Tucked away in a quiet street south of the ever-chaotic Namba Station, ‘Monkey Coffee’ is just the spot for a laid-back break over a cup of expertly brewed speciality joe.
‘Roasting coffee beans is like baking,’ says owner and head roaster Keisuke Nagase, who speaks great English. ‘You don’t want to leave the dough raw in the middle, nor do you want it burned. It has to be just right.’ That’s a roundabout way of saying that Nagase is a perfectionist, who can always be counted on to get the best out of his carefully selected beans.
Osaru Coffee serves around eight house-roasted varieties at all times, with light and medium roasts usually making up the bulk of the selection. Coffee starts from ¥650, while the breakfasts (‘morning set’; available until 11.30am) are a steal at ¥750. On a sunny day, arrive bright and early to sneak a seat on the small terrace out front.