Skip to content

How Blue Bottle was Inspired by Japanese Coffee Culture

In the past decade, Blue Bottle Coffee has taken the world by storm. The coffee chain is  opening coffee shops in many locations all over the world and it looks like nothing is stopping them. But what’s so special about these coffee shops and what does Japan have to do with all of this? Let’s find out! 

Blue Bottle

Origins of Blue Bottle Coffee

Back in 2002, when founder and CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee, James Freeman left a career as a musician to open a cafe in a small garage in San Francisco, he probably didn’t expect it would grow to be one of the most important coffee chains of the past decade.

We are no longer talking about a simple cafe, but about a whole network of cafes and partners, a meeting place for those who love good coffee. The company currently has stores on both sides of the U.S. coast a few locations in Japan, one in South Korea, and one in Hong Kong.

State-of-the-art coffee equipment, high quality coffee beans and a unique interior vibe are the main reasons why customers keep coming back and why it has become the favorite hangout spot of hipsters and techies.

When asked what inspired him to start Blue Bottle Coffee, Freeman often refers to different aspects of Japanese coffee culture. Indeed, someone who knows a thing or two about Japanese culture, in general, can tell how it has influenced Blue Bottle Coffee in more ways than one.

Blue Bottle Coffee

However, when most of us think about coffee, we don’t really think about Japan. It seems odd to talk about coffee in a country that’s stereotypically considered a place where tea takes center stage. So, let’s find out a bit more about how coffee conquered Japan.

Brief History of Coffee in Japan

The first coffee beans came into the country in 1877 when Japanese migrant workers went to Brazil to plant and manage coffee plantations. As a thank you, the Brazilian government gave Japan lots of coffee beans for 5 years.

Shortly afterward, the first traditional coffee house, the so-called "Kissaten" opened. In fact, Kissaten was the main source of inspiration for James Freeman when he decided to open his first coffee shop.

Today, Japan imports about 430,000 tons of coffee a year, ranking third in the world, just behind the United States and Germany. What’s more, many of the leading coffee companies such as Hario, Porlex, and Kalita are based in Japan and the country is famous for its talented baristas.

Not bad for a tea country! It seems that Japanese people always add elements of their unique culture to everything they do. Some of these elements are why Blue Bottle Coffee exists today.

Blue Bottle Coffee Packaging

How Blue Bottle Coffee was inspired by Japanese culture and Kissaten

When James Freeman tells the story of Blue Bottle Coffee, he often refers to Café Bach, a Kissaten in Tokyo. The Kissaten are all about one thing: staying and enjoying a cup of high quality coffee in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

The delicious coffee on offer testifies to the high quality of the coffee beans and the craftsmanship of the Kissaten owners. Many of these owners still roast by hand today and brew pour-overs with cloth filters, paying attention to precision.

This precision and attention to detail is a Japanese cultural element that goes beyond Kissaten shops. Japan has many valuable core concepts regarding everyday practices and today we are going to briefly talk about the ones that inspired Freeman: Kodawari, Omotenashi and Japanese Minimalism.

Blue Bottle SFC shop


Picture of Blue Bottle Flagship store located at historic Ferry Building in San Francisco

Blue Bottle variety of coffee

Kodawari (こだわり)

Kodawari is the Japanese concept of commitment and perseverance beyond what is necessary. It is the striving for one’s own possible perfection, not in the sense of pressure to perform, but to one’s own satisfaction. It’s meeting your own standards and exceeding them by paying even more attention to detail and being present.

This concept is inextricably linked with even the smallest action. In the world of coffee, this could translate to the ultimate precision pour, the ideal grind setting that suits a certain coffee bean, the prewarming not just of the cups but also the saucers, etc.

This constant effort to exceed expectations to elevate oneself spiritually and mentally is a core concept in Japanese culture and was Freeman’s goal for Blue Bottle Coffee to represent Kodawari in all aspects of coffee preparation.

Blue Bottle Coffee shop - inspired by Japan

Omotenashi (おもてなし)

This word could be translated as Japanese hospitality but is more than just that. It is a complex concept of hospitality and customer service that can be experienced in a wide variety of everyday situations.

The Japanese do not differentiate between the terms guest and customer. Nor do they differentiate between customer and service provider. Omotenashi describes the Japanese understanding of refined hospitality at the very highest level.

Despite the clear distribution of roles, there is a fundamentally equal and mutually respectful relationship between guest and host. Freeman has said that Kissaten embodies the idea of Omotenashi, an idea he himself brought back to Oakland with him when he decided to found Blue Bottle Coffee.

On a side note (which has nothing to do with Blue Bottle or Coffee... sorry!), the word "omotenashi" was mentioned by French-Japanese TV Announcer Christel Takigawa on September 8, 2013, during a presentation at International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires, which got a "buzz" worldwide.  Here is a short video of that speech.

Japanese Minimalism

Japanese minimalism teaches us that less is more. Simplicity, reduction, purification and concentration form the cornerstones of traditional Japanese minimalism and are still part of the philosophy in modern times.

Today's minimalism in Japan clearly bears traces of this sense of beauty and can be found in products, in rituals of everyday life and in the interiors of houses. Freeman has said that he is influenced by the very rigorous simplicity of a lot of Japanese design elements and their focus on simplicity and quality.

If you visit any of Blue Bottle Coffee's locations, you will notice the minimalist influence. The shops have huge windows, clean lines, warm touches, and no excess decorations, thus embracing the environment and providing a simple yet elegant space for the guests.

Blue Bottle Coffee Minimalist style shop

Final Thoughts

It’s clear that Freeman already had a unique and innovative concept in mind when he founded Blue Bottle Coffee. Sticking to this concept and continuing to be inspired by Japanese culture as the chain is growing has proven a recipe for success for Blue Bottle Coffee. So, thank you Japan!

This post was first published in 2021 but it was updated in 2023 just for you. 

 


Related Articles You May Be Interested

Blue Bottle coffee vs. Sapporo Coffee Kan
Blue Bottle coffee vs. Sapporo Coffee Kan
UCC’s Charcoal Roasted Coffee
UCC’s Charcoal Roasted Coffee
Japanese Convenience Store Coffee War
Japanese Convenience Store Coffee War
Kissaten (喫茶店): Its Birth up to the Present Day Concept
Kissaten (喫茶店): Its Birth up to the Present Day Concept
Hario Vs. Kalita
Hario Vs. Kalita
Starbucks Vs. Sapporo Coffee Kan
Starbucks Vs. Sapporo Coffee Kan
Top 10 JIMOTO Frappuccino you should try (expired)
Top 10 JIMOTO Frappuccino you should try (expired)
About Sapporo Coffee Kan - The Roaster
About Sapporo Coffee Kan - The Roaster
Single Origin Coffee vs. Blend Coffee
Single Origin Coffee vs. Blend Coffee
Vietnamese Coffee vs Japanese Coffee
Vietnamese Coffee vs Japanese Coffee
Japanese Contributions to the World of Coffee
Japanese Contributions to the World of Coffee

Get Free Bonus Books

Join Japanese Coffee Club

Sign up for free to the Coffee Club to get advice and exclusive articles about how to choose Japanese Coffee, and tips, tricks, and recipes for enjoying Japanese coffee.

Unsubscribe anytime. It’s free!

Related Posts

Nitro Cold Brew Coffee - Could this be the new coffee trend in Japan?
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee - Could this be the new coffee trend in Japan?

Experience the newest fashion in Japan, Nitro Cold Brew Coffee! This coffee would delight any coffee enthusiast because

Read More
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published..

Cart

Your cart is currently empty.

Start Shopping

Select options