The talents of an award-winning barista and an acclaimed architecture studio come together in this compact roastery cafe, tucked away in semi-suburban Kyodo. Naruse Inokuma Architects, whose past projects range from futuristic capsule hotels to mountainside villas, have transformed the ground level of a 50-year-old residential building into an inviting venue that showcases the superior coffee created by Takeshi Kondo. As well as winning awards at a string of events including the Japan AeroPress Championship, Kondo is among the few Japanese to have ‘Q Grader’ status: the coffee world’s equivalent of a wine sommelier.
Inside, design that enables the premises to be flooded with sunlight creates the impression that this is a larger, airier space than it actually is, while still keeping the vibe cosy. Meanwhile, an assortment of vivid artworks line the walls, including the sleeve that legendary graphic designer Peter Saville created for the New Order single ‘Fine Time’, from which this roastery takes its name.
On pleasant days, a verdant open space directly in front of Fine Time, complete with bench seating, provides another spot at which to sample Kondo’s coffee. With a focus on coffee that combines complexity with a sweet fruitiness, the barista offers around 20 varieties of bean. Note that Fine Time closes irregularly, so check the venue’s Instagram before heading out.