In life, the importance of simple joys can not be overstated. They are the small things within our days that provide a sense of relief, comfort, or escape. Like many, one of my simple joys is having a freshly brewed cup of coffee in the morning. Years ago I was content with a bit of pre-ground, store bought coffee (or even instant coffee). As the years have gone by, I’ve become more selective. At present, I purchase coffee beans from suppliers, grind and brew fresh coffee in the morning. Some may call this a bit “snobby”, but as my simple joy, I like to enjoy it the way I see fit. That being said, I still have much to learn when it comes to making a good cup of coffee. Even with good quality beans, variables such as the size of the grind, temperature of the water, and pouring speed can change the flavor profile significantly. My skills are not at the level I would like them to be, and I admire seeing and tasting coffee made by people who have honed their craft over several years.

This past weekend, I was able to attend a coffee festival in Tochigi. Here, I saw many different coffee vendors that each had their own spin on the drink. A nice surprise, the first stand we went to was run by one of my students from a previous teaching job. She and her husband opened a coffee shop a few years back (Mitsubachi no Sato) but this was the first time I had seen the business up close. As I was with my girlfriend, we each got a different blend. I had a Brazilian blend, while she got an Ethiopian. Both drinks were exceptional, with deep, earthy notes from the Brazil, while the Ethiopia had more fruity tones. Both were good, but the Brazil was more in line with my personal preference.

As we walked around the festival, a speaker in the distance was blasting Disney music in Japanese. It was interesting to hear familiar tunes being sung in Japanese. In addition, a violinist was walking around the venue performing for the guests. It was nice to see him delight those around him, and he appeared to enjoy his time as well.

When we finished our coffees, we ventured to find more. I decided to try a vendor by the name of Hitsuji Coffee (Sheep Coffee). The logo was cute, and frankly, that’s part of what drew me in. I decided to try their house blend. It had a light, pleasant taste. It’s a coffee I can see myself enjoying while sitting in a café, possibly doing a bit of studying. They offered a large variety of different coffees, and if I had the time (and the caffeine tolerance), I would have tried some of the other coffees. I’ll have to seek them out in the future.

The last coffee of the day came from a vendor known as Hello Coffee. Besides the undeniable Beatles influence for their logo, a notable thing is their offering of Hojicha (roasted green tea), in addition to various types of coffee. We went for a Guatemala coffee, and the result was not disappointing. With a stimulating aroma and taste to match, this is another vendor I’ll remember for future coffee hunts. (As a side note, after exploring their Instagram page, I think the violinist mentioned earlier is attached to this venue).

Shortly after, we decided to head back home. I wish we could have tried coffee from all of the vendors, but there are always future events. Thanks to our friend at the first stall, we learned of another coffee event being held next weekend, so we’ll likely try to visit that as well. As a growing hobby of mine, I’m eager to discover more vendors and learn more about this magical drink.