Nozy Coffee (CLOSED)

If the fresh-faced guys behind the counter look young, that's because they are: owner Masataka Nojo started the first branch of Nozy Coffee in Shonan in 2009 when he was still a university student. The shop's new incarnation is housed in a brightly lit space in Sangenjaya, just a block away from Setagaya Park. The bar is in the basement, with a roaster in the adjacent room, and there's a counter with stools on a mezzanine floor next to the entrance. The layout makes the place feel more spacious than it actually is – there are only four seats in the whole place, though there's plenty of room for people who don't mind standing. Espresso drinks are offered with a choice of single-origin beans, and the latte is served in a Bodum glass rather than a conventional cup. On the day of our visit, we're recommended the Mexican beans, which produce a drink with an agreeably bitter crema. The espressos are also very competently executed, and in a nice touch, there's a ¥250 discount if you buy some of Nozy's beans along with your drink.