Ogawa Coffee – An Urban Oasis
Nestled in the now booming neighborhood of Downtown Crossing, you’ll pass by an unassuming, minimalist coffee shop called Ogawa Coffee. Ogawa Coffee is a Japanese roaster, and brought their first international location to right here in Boston. We are truly lucky to have this gem of a cafe in a neighborhood known for the hustle and bustle of the city grind. They are so heavily focused and precise in what they do – it is a true urban oasis.
Upon arrival, I felt as though I had escaped my daily routine – it is clean, minimalist and bright. Natural sunlight is a focus here, with floor to ceiling windows – a real sanctuary. A reasonable amount of people filled the tiny space around 1:00 pm. The cafe boasts only a few tables, however they do have stadium style seating in the back, which is something unique I have never seen before. The stadium seats overlook the baristas and allows anyone to catch a glimpse of their craft if desired. Once I got to looking at their menu, I was bit overwhelmed. It’s difficult to choose – so many styles and blends! I don’t think you could go wrong though, everything here has been meticulously perfected. Even before I got my drink, I realized how peaceful the atmosphere is. It was simply a great space to sit back, relax and take in the delicious aromas filling the air.
I sampled a few things at Ogawa, one of which was their “Signature Drink”. The signature drink is actually two drinks presented on a tray – one chilled and one hot. The idea here is to offer a contrast in temperature, texture and taste to show the true versatility of espresso. The chilled espresso was something I have never experienced before, yet had familiar characteristics of my beloved cappuccinos. You still get the foamy consistency of a cappuccino, but amplified with a shaved espresso topping and served in a cold martini glass.
The chilled espresso was sweet with just the right amount of bitter that I love. This was super delicious and very unique. The thicker texture took a sip or two to get used to, but it’s actually quite smooth. Of course, their cappuccino was delicious as well – but what really stands out here is the attention to detail. There are multiple steps in creating the cappuccinos, with exact ratios of milk to espresso to create the beautiful art. The presentation showcases true talent and a work of art. The latte art is created by Haruna Murayama, who is the 2010 World Latte Art Champion. She was there at the time and I was able to watch her and all of the other baristas ensure perfect craftsmanship and hospitality every time.
After being blown away simply by the craft shown here, I tried a taste of their matcha latte and their matcha smoothie. I have not tried to many matcha lattes before, but I can definitely say this one will be hard to beat. The matcha is high quality and originates in Japan. It was perfectly sweetened, a little bit nutty with an ever so slightly earthly flavor. It held a perfect bright green color. Their matcha smoothie was incredibly refreshing and light as well and I look forward to grabbing one of those in the near future.
I am incredibly excited to head back to Ogawa Coffee. As someone who takes their coffee black, I can’t wait to try their House Blend Kyoto and Kalita Pour Over Coffees. That being said, I must say that I can not see Ogawa being a daily occurrence. As someone who is always in a rush to grab coffee and run, especially in the morning, Ogawa Coffee is no such place. It is a true escape that you should set time aside for to grasp the entire concept of the cafe. To dive into the aromas and flavors, over peace and good company.
They offer various breakfast and lunch items to sit over – although I didn’t sample, their menu looks tasty. They even offer up a few favorites traditionally found only in Japan. Coming here may set your wallet back a bit if you’re looking for a regular occurrence coffee shop (the signature drink clocks in around $10, coffees between $2.50-5), but it is definitely a treat – something I will block out a large chunk of time in the calendar to look forward to.
10 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02108.
(Downtown Crossing, DTX)
7 AM – 6 PM, Monday – Friday
10 AM – 6 PM, Saturday – Sunday