and was very delicious. I also had the Cafe Americano for 450 yen, which is an iced coffee made by diluting freshly brewed espresso with ice and water. The hospitality at this cafe, which is affiliated with the longstanding Yabu bar, is exceptional. I am looking forward to visiting again this summer. During my first visit in April, I enjoyed the cute and delicious Cappuccino for 500 yen, which had a bear design on top. The cafe has a quiet atmosphere despite its location along a busy street. The menu is charming and the coffee is delightful. I will definitely be back to enjoy more of their offerings.

Just near the bustling market, there is a cafe called "Caliari" that I visited for lunch. The cafe is located on the second floor of a two-story building in front of the Konoyamachi bus stop. As you climb the narrow stairs, you are greeted by a red door before reaching the top. The interior has a cozy and intimate atmosphere with a counter seating for six and three small tables for two. The lighting is slightly dim, but during the day, natural light seeps in, creating a pleasant ambiance. I tried the Beef Sinew Omelette Rice for 600 yen, which surprisingly had a light and smooth sauce. The owner, a friendly man, provided excellent service. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience.

On this day, there was a North Kyushu Reviewer Meetup. I arrived a little early at the North Kyushu Genkan Kokura, and for the pre-meetup, I was taken to this place. Caffè Cagliari, an Italian coffee brand, is a long-established manufacturer that has been in business for over 100 years. The only shop allowed to use the name "Café Cagliari" that is loved by celebrities around the world. You can enjoy both coffee and alcohol here, so my companion chose this place for us. This "Café Cagliari" is one of only 10 shops in Japan approved to serve their coffee. And the surprising thing is that the Japan headquarters is near the Iwami Ginzan in Shimane Prefecture. Coming to such a rare shop, we decided to have coffee instead of alcohol (which is unusual for us). I ordered a "Latte Macchiato" because I heard it goes really well with milk. My companion ordered a "Cappuccino". I also heard about the differences between Latte Macchiato and Cappuccino, but I completely forgot. Both drinks had cute latte art, which was impressive. I just got a new camera, so I didn't take any pictures of the interior of the shop, but they serve lunch from 500 yen to 800 yen until 4 PM. My companion has already revisited the place. They are open until 2 AM, making it a convenient place to visit.

The café and bar where there are senior staff members serve delicious espresso, cappuccino, and coffee-based cocktails. I was introduced to espresso here and have many fun memories associated with this place. The manager loves Kabuki, and sometimes draws Kabuki faces on cappuccinos, adding an intellectual touch to the cafe. I highly recommend asking for a Kabuki face on your cappuccino when you visit! Also, the original coffee cocktails made by him are amazing!

I felt like going to a cafe late at night, so I decided to try one that I had been curious about for a while. They had a wide variety of coffee, desserts, and light snacks, all of which were delicious.