The Best Specialty Coffee in Sapporo: 3 Cafes You Need to Visit
Last Updated on February 22, 2026 by Charlotte
Sapporo wasn’t on my radar as a specialty coffee destination — until it was! While researching our Hokkaido trip, I kept stumbling across whispers of a quietly thriving third-wave coffee scene tucked into this snowy northern city, and by the time we landed, I had a carefully curated cafe shortlist and an embarrassing level of enthusiasm for Geisha roasts. What followed was three of the most memorable cups of coffee I’ve had anywhere in the world, each one completely different, and each one utterly worth the visit. In this post, I’m sharing the three specialty coffee shops in Sapporo that earned a permanent spot on my list, and why, for once, I couldn’t bring myself to rank them.
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Where to Find Sapporo’s Best Third-Wave Specialty Coffee
If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you’ll know that I seek out third-wave specialty coffee wherever I go, and that a perfect cup can make my whole trip worth it. Usually, I try to compare a simple cappuccino across all of the cafes, but Sapporo was an exception to this rule. Two of these cafes specialized in pour-overs, which I think gives you a more front row seat to the overtones and finer notes of each brew. Now let’s dive into it!
NODE Coffee
Simply finding the entrance to the NODE coffee shop was half of the battle. Sure enough, we were wandering around Susukino in the snow, looking for a ” Hey Meat! restaurant,” then a long hallway, and finally we stumbled upon a nondescript doorway that led to NODE.
NODE’s specialty coffee offerings were perhaps the most expansive out of all of the specialty coffee shops that we visited in Sapporo, with a unique variety of Geisha blends. Travel Buddy ordered the Ethiopia Geisha Village, which had notes of Earl Grey, violet, honey, jasmine, white grape, and an elegant lingering finish. I opted for the PANAMA×COLOMBIA HACHI COFFEE PROJECT blend, which had notes of white grape, lime, honey, and a smooth mouthfeel.
Because each pour-over is lovingly made to order, this is not a coffee shop that you’d want to visit if you were in a rush to go. So Travel Buddy and I took a seat, and eagerly waited for our coffees, which got me reminiscing.
In the years before Travel Buddy and I bought our Gaggia Espresso Machine (and back when I had a bit of a habit of spending too much money at specialty coffee cafes in Honolulu), we used to make pour-overs every day for our morning coffee. So to me, pour-overs make me a bit nostalgic for bygone seasons of my life.
My thoughts were interrupted when the barista brought over our coffees, and we eagerly took our first sips.
Immediately, notes of blood orange and grape danced across my tongue, while Travel Buddy shared that in his Ethiopia Geisha, notes of honey gave way to jasmine. NODE also gave us a little carafe on the side, which contained what I assume to be the second flush of coffee to refill our cups. My second cup had more dominant notes of chocolate, but this also could have been because the brew had cooled slightly. Either way, it was wonderful, and I’d love to visit NODE again to try more of their offerings.
Mermaid Coffee Roasters
Mermaid Coffee Roasters might be the most well-known specialty coffee shop in all of Sapporo, and by gosh, there was already a line out the door when we arrived only fifteen minutes after opening.
Their shop is conveniently located on the Tanukikoji Shopping Street, and the interior is tastefully decorated, with a tight-knit seating area in the main area of the cafe, although there’s more room to sit upstairs in the loft.
That day, they were serving up a Rich Bitter Blend and a Light Blend. Because we were in Hokkaido, I opted to go for the Hokkaido Fresh Jersey Milk Cafe Latte, and Travel Buddy and I each got a latte to share, one bitter, and one light. Because the shop was so busy, we didn’t notice that they had a tasting station set up in the center of the shop for the different beans. If you’re deciding between blends, be sure to look for this tasting station as it is easy to miss when the line’s moving!
But when the barista brought over our mugs, and I took my first sip, and that happy, buzzy, caffeinated blanket of joy cloaked my shoulders, I swear I heard the angels sing. If you’re unfamiliar with Hokkaido, this northernmost island of Japan is famous for its dairy and milk products, and I can confirm that its milk is out of this world.
Jersey milk cows produce dairy that is naturally higher in butterfat and milk protein than your typical cow, which adds to the decadent taste and indulgent mouthfeel of the lattes here at Mermaid Coffee Roasters. The only thing to consider when choosing a Hokkaido milk latte is that such rich milk can mute the taste of the beans.
HOKKAIDO STARBREW
Our final stop for specialty coffee was at HOKKAIDO STARBREW, which is located below an APA Hotel very close to the Tanukikoji Shopping Street. As we swept into the shop, our noses were greeted by that familiar aroma of roasting coffee beans, and to my utter surprise, the owner had a micro roaster going inside the shop!
I had never seen one of these in person before, so I thought it was fascinating. As we were waiting for our drinks, I could hear the pop and crackle of the beans as they slowly browned.
This day, I was decision fatigued, so I went with the bean of the day, which was a COSTA RICA Light Roast, WEST VALLEY SARCHI WASHED, with notes of cherry, almond, cacao nibs, milk chocolate, and caramel. I ordered it as a latte, and Travel Buddy ordered a pour-over.
As we waited, we watched the owner meticulously make the coffees, and by gosh, he certainly has dedication to his craft. Similar to NODE, this is not the shop to visit if you are looking for a quickly made and mass-produced coffee drink, but we were more than happy to wait.
Both of our coffees were delicious. But again, I did note that the Hokkaido milk mellowed out the flavor of the latte. On my next visit, I will probably go for the pour-over instead.
So, What’s the Best Third-Wave Specialty Coffee Shop in Sapporo?
Ranking the best specialty coffee in Sapporo was impossible for me to do. This was not because any of them fell short, but because each one earned its place for entirely different reasons. NODE felt like the crème de la crème of third-wave specialty coffee, with an almost reverent attention to the bean itself. Mermaid Coffee Roasters felt like coming home, warm and welcoming, even with a line out the door! And at HOKKAIDO STARBREW, the owner’s passion for his craft was so palpable you could practically taste it in every sip. So all in all, go to NODE if you love pour-over flights and rare beans; Mermaid if you want the Hokkaido milk latte experience; STARBREW if you want to watch a master roaster at work.
I WANT THAT COFFEE! Looks sooooo good! Thanks for sharing 🥰
All of them were certainly worth the trek to Japan!