Mel Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Osaka

Oh MAN, Mel Coffee Roasters is good. I’m a total coffee nerd and saw they had great reviews so I decided to take a short walk from my hotel one morning because my gf was still asleep. Around 11am there was already a long line that extended out into the street. However the staff quickly helped and redirected us to form a much safer line that that snaked together really tightly hugging the shop. Shinsaibashi has a lot more affluent clientele than what I’m used to that may or may not get the whole public safety thing, but hey it was the AM and nobody had their coffee yet. Total time spent in line was about 20 min or so, but when I got near the front I had a lot of questions regarding roast type and tasting notes. So many they actually asked if I was a barista LOL. Coming from CA (s/o Verve in Santa Cruz, go Slugs) the whole hipster 3rd wave coffee scene isn’t new to me and this place felt like it was on that type of vibe. Looking around, everyone else in line looked like they were there just to buy an expensive pour over coffee and take an IG pic. I was no different but at least I knew what I was looking for LOL. In line they ask if you’re there to buy coffee, beans, or both just to get the line moving. It surprised me there were actually a few geisha bean options that ran 4,500 JPY a cup which either says “I really love coffee” or “I have a lot of money” but there were other options too for people that just want to enjoy a good cup of coffee. Took my order in line and handed me a slip for checkout at the register to pick beans. Pretty sure they take card but I paid cash because I didn’t have the PayPay app on my phone and lacked the brain capacity to download it then and there to pay. Mind you this place is small, couldn’t believe the staff are right there behind the counter timing pour overs and roasting beans within just arms length of each other. I went with one of the shop’s exclusive roasts for my cup after some discussion about which had the most fruit-forward and floral notes and I walked away with some Kenyan beans too to take home. Selecting beans they ask for your roast preference and help you pick if you can’t decide. I prefer light but went with whatever had the most recently stamped roast date. The person who helped me out definitely steered me in the right direction because my cup was so good I drank it all before I got back to my hotel. Speaking on the beans I just ground them at home and brewed a few cups with a v60 immersion brewer and OH MY GOODNESS this coffee is bomb. The drip here and there were both tremendous. Notes are on hit. Definitely worth my wait and had a positive experience with the staff. Very patient with someone who knows little to no Japanese and extremely knowledgeable about coffee. 1000000% coming back here when I’m in Osaka again. 10/10 would recommend to rich touristy influencers and coffee snob aficionados alike. Just stay out of the street please and don’t block other businesses. Respectfully...

I'm a big fan of specialty coffee, and in a specialty coffee forum, I was strongly recommended to check out Mel Coffee in Osaka. When I arrived, there was quite a long line, which raised my expectations and excitement.

Once I reached the counter, I asked the staff which filter coffee was their personal favorite. They recommended a particular variety, and I trusted their advice without question. I also ordered a classic flat white for my wife. The staff handed me the card reader, and I paid blindly without checking the amount.

We were asked to wait outside the café. A few moments later, I glanced at my phone and saw that the two coffees had cost 5,500 yen (around $38). My first thought was, “Damn, I must have accidentally ordered two bags of coffee beans instead of two cups of coffee.” However, not wanting to be rude, I accepted the mistake and waited for what I assumed would be my “coffee beans.”

After 10-15 minutes, the staff brought us a brochure and two to-go cups: one filter coffee and one flat white. That’s when it hit me—my recommended filter coffee had cost nearly $28.

I came here for two coffees, not to buy a stake in the café. I travel a lot, both privately and for work, and I truly love high-quality coffee. But in all my years of exploring the world, I’ve never had a cup of coffee that cost $28.

For the record, the taste was good—but it wasn’t mind-blowing. So, if you decide to visit, be extra cautious about what you order. Otherwise, you might end up with the most expensive four sips of coffee...

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

“Mel’s Café: The perfect spot for delicious cappuccino and impromptu photo shoots!”

After two weeks of caffeinated exploration through Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kyoto, I finally stumbled upon Mel’s Café and discovered a truly delightful cappuccino – definitely worth the 700 Yen! The blend was rich and velvety, making it the best I’ve had in Japan so far.

However, a couple of things kept this experience from being perfect. First, they serve their amazing cappuccino in a paper cup. Because who wouldn't want to sip a delicious, meticulously crafted drink out of something that’s typically reserved for office coffee? It’s a bit like serving a gourmet meal on a paper plate – just doesn’t do it justice! Plus, not exactly a win for sustainability.

Secondly, the café seems to be a hotspot for the “youngsters” social media enthusiasts. Expect a backdrop of camera clicks and selfies galore. It’s like being in the middle of a spontaneous photo shoot. So, if you’re looking for a quiet place to enjoy your coffee, you might want to bring noise-canceling headphones.

All in all, Mel’s serves up a fantastic cappuccino worth trying, even if you have to drink it from a paper cup while dodging selfie sticks. If they switched to real cups and toned down the photo ops, it would be a 5-star...