Dialogue - Coffee Uranino -

It all started when I started subscribing to newspapers

My passion for coffee began way back when I was in college.

When he was a sophomore at university, Uranino started subscribing to newspapers after taking a seminar class that debated current events. However, several weeks passed without him getting into the habit of getting up early in the morning to read the newspaper.

"I realized that I couldn't continue like this. I thought that I would be able to get up to drink coffee, so I bought a Chemex and a HARIO drip kettle. Then, several years later, I gradually got into the habit of getting up early, making coffee, and reading the newspaper while doing so."

As he reflects, "If I hadn't started reading newspapers, I probably would never have become so interested in the world of coffee," and you never know what situation in your daily life might bring you the opportunity to do what you want to do.

The coffee mill he uses was made in 1950 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Peugeot, a company that sold it in Italy. "I really like the shape, the feel of the iron, and the grinding sound is soothing. The faint aroma of the beans makes me feel like I'm really facing the coffee."
"I want to open a coffee shop."

Uranino made this decision when he was a second-year university student and started to become fascinated with coffee. His interest naturally led him to look at the tools used to brew coffee.

"I did an image search online for "cool kettle" to find a kettle for pouring hot water into, and came across one made by an artist living in Nara Prefecture. I was so impressed that I went to an exhibition he was holding in Osaka. Since then, I have saved up money from part-time jobs and other work, and have been attending solo exhibitions to acquire my favorite household items. When you actually see and hear the creators' thoughts and the stories behind their creations, your attachment to the items grows even stronger."

Ryuta Fukumura describes his sake cups as "indispensable for expressing coffee."
As he pursued the things he loved, Uranino began attending many exhibitions since his student days.

"Through the exhibition, I was able to meet creators such as Ryuta Fukumura. As we talked, I realized that people who continue to do what they love are truly human, and I became increasingly attracted to the works and lives of these wonderful people."

As Uranino-san talks about, the story you have shared with your favorite items is something only you can experience. By spending a long time with them, they have become indispensable, and the more you use them, the more special they become as you accumulate daily memories.

I want to express the spiritual nourishment that tends to be lost in busy days through the time spent drinking coffee.

Uranno says that in order to make delicious coffee, the temperature of the first drop dropped on the ground beans is important.
In his second year of university, he decided that he wanted to open a coffee shop. In his second year as a working adult, he took a roasting class on his days off to learn the basics. Then, when it was time to quit his job, he decided to get his long-desired roasting machine. While he was working sincerely on what he loved, he wondered why he was so fascinated by coffee that he quit his job.

"Coffee has saved me in many ways in my life. For me, coffee is something to enjoy alone in silence. It's an irreplaceable time for me to face myself and clear my scattered thoughts with a cup of coffee.

When a cup of coffee is brought to your mouth, it is important not only whether it suits your palate, but also what kind of atmosphere the coffee shop has and how the owner brews it. The cup of coffee in front of you reflects the life of the person who brewed it, and it helps the person who tastes it realize what is truly important, and connects them to the tomorrow after they leave the door. Because coffee has helped me in this way, I want to create a place like that for others as well."

The background behind a cup of coffee

During the preparation period for going online, they conducted repeated experiments with the roaster to ensure a consistent taste quality.
"We want you to enjoy coffee without preconceptions"

After three months of preparation, the online version of "Coffee Uranino" was completed. The coffee beans are named "1", "2", and "3", and details such as the type of beans and their flavors are not listed.

"I want people to enjoy coffee purely, without being bound by names or other information. When I receive a message I reply with details, but I would like people to give their coffee a name that fits the background of their own life. With this in mind, I have deliberately kept information about the type of beans, flavor, etc. secret."

Uranino pays close attention to detail when selecting his tools, and that attention to detail is apparent in every cup of coffee.
We live in an age where information is easily accessible through the Internet. While being easy to understand and convenient is a good thing, sometimes it doesn't require any imagination.

"If you are passive when it comes to information, you may think you understand it somehow, but in reality you won't understand the background, and I feel that this is where your interest in coffee ends. If you drink a coffee without any information and it suits your taste, I thought that you might be able to actively approach local producers, producing areas, and the background of how the coffee is made, and so I set up a slightly unusual "bean sale"."

The person himself is extracted into that cup.

"I always tried not to get in the way of the customers," recalls Uranino. When grinding the beans, he would step aside so that the customers could enjoy the view from the window, and his behavior was like that of a stage performer.
The "Ceramic Artist Ryuta Fukumura Exhibition" began on February 20th. During the exhibition, a cup of coffee and a kind of sweets were served at "Coffee Uranno" in the cafe, using Fukumura's ware.

"I was so nervous on the day that my hands were shaking," he said. It's not hard to imagine that he must have made a lot of preparations for his first attempt at serving in front of strangers. The time he spent carefully facing the coffee with all five senses felt like enjoying the tea ceremony.

"It was an invaluable experience to be able to create the atmosphere together with the audience. In the reflecting space, I could hear the voices of children outside, and it was great to be able to jam together with the sounds of birds and other things."

This chocolate terrine went through multiple prototypes before being exhibited.
"I never imagined that my love of coffee would lead to such a vista."

Immediately after it finished, Uranino-san faced the view he had seen by taking that step and the challenges that lay ahead.

In 2021, they are preparing to open a new store, starting with choosing a location. What goals do they have in mind for the future?

"In 2021, we will be preparing to open our doors as Coffee Uranino. Eventually I would like to be able to serve a limited number of groups per day, like a tea ceremony, in a remote location, such as deep in the mountains. However, there is no need to rush, I will decide on some guidelines by the end of the year and, with the cooperation of many people, create a space where people can find peace of mind through coffee."