Bear Pond Espresso — Restaurant in Tokyo

The famous Angel Stain was alright, but I'm not convinced that it's worth almost 700 ¥... The woman at the cash register was not really nice but not as rude or anything as others had mentioned in their reviews. What's really weird is that you're not allowed to take photographs and that you also can't have some of the coffees as takeaway (you're forced to sit down inside the shop - not kidding). I was there at 11:00 am sharp and only saw one customer before me, still the third customer who ordered the Angel Stain after me was told that they were not serving it anymore (they usually serve 10 a day... I don't really get how people could've been there before me?)

All in all: there's a weird atmosphere to the shop, the woman working there seems as if she's sick of tourists coming in, the Owner doesn't say a word and just does his thing at the coffee machine - it almost seems as if he doesn't even acknowledge most people who come in, I didn't feel comfortable or welcomed there and the Angel Stain was good but certainly didn't knock me off my chair. (and yes - it is bitter. For my taste, even a bit too bitter)

I want to add that I do honestly believe that they just aren't fond of "Gaijin" (Foreigners). Whenever Japanese customers came in the atmosphere changed on the spot. The lady at the cash register began making small talk. As soon as a foreigner came in she didn't even look him/her in the eyes twice. When I ordered she was the same way towards me. It was only after I said a few things in Japanese that she got nicer and even smiled.

All in all it was a weird experience. I think the way they advertise they just set the bar too high. I'm just glad that I went in there with realistic expectations so that I couldn't really be...

I heard about this place from the Internet, I was partly intrigued by the store layout and also the owner's rather (rumoured) combustible temper, and also his perfectionist attitude towards making the perfect espresso. He would not serve it or close the shop if he can't get the espresso right that day.

As some people here will say, I agree that the store / owner can be an acquired taste. That being said, I don't see any difference from a delicious place in France with a surly owner. As always, if you come in with a smile it's not going to be a problem.

I came here twice, the first time I got to try the espresso, and man was it worth the trek over. It's the best espresso I've ever had. I don't know what the coffee equivalent of an umami bomb is but THIS WAS IT. They also serve a drink called the dirty, which is cold milk with an espresso shot, that is also terrific.

The store itself is kind of a time capsule and an ode to the 70's rock music era (I'm guessing , I wasn't born then), as they play American music inside, and the owner and wife combo (wife especially) has that cool 70's east village look. You can also check out their merchandise, and you can also buy beans, which is cheaper than other comparable coffee shops around Tokyo (i.e. Blue Bottle). The area is also unlike the bustling areas of shibuya and shinjuku, so it's great to take in another side of Tokyo during...

This coffee shop is on my list of places to visit. After reading the reviews, I was surprised by its low rating for a coffee shop in Tokyo. Most reviews focused on the customer service rather than the actual taste of the coffee, so I decided to try it for myself.

• Coffee I ordered a hot TOP latte. The taste was okay, scoring a 7/10 for me. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either. I might try their dirty latte next time.

• Price I bought two hot TOP lattes, which are kind of their specialty. It cost ¥1300 for both, which I think is fair for specialty coffee.

• Customer Service There were many complaints about the customer service, but my experience was just okay—not terrible. The clerk didn’t smile at all, which might suggest he was tired. While I didn’t mind, some people might see that as unfriendly. I ordered in Japanese, but he responded in English, which confused me a bit. Maybe it was because I don’t look very Japanese.

• Payment The coffee shop didn't accept cashless payments. I couldn’t use my card, so I had to pay in cash. It’s 2024—why is that still a thing?

Overall, my feelings about the coffee shop are neutral. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn’t great either. I didn’t feel a warm atmosphere, but the...