When I travel to Japan, I especially love the old-fashioned coffee shops. I adore their dedication and purity; everyone who walks into the shop has only one goal: coffee. During my recent trip to Japan, I made a special pilgrimage to this 70-year-old establishment in Ginza, Tokyo, known as "Japan's first specialty coffee shop." Opening the door to the cafe, the dimly lit ambiance felt like stepping into a time tunnel. The decor, utensils, and even the coffee brewing methods in the shop remain unchanged, repeating yesterday into today, preserving Mr. Sekiguchi's dedication to coffee bit by bit. The air is filled with the historical scent of coffee, more precious than museum exhibits.
Mr. Ichiro Sekiguchi founded Cafe de L'ambre in 1948. His status was exalted; he was a national treasure in Japan's coffee industry. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 103. Though he is gone, the coffee has not cooled. The aroma lingers, people come and go, chatting casually. One unique feature of Cafe de L'ambre is its "aged coffee beans," some of which are up to 40 years old. Mr. Sekiguchi once said that aged coffee beans, like aged wine, mature and become mellower with time. The signature coffee, "Queen Amber," is made by chilling coffee with sugar and caramel, pouring it into a tall champagne glass, and then slowly adding unsweetened condensed milk. Drink it directly without stirring to experience the layers of flavor. Watching the barista pour water in circles, my mind follows the central point, feeling utterly relaxed.
