A Guide To Coffee Drinks In Japan

I admit it, I'm a bit of a coffee snob.  I enjoy a nice french press in the morning.  Unfortunately, I didn't bring my french press with me to Japan .  Until I figure out how to buy one, I am forced to drink vending machine coffee drinks. Some of them are decent, others are real bad. 


THE GOOD

 Boss Cafe au Lait - This coffee drink is the best one I have tried.  A nice blend of coffee and milk.  However, the coffee flavor remains nice and strong.  You can find cans like this in vending machines for 120 yen, or you can buy a larger plastic bottle at the combini for 157 yen.

Roots Aroma Impact - This coffee is another favorite of mine.  It also is a blend of nice tasting coffee and milk.  My favorite coffee drinks here all seem to be a blend of coffee and milk.  There are plenty of black coffee options, but I don't like any of them.  The strange things is, at home I drink black coffee.

THE BAD

 

Black Coffee Drinks (all of them) - I am only using the Boss silky can as an example, because I have met people who really like this stuff.  You can buy it hot or cold at any combini.  In my opinion, all the black coffee drinks here are gross.  Have you ever woke up and realized that you don't have time to make coffee? However, there is a bit of leftover coffee remaining from the previous day.  You pour the funky black stuff in a coffee mug, and heat it up in the microwave.  That is what black coffee drinks taste like in Japan. Yummy!

THE WORST

Wonda Morning Shot - Words really can't explain how bad this drink is.  A strong flavor of  tree bark, with a sour bitter finish.

COFFEE ADS

The coffee drink business in Japan is huge!  There are vending machines offering them on every other corning. You see ads for them on buses, trains, and almost everywhere you look.  One of more interesting things I noticed recently, Tommy Lee Jones is the spokesman for Boss. 

I am sure that there are plenty of different opinions concerning coffee drinks.  I know someone who thinks Wonda Morning Shot is the best tasting drink on earth.  I think she needs to go to the Doctor and have her taste buds examined.  If you are coming to Japan soon and you are going to live in the inaka (countryside), think about bringing a bag or two of fresh coffee with you.  If you are going to be living in a city, it won't be hard to find Starbucks or good coffee.  However, It will be more expensive!  Buying two vending machine coffees everyday will cost you about 7200 yen per month.($94)