Fukuoka Spring 2018: Manu Coffee

This is the third establishment in a row I’m writing about for my Fukuoka series. I hope you guys are enjoying the eclectic mix of food features so far! This time I’ll be talking about Manu Coffee, which is this super quaint coffee shop recommended to us by our AirBnB host. I loved the vibe so much I couldn’t resist giving it its own short but sweet blog post!

Manu Coffee has more than a handful of branches in Fukuoka already, but the one we went to stands a few blocks away from our apartment. It’s located at the far end of the Yanagibashirengo Market, overlooking the Naka River. You can also actually come from the street on the riverside.

Manu Coffee is a homegrown bean-to-cup specialty coffee shop. It’s considered a “trailblazer” in Fukuoka because of the way they carefully roast each batch of their beans to bring out their individual striking flavors. They have their own set of partner bean growers, whom they visit once a year to check up on. With Manu Coffee, it’s all about the quality of the beans, which also means their coffee can be quite expensive too.

To be completely honest with you, I was a bit overwhelmed by this menu. Everything on the first five rows appealed to me so I was at a loss for a while as I stared at this board. (Don’t feel pressured about taking your time to choose though. The people here are SUPER friendly!) But then I was in a matcha latte mood so I let my cravings take over.

In hindsight, I wish I ordered the French Press option on my first visit just so I can taste more clearly the unique roast of Manu Coffee, and then came back the next day for a Matcha Latte. This shop will burn a hole through my pocket and I would probably let it haha!

This branch of Manu Coffee is tiny, but it does have a second floor where you can sit on couches facing the windows. I super love the yellow walls! Aside from yellow being my favorite color, it’s the perfect shade that exudes a bright yet relaxing warmth that whispers to you: ‘Stay awhile and chill.’

I didn’t realize I snapped so very few photos of the interior.

Their coffee is as good as our AirBnB host advertised. You can taste the quality with every sip. I expected nothing less for the price! (By the way, I just thought I’d mention, Manu Coffee will allow you to bring in breads and pastries purchased from the bakery across the street to enjoy with your coffee! It’s cool how they support each other’s businesses.)

My matcha latte was absolutely perfect– just strong enough to fill my senses with a balance of earthy and bitter. There was the lightest touch of sweet, and just enough milk to add a creaminess to the drink without drowning out the flavor.

From the scent, one could tell it was good matcha. Still, I can’t help but feel that I didn’t maximize my visit here because I didn’t choose an actual coffee order.

When I return to Fukuoka, I can see myself coming here again at least once. I would sit in this same spot, take a sip of actual coffee this time, breathe in the moment, and then maybe take out a book or my sudoku booklet haha! Another bonding session with friends or fam here would be nice.

When I’m in Manila, I’m normally a to-go person who very rarely spends time in a coffee shop since it can be crowded and noisy. But this place draws me in with all the right feels and makes me want to stay.

Also, can I just say, the quote I’ve written above is by far my favorite one about coffee. It so accurately describes why I find coffee so wondrous.

~~~

Manu Coffee 柳橋店

810-0003 Fukuoka-ken, Fukuoka-shi, Chūō-ku, Haruyoshi, 1 Chome−1, 春吉1-1-11
Tel no: 092-725-8875
Hours: 0700 to 1700 (Closed on Sundays)
Website / Facebook