The perfect place for a coffee break in busy Shinjuku, 4/4 Seasons serves up a well-curated selection of single-origin beans roasted in house daily. Up at the front of the café you’ll be greeted by the roaster alongside tubs of beans – if you’re lucky enough, you can catch the staff in action, meticulously measuring and carefully roasting their beans all while keeping track of the process via computer.
The beans at 4/4 (pronounced ‘all’, it turns out) are sourced from seven countries, and the shop speciality is variations on light roasts matching the beans in question. On our visit, they recommended a delicate roast from Burundi which gave off notes of persimmon and black honey once hand-dripped into the cup. The shop also offers a breakfast menu which includes a granola bowl and a savoury galette, as well as a fine selection of cakes and bread, all baked in-store.