Sapporo Coffee | Mermaid Coffee Roasters - Sapporo | A Café Inside Tanukikoji Shopping Street | Self-Roasted Specialty Coffee
In Japan, what you most often drink is traditional Japanese-style coffee, usually medium or even dark roast, with a heavy body and a long finish. On this trip to Hokkaido, I wanted to find a café offering light-roast pour-over coffee to try out, and also to pick up some beans to bring back to Taiwan. So I came to this place a friend recommended, located in the Tanukikoji shopping street: Mermaid Coffee Roasters.
📜 Information
- Address: 1 Chome-12-12 Minami 3 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0063
- Opening Hours: 08:00 - 18:00
- Phone: +81112072244
- Official Website: https://mermaid-coffee-roasters.com/
📍 Location & Interior
Located near the entrance of the Tanukikoji shopping street, Mermaid Coffee Roasters has such an understated exterior that it almost blends into the street. If it weren't for the crowd lining up at the door visible from afar, it would be easy to walk right past. This shop is a new store that only opened in Sapporo's Tanukikoji 1-chome in 2023, an expansion from the main store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and it has already become one of Sapporo's most popular pour-over coffee shops.
When we arrived that day it wasn't even ten in the morning, yet the shop was already full, with quite a few customers gathered outside waiting to get in. Besides serving pour-over and espresso-based coffee, they also sell scones and thick-cut toast. Many customers come here to order a scone or toast paired with a freshly brewed cup of coffee as their breakfast set for the day.
The shop has two floors. The first floor is an open seating area where you can find your own seat after ordering; the second floor is a Japanese tatami space where you need to take off your shoes. The atmosphere there is quieter, ideal for customers who want to sit for a while chatting or slowly savoring their coffee.
The whole shop is decorated mainly in wood and warm tones, a cozy and comfortable space paired with plenty of dried flower bouquets that makes you feel very relaxed. The small mermaid motifs seen here and there, along with cute little decorations, add a bit of playful charm.
☕️ Coffee
The most special thing here is that there's a Tasting Area offering as many as 12 kinds of pour-over coffee to sample. You can first taste the flavors of the different beans, then decide on the taste you like before ordering at the counter. For those who love coffee but want to try different flavors, it's a very thoughtful touch.
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| Besides coffee, the shop also sells scones, thick-cut toast, and handmade cookies |
That day we ordered a pour-over and a latte. The latte also lets you choose between two different coffee bases and sample them beforehand, so every cup you order is sure to be a taste you enjoy.
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| I picked two kinds of beans to take home and enjoy |
Overall, Mermaid Coffee Roasters is not just a shop that serves quality coffee—it's also a little corner that lets you slow down and feel the warmth of Sapporo. What left the deepest impression on me was that whenever a group of customers left, the staff would personally see them to the door, bidding farewell with a smile and warm words. The experience was really wonderful.
If you're also planning a trip to Sapporo and looking for a café to enjoy some coffee, I highly recommend coming here to sit for a while and drink a well-chosen cup of good coffee. That said, I'd suggest arriving a bit early, especially on weekend mornings, so you can enjoy the quietest, most comfortable space.
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