Introducing the Asa-Yuu Blend Duo (朝夕 ブレンドデュオ): Two of Our Most Popular Coffees, Now Together!

We are so excited to announce a new combination set from Japanese Coffee Co. – the Asa-Yuu Blend Duo (朝夕 ブレンドデュオ)!

If you've been following us for a while, you might already know these two coffees.

They've been customer favorites for a long time, and honestly, I drink them almost every day. So when we had the idea to offer them together at 20% off, it just felt right.

Let me tell you all about it!

What Does "Asa-Yuu" Mean?

Okay, first – the name!

"Asa" (朝) means morning in Japanese.

"Yuu" (夕) means evening or sunset.

Together, "Asa-Yuu" (朝夕) represents the full rhythm of your day – from that first cup when you're trying to wake up, to the quieter moments when you're winding down.

The idea is simple: start your morning with Asa Tsuyu Blend (our light roast – bright and refreshing), and ease into the evening with Hokkaido Blend (our best-selling medium roast – smooth and comforting).

Two completely different coffees, but both roasted with the same Sumiyaki charcoal-roasting method that makes Japanese coffee so special.

What's Included in the Set

Your Asa-Yuu Blend Duo includes:

• Coffee 1: Asa Tsuyu Blend [Light Roast]
  Origins: Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia
  200g (7.0 oz) package / or 50g (1.8 oz) sample package
  
  
• Coffee 2: Hokkaido Blend [Medium Roast]
  Origins: Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia
  200g (7.0 oz) package / or 50g (1.8 oz) sample package

Both are roasted to order by Sapporo Coffee Kan in Hokkaido, Japan. 

About Asa Tsuyu Blend: "Morning Dew"

The name "Asa Tsuyu" (朝露) literally means morning dew in Japanese.

And honestly? It's the perfect description.

There's something clean and refreshing about this coffee. It's like that first breath of cool air when you step outside on a clear morning. (I know that sounds poetic, but it's true!)

This is our lightest roast blend, made from beans sourced from Colombia, Brazil, and Ethiopia. Each origin brings something different:

• Colombian coffee – known for sweetness and subtle nuttiness
• Brazilian coffee – adds chocolatey undertones and smooth body
• Ethiopian coffee – the birthplace of coffee! – contributes those beautiful floral and citrusy notes

 

What I love about Asa Tsuyu is that it's bright without being sharp. There's a gentle acidity, a soft touch of sourness that wakes you up without being jarring. The aroma is rich and sweet.

We've found that Asa Tsuyu makes an incredible espresso – the brighter notes really shine when concentrated. But it's equally wonderful as a pour-over or drip coffee.

One customer said it perfectly: "Really like this one... Liked it so much I bought more."

That's the kind of coffee this is. The kind that quietly becomes part of your routine.

About Hokkaido Blend: The House Blend

If Asa Tsuyu is about brightness and clarity, Hokkaido Blend is about depth and comfort.

This is Sapporo Coffee Kan's most popular, long-selling signature blend – their "house blend" in the truest sense. It's the coffee that has defined their reputation.

Hokkaido Blend combines beans from Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, and Indonesia.

The secret ingredient?

The exceptional Mandheling Berkat Lintong beans from Sumatra.

These Indonesian beans give this coffee its distinctive character – a pleasant, mild bitterness that never overwhelms, and a mellow richness that spreads slowly across your palate.

Here's what makes Hokkaido Blend special to me: it's rich and complex without being acidic.

 

Usually, you have to choose – either depth and body, OR smoothness. Rarely both. But Hokkaido Blend manages that balance beautifully.

Full-bodied and layered, with a bittersweet quality that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day.

The mouthfeel is crisper and cleaner than you'd expect from a medium roast. No muddy heaviness. Just satisfying smoothness.

With so many five-star reviews, this coffee speaks for itself!

One customer described it as creating "mindful moments in a cup" – she said it's become part of her afternoon ritual, a reason to step away from her desk and take a small break. I love that.

Another simply said: "This is delicious! Makes a great, flavorful, bold cup of coffee. Smooth without bitterness."

Tasting Profile

Here are the tasting profile of each blend: 

The Art of Blending (and Why This Duo is Special)

Here's something most people don't realize about coffee blending.

Creating one great blend is already an achievement. Creating two signature blends that are intentionally different in roast level – one light, one medium – while keeping them consistent year after year? That takes real mastery.

At Sapporo Coffee Kan, founder and chairman Ito Eiichi is known throughout the Japanese coffee industry as the "King of Blenders." (That's not an exaggeration – it's what people actually call him!)

Under his leadership, many staff members have earned certifications from AJCR (All Japan Coffee Roasting Championship) and JCQA (Japan Coffee Quality Examination). They've mastered the techniques of blending and roast development for each batch.

Here's the thing about blending: coffee origins and harvests change year to year. The same farm, the same varietal, can taste different from one season to the next depending on weather, soil conditions, and countless other factors.

Keeping a blend consistent – so that Asa Tsuyu always tastes like Asa Tsuyu and Hokkaido Blend always tastes like Hokkaido Blend – requires constant adjustment, careful profiling, and incredible attention to detail.

That expertise is exactly what makes this duo work. These aren't just two random coffees thrown together. They're two carefully crafted blends, distinct in character but united by the same commitment to quality.

The Magic of Sumiyaki Charcoal-Roasting

Both coffees in the Asa-Yuu Duo are roasted using the Sumiyaki (炭焼き) method – a traditional Japanese charcoal-roasting technique.

If you've tried our coffee before, you know this makes a huge difference. If you haven't... let me explain!

Sumiyaki roasting uses high-quality Binchotan charcoal to generate heat. The process is slower and more labor-intensive than modern gas or electric roasting, but the results are worth it.

 

Here's the science: charcoal roasting produces far-infrared radiation, which penetrates deep into the coffee beans and heats them evenly from the core outward. This eliminates excess water (which can cause acidic, harsh flavors) while preserving the bean's natural oils and aromatics.

The result?

Coffee that's sweeter, smoother, and more balanced – with a subtle smokiness that adds depth without overwhelming the other flavors.

If you've ever wondered why Japanese coffee tastes different from what you're used to, Sumiyaki is a big part of the answer!

How to Enjoy Your Duo

The beauty of this set is its versatility. You can follow the "morning and evening" concept – Asa Tsuyu to start the day, Hokkaido to wind down – but honestly, there's no wrong way to enjoy these.

For Asa Tsuyu Blend:
This light roast shines brightest with pour-over or paper filter brewing. You get a clean, bright cup that highlights those fruity, floral notes. It also makes an amazing espresso if you like concentrated, punchy flavors.

For Hokkaido Blend:
Super versatile! Great as drip coffee, excellent as espresso. Rich and satisfying no matter how you brew it. (It's also available in single-serve pour-over packets and K-Cups if you want convenience!)

Pro Tip: Use filtered water with moderate mineral content – not distilled, but not heavily mineralized either. And store your beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place!

The Price (20% Off!)

Let's talk numbers.

Purchased separately, Asa Tsuyu Blend and Hokkaido Blend would cost you $50.

With the Asa-Yuu Blend Duo, you get both for $39 – that's 20% off!

We also have a sample size option: 50g × 2 packages for just $10. It's enough for several cups of each, so you can try both before committing to the full-size packages.

And remember – all coffee is roasted to order. When you place an order, Sapporo Coffee Kan roasts your beans fresh, packages them in nitrogen-flushed bags with one-way valves, and ships directly from Hokkaido.

You're getting coffee that's days old, not months. You can taste the difference!

Try the Asa-Yuu Blend Duo!

We hope you'll give this set a try.

Whether you're new to Japanese coffee or you've been with us for years, we think you'll love the way these two blends complement each other.

Morning to sunset. Dawn to dusk. Two coffees, one perfect day.

 

Buy Asa-Yuu Blend Duo Now!

	Asa Tsuyu Blend	Hokkaido Blend
Roast Level	Light	Medium
Origins	Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia	Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia
Taste Profile	Bright, clean, fruity, floral	Rich, smooth, mild bitterness, full-bodied
Best For	Morning, pour-over, espresso	Anytime, all brewing methods