Midori Coffee Is the Soothing Kissaten Coffee Culture Tradition We All Need in Our Lives Right Now

Stepping a foot onto the 1st floor of a building on Wahid Hasyim, there is a hidden café, surrounded by a Japanese restaurant and a spa parlor that have both been in business for a long time. The interior of this space is rejuvenating, offering an oasis of calm, hidden away from the bustling outside world.

Inside, there is a counter table for 2 people and a wall-mounted table for single seating or with a friend. Midori Coffee, known for its Pour Over brew, is loved among the retro video game community.

We’re here this morning to meet Mahesa, the owner of the place. When we arrived, he welcomed us with a heartwarming smile.

I spotted a video game next to the counter while making my way to get our brews. As a child who grew up in the 80s, this really was a blast from the past. They also offer games like Metal Slug and Puzzle Bobble, a real treat for those who want to tap into their nostalgia and remember what it was like when games were just 8-bit graphics.

”We used to have more machines. Since the pandemic started, I had to put them away”, he says.

For those of us who follow Japanese coffee culture, this renewed refocus on coffee seems very familiar. It’s reminiscent of a kissaten– a traditional Japanese-style tearoom that also serves craft coffee. Specifically, Meikyoku-kissa(ten). Most kisatten also function as breakfast and luncheon spots, serving sandwiches and light fare for meals. They have a nostalgic vibe and a slower pace than modern establishments. Think – places for quiet serious thinking and craft coffee, rather than sweet, frivolous drinks.

Midori Coffee stretches the definition of a kissaten somewhat. It serves a wider selection of food from its Japanese restaurant, and its music centers around J-pop (citypop), video game soundtracks, and 80’s anime songs instead of classical music. But, like other kissaten, Midori Coffee feels like stepping back in time and it is certainly a great place to enjoy coffee, art and music in a unique space.

As we sat, we talked about his favorite caffeine fix. He told me how his inspiration to start the company came after experiencing the coffee culture during a four and a half year stay in Tokyo.

“Our coffee beans are 100% Arabica,” he says, as he watches me sip my drink quietly. It was brewed nicely, leaving an orange-cocoa flavor in the aftertaste.

I tried Soft Shell Crab Karaage, which was a wonderfully unique pairing of deep fried goodness with my black coffee. Enjoying this combination reminded me of real Okinawan fast food.

The decor in Midori is unlike anywhere else. It’s filled with antique furniture and vintage toys. It has dim lighting and paintings of Mahesa’s artwork, but what is special about this place is that it also serves delicious kissaten food. The cuisine here tastes like home cooking and brings about a sentimentality for the past, even if it’s your first time trying a dish. I ordered Royal Milk Tea and an Ebi Gyu Roll (Japanese style tapas) for lunch, which all complimented each other perfectly.

If you’re looking to experience kissaten culture while having a bite to eat, Café Midori won’t let you down.

Next time you’re in the neighborhood, drop by, get your coffee and play a couple rounds of Puzzle Bobble, then head to work.

^{Midori Coffee’s Meikyoku-kissa(ten) set menu will be available starting Friday, 20 November through dine-in and delivery prepaid booking, exclusively on SELESA.}

The Deets