From a morning cup of coffee at the start of the workday to a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, SR Coffee Roaster & Bar is a comfortable companion for your break time in Kabuto-cho. In the 7th “Dialogue of Food,” we introduce coffee and cocktails with a deep and rich flavor, as well as recommended sweets that complement these drinks perfectly.

“SR” is an abbreviation of “Stockholm Roast,” a popular coffee roaster and cafe in Sweden. SR is operated jointly with a team from the home country that also sells roasted coffee beans wholesale, in pursuit of a truly high-quality space. Mr. Kensaku Sato, is a roaster of SR, received training in roasting coffee beans in Stockholm before opening the Kabuto-cho shop (in 2020).

“I had heard that Scandinavian coffee is mainly shallow roasted, but actually deep roasted coffee is also very tasty. As they are known for their ‘fika’ culture, where people drink coffee while eating something sweet, they consume a lot of coffee. I had the impression that if they had the time, they would enjoy conversation with coffee rather than alcohol,” he says. Their coffee is carefully roasted in a roasting machine placed at the entrance of the Kabuto-cho shop, and a cup of coffee with a rich aroma and flavor is served.

●coffee
The drip coffee system allows you to choose your favorite from five different types of beans, which change daily.

At SR, after selecting the beans to be purchased in Japan, the team in Japan decides on the approach to roasting, checking with the team in the home country to ensure that the beans are roasted to the highest quality. “The coffee beans that Stockholm Roast purchases from producers are clean and sweet with a clean aftertaste. So I try to roast them in a way that brings out that quality,” says Sato.

“As a coffee shop, our basic stance is that the coffee has to taste good. So we try to keep that to a minimum, while also providing delicious sweets, music, and books on the counter for the enjoyment of our customers.” Coffee beans roasted at the store are also available for purchase.

●Drip Negroni
SR also offers a menu of coffee-based cocktails. The “SR Gin & Tonic,” a combination of gin & tonic and iced coffee, the “Espresso Cocktail,” and the “Drip Negroni” shown in the photo can be ordered at any time of the day.

The Negroni, which has a bitter, clean taste blending gin, vermouth, and Campari, is run through a coffee dripper to give it a full aroma. “The key is to grind the beans coarsely,” Sato told us. The key is the taste of Campari and the bitterness of the coffee, and the flavor of the coffee adds depth and calmness to the strong citrus aroma.

●Carrot cake
Along with these drinks, there is a wide variety of sweet dishes to enjoy. SR is also involved in the management of a company café in Yurakucho, and Miho Katsumata, who is in charge of confectioneryof the café, works on developing the sweets menu in the kitchen there every day.

The carrot cake is characterized by its moist and rich texture, and although it is a large piece, you can easily eat a slice. The secret is the gentle flavor of the dough and the butter-free icing cream.

“Normally, it is made with butter, but here it is made only with cream cheese, lemon juice, and sugar. The acidity and lightness make it easy to eat even on a hot day, and it goes well with coffee or a mild latte. The rest of the ingredients are grated carrots, which are so plentiful you could say they are made almost entirely of carrots, raisins, and walnuts. We also use a lot of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, so you don’t have to worry about the greenness of the carrots.” Rice oil is used in the dough to bring the flavors of the ingredients together in a gentle way, making it a perfect everyday treat.

●Banana bread with milk ice cream
Banana bread, created with the idea of “a menu item that can be enjoyed as breakfast with coffee,” is topped with original handmade milk ice cream as an option.

The banana bread is also made with plenty of bananas and brown sugar to give it a mild and fluffy texture. When lightly toasted in the store, the contrast between the crispy surface and the moist filling creates an exquisite harmony.

The milk ice cream has a simple, soft, rustic flavor, made without eggs. When served, the ice cream is topped with cacao nibs for an extra crispy texture. Both the banana bread and ice cream are not too sweet, making it the perfect morning treat for those who want to spend a little time in the lap of luxury. By the way, the Jimbocho branch of SR is a “Coffee & Ice Cream Stand”, you can enjoy more varieties of ice cream and shakes made with them there.

There are times when you need to be inspired, and there are times when you need to relax and unwind. The SR’s coffee and sweets fits both of these situations and enhances the quality of your break time. The space where both are in perfect harmony and waiting for you without any change is Kabuto-cho.