WE’RE HITTIN’ EAST TOKYO WITH FREEPOUR COFFEE ON TAP, TOP-NOTCH ESPRESSO, AN AUSSIE-JAPANESE INSPIRED MENU AND A FIT-OUT DREAMT UP OVER ZOOM.
FREEPOUR COFFEE ON TAP
History has it that East Tokyo’s Hamacho area was reborn three times. It went from Samurai town filled with lords and swords, to a fine restaurant precinct for wealthy merchants and local geishas. Following an earthquake and World War 2, it became a craft precinct.
With shared ties to blades, restaurants, and craft, Hamacho feels like home. Even more so considering that, just a walk away in Ryogoku, is our roastery, where we’ve been roasting for around five years for some of the best cafes and coffee bars in Japan.
And although it may be a while before you get to Tokyo, we wanted to seed this idea early; Come stay in the hood. Take the T-CAT from the airport straight to Hamacho. Book in at the Hamacho Hotel and enjoy Single O across the road each morning from 7am. Sure beats canned coffee, which is about the only coffee on offer that early. Enjoy four nearby train lines; You can reach Shinjuku and Shibuya in under 25 minutes. And we can point you to some local attractions (including Samurai town relics).
FREEPOUR COFFEE ON TAP
Spot us from the street by the coffee extravaganza on our six tap Freepour Coffee On Tap bar. Originally created for our Surry Hills café by Six Simple Machines, the Freepour taps pour self-serve, fresh batch brew coffee. The only thing that will take time is agonising over which to have. Crazy good Colombian microlots, and International Guest Roaster on Tap, are a couple of features over Japan’s winter. We’re excited to launch Freepour Coffee On Tap, the first in Japan and the only six tap bar in the world, to the land that loves both high quality craft and convenience.
ESPRESSO IN SAFE HANDS, ON AN UPCYCLED COFFEE BAR
We’ll mind a space for you at the sustainable fibreboard coffee bar, made from upcycled clothing by local waste-fighting business, Paneco. If you want a milky coffee, we’ve got our signature blend Reservoir, and for black based espresso, rotating single origins, all served in local hand-made ceramic cups crafted in Arita. Spirited Barista League place-winner Ken Takakura is at the barista helm, Café Manager Yasako Miura is on the floor, along with an awesome team that we welcome to the Single O family.
JAFFLES AND PIES – WHAT HOMESICK BLUES?!
Aussie ex-pats in Japan, we’ve got you sorted for any true blue food cravings. Created by Single O customer and chef, Creasion’s Yu Sasaki, Hamacho menu highlights include Aussie Jaffles, seasonal spins on the nostalgic Aussie sandwich, with contrasting crunchy and oozy textures sure to please the Japanese along with Aussie visitors. Plus there’s Pies That Fly, freshly baked (and sold) at regular intervals and filled with chunky beef, spiced chickpea and seasonal veg, and more. And no foray out of Sydney for us could be without Banana Bread With Espresso Butter.
OLYMPIC VILLAGE SINGLE O POP UP COFFEE CART
A little side story, but while we’re on the subject on Aussie visitors, we had a blast looking after the Aussie athletes coffee needs in Tokyo this past August. We couldn’t get there, but the excitement sure spurred us on while we were building our café from afar.
ZOOMING IN ON SUSTAINABILITY AND CREATIVITY
With deft design steering by Luchetti Krelle, and minds as open as our laptops, Single O Hamacho was created throughout lockdown. The front counter, all curves and corten, nods to Hamacho’s craft. A striking monochrome mural by Washio Tomoyuki covers the back wall. Inspired by a mash-up of Australia and Japan, Washio penned this detailed feast in texta pen. Mad.
Walk in under ‘Cloud’, a textural ceiling artwork by Ren Fernando, made from repurposed paper and painted with, among other things, coffee. Speaking of repurposed, you may recognise it from our old CBD store.
Recycled plastic table tops, reminiscent of the Surry Hill’s multi-colour version, are another recognisable feature, and we can’t wait to serve you breakfast and lunch on them, along with an incredible line up of coffees. We’d love to see any of your mates in Tokyo who’ll come ‘Tap In’ to Single O Hamacho for our opening weeks, and we look forward to serving you when you next travel to Tokyo.
Huge thanks to everyone mentioned above, along with Single O legends, Heads Of Japan, Yu and Mamiko Yamamoto.
Single O Hamacho is now open!
Location: 3-16-7 Nihonbashi Hamacho Chuo Tokyo
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 7:30AM – 7:00PM, Sat – Sun 08:00AM – 7:00PM
Photo Credit: Koji Shimamura
