Kappu Coffee: A Japanese Coffee Subscription Box

I love coffee! Lattes, cappuccino, iced coffees or even matcha espresso, I am down to try it all. However, it was only in the last few years that I discovered coffee and really fell in love. While exploring Japan and trying out new vegan cafes in Tokyo, I noticed some big differences in taste and quality and wanted to see how I could get that high-quality coffee in my own home.

That’s when I discovered Kappu Coffee, a Japanese coffee subscription service which elevates your morning brew and takes your coffee experience to the next level. It’s completely customisable and as Kappu works with top Japanese roasters you’re guaranteed to get delicious beans straight to your door.

As the experts pick out the finest roast, you know you’re going to get the best which is particularly great for me, being a a coffee newbie. Keep reading to grab your money off code!

What is Kappu Coffee?

Kappu is a monthly Japanese coffee subscription service that works with top Japanese coffee roasters to provide the best coffee beans. Each bag delivered to your door is freshly roasted to guarantee freshness and flavour.

What’s special about this Japanese coffee subscription?

What makes Kappu so great is the fact that it’s tailor-made to your specific taste preferences for the amount of coffee you usually drink. So each month, you’ll receive 3 bags of beans from local entrepreneurs around Japan who are passionate about producing high-quality coffee.

They source coffee with the highest standards while making sure it’ll suit all people, and a wide range of tastes. The beans are roasted in small batches and sent out pretty swiftly to ensure the freshness and rich flavour of the beans.

How does Kappu subscription work?

To get started you just need to answer a couple of things on their website which will decide which coffee plan is the best choice for you.

Pick your roast level:
Light roast
Medium roast
Dark roast
Or they pick for you

Choose your subscription plan:
Monthly
3 month plan
6 month plan
12 month plan

How many cups of coffee you drink:
~1 cup per day
~2 cups per day

How much does it cost?

The Kuppu subscription cost is dependent on how many cups of coffee you drink in the day, as well as how many month’s worth of coffee you want to be delivered to your door. The more you end up ordering, the cheaper it gets per month.

For example, 450g worth of coffee:

Monthly – $54.99
3 month plan – $159.99 / $53.33 per month
6 month plan – $319.99 / $53.33 per month
12 month plan – $599.99 / $49.99 per month

If you only have a cup of coffee a day they’ll send over 450g of coffee beans for $54.99. However, if you drink more than one, they’ll send over 900g of coffee beans for $109.99.

What’s in the box?

Nagasawa Coffee

Region: Yirgacheffe Gedeb Ethiopia
Variety: Heirloom
Process: Washed
Elevation: 1900-2100m
Flavour: Lemon, peach, tea rose
Roasting Level: Light

Tasse Coffee

Region: Felipe Arcila Colombia
Variety: Castillo
Process: Infused honey
Elevation: 1800-2000m
Flavour: Strawberry, wine, citrus
Roasting Level: Light

Be a Good Neighbour

Region: Sitto da Torte Brazil
Variety: Yellow Catuai
Process: Natural
Elevation: 1300m
Flavour: Apricot, fig, orange, mixed cherry
Roasting Level: Medium

What does “infused with honey” mean?

I was a little thrown when I first saw the word ‘honey’ however, I have since learned from talking to the team at Kappu that the term ‘honey’ in the context of coffee does not mean honey made from bees. Instead, it is a method of processing coffee cherries where some or all of the sticky mucilage is left on the beans during the drying process to enhance the flavour of the beans.

I have been reassured that the process doesn’t involve any animal products and the coffee is vegan-friendly!

How to enjoy your Kappu coffee

Apart from the coffee I’ve enjoyed in cafes, I’ve only previously tried instant or filtered coffee from a machine at home. So when I received the beans, I did not know what the correct way to enjoy them was.

Kappu gave me some advice on how to enjoy the coffee as a beginner, and this is what they shared with me.

How to brew the perfect coffee

A common ratio is 1:16 – 1 part coffee to 16 parts of water.
Boil water and let it sit until it reaches 93-94°C (200°F)
Place the filter in the dripper and rinse with hot water to remove any paper taste.

Grind the coffee beans to a medium-fine consistency (like sea salt)
Place the coffee in the filter and pour just enough water to wet them. Let the coffee “bloom” for 30 seconds to release gasses.
Pour in the remaining water in a circular motion, making sure to evenly saturate the coffee grounds.

Let the coffee drip through the filter for 2-3 minutes.
Enjoy!

Coffee in Japan

Kissatens or coffee shops gained popularity during the Showa era and now Japan is a nation full of coffee lovers.

Iced coffee, iced lattes, as well as a variety of hot coffees, are available in supermarkets, convenience stores and even vending machines, you can literally get it anywhere. Compared to England, there is a bigger consumer base for iced coffees (black), but of course, the taste and quality really vary.

There are so many cafes and modern coffee shops around Japan using new and exciting brewing techniques to make sure you get the best cup of joe. From pour-over coffee to hand-drip and everything in between, they take their coffee-making very seriously here!

Want to know where to get your caffeine fix in Tokyo? Have a look at this post showing cafe with milk alternatives!

Is it worth buying?

First off, you might look at the price and wonder if it’s a bit high, but let me tell you it’s a great buy! Comparing Kappu Coffee to my usual instant coffee, the difference is night and day!

The smell alone was amazing, and the taste? So incredibly fresh and rich making it a great choice for coffee enthusiasts. Plus, knowing you’re supporting independent coffee roasters in Japan adds an extra layer of satisfaction to each cup.