Bear Pond Espresso, Shimo Kitazawa

Never let it be said that Shimokita is not quirky and fun. There’s a whole store selling ‘rescue’-themed goods, like this silly shirt.

Ever since seeing it on this blog, I’ve been regretting not trying the coffee at Bear Pond when I first went to Shimokita around this time last year. It looked like a cool place – spare, arty and American – but it was pretty full, and I just noted it and kept walking. Today I went back, there was no one (it was a work day during Golden Week; I was off, other people weren’t. Suckaaaaaaz!) except the owners, and it was awesome.

They speak good English, certainly good enough to put up No Photos signs all over the place. Probably too many people like me who saw the blog and wanted to blog it themselves, but still, poop on that. I couldn’t take pictures of the coffee, but the ristretto was insane, and I don’t say that lightly. I’m not even a coffee snob, so the fact that I loved the tiny dribble of sludgy, syrupy, dense, delicious coffee essence means it must be something special. Not everyone will feel happy at paying up for something so small and so unique. If the preceding piqued your interest, you might want to try it. Like I also tried the macchiato. Anyway, it’s on what I like to think of as the ‘fun street’ in Shimokita, on the quieter North side.

Sure, but what’s the bear doing in the pond?
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