Hoosieronthemove4 months ago
When the line is going out the door on a 15 degree day, you know the coffee is good and worth the wait. I met up here with a coworker the other day and we were not disappointed. He had a military latte and I had a white mocha cold brew, and we both had the blueberry muffins, which were incredible. Great spot to hang out at and chill for a few hours, and now I know next time I’m back in the area to stop in here!
it’s nice and big in here, and so pretty inside! very vibey. low lighting if that’s something that matters to you. barista was super knowledgeable and helpful and recomended us delicious drinks. drinks were creative and well done and the espresso itself was great. definitely would recomend! we barely waited at all on thursday around 10am. we got the tokyo and their signature 5 hands (i think that’s the name) mocha
Zayoodi Anthony5 months ago
Walking up to Sawada Coffee, the line was already out the door. It’s a lowkey spot tucked behind a door in Fulton Market, but once you step inside, the atmosphere is vibrant and bustling with people. The line took about 20–30 minutes, so I’d definitely recommend ordering online if you’re in a hurry.
I ordered the Camo Latte with no sugar. If you’re someone who doesn’t like sugary drinks, be warned — without sweetness, the flavor balance isn’t great. The matcha and espresso combination didn’t quite come together for me. That’s partly on me for ordering it that way, but it just didn’t taste good plain.
One odd thing: I ordered mine warm online, but when my friend tried to order it warm in person, they were told it couldn’t be made that way — which was confusing.
The prices are on the premium side, and I have to be honest — the extra charge for “ceremonial matcha” feels misleading. In Japan, “ceremonial” isn’t a special category; it’s more of a Western marketing term. Charging a few extra dollars for that seems unnecessary. It’s fine to make money, but transparency matters.
Overall, great vibe, long wait, and overpriced for what you get. Worth checking out once for the atmosphere, but I’d temper expectations on the coffee itself.
Jemyra Ingram2 months ago
I love coffee and I am always trying to check out new coffee shops. I cannot believe I have probably passed Sawada Coffee a million times without realizing it was there, especially since it is connected to a BBQ spot I have been to a few times. Once I was finally introduced to it, I have already been back twice. Everything I have had has been so good, super flavorful and well balanced. On my last visit I tried one of their specialty coffees and it was phenomenal. Definitely a new favorite and a must try if you are a coffee lover. Service is cool! It's small but it's a shared space so plenty of spots to sit.
Jamie Sematat4 months ago
I went there to try one of their signature coffees. Military and black camo lattes. The service was quick and efficient. The barista explained to us what’s latte consisting of as we were trying to figure out the difference. Military latte is matcha and espresso in a drink. Black Camo latte is hojicha and espresso in a drink. Both are really good, very STRONG… I was talking in lighting speed, but maybe the cause of that are 2 other cafes we went to try out before drinking these lovely lattes. The vibe in the shop was nice we sit near the window to watch the rain. I’ve actually been recreating their drinks at home too! Love it here and would come again!!
