Bear Pond Espresso

Bear Pond Espresso is a specialty coffee brand and espresso bar located in the Kitazawa district of Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. It was founded by owner and roaster Katsuyuki Tanaka, who developed the brand's signature Flower Child blend — a complex post-blend of green coffee beans sourced from major growing regions in South and Central America and Africa. The blend is noted for harmonious flavors of dark chocolate, sweet citrus, and caramel with a long aftertaste, and is designed to perform well both as espresso and pour-over. Beyond its café operations, Bear Pond Espresso has built a reputation through Tanaka's original espresso inventions. These include "Angel Stain" (2009), a two-layer espresso ring served over cold milk without ice; "Dirty" (2010); and the "EXPERIENCE coffeedust bar" (2014), made without cocoa butter. The brand also offers wholesale Flower Child beans, including to overseas business customers. Tanaka's credentials include being a Counter Culture Coffee certified barista in 2008 and a Chemex Global Ambassador in 2013. The brand has received media attention from outlets such as The New York Times (2008), New York Post (2011), WSJ Magazine (2012), Forbes USA (2022), and the documentary A Film About Coffee (2015). Products and books are independently developed by Tanaka under the Bear Pond Espresso and Little Bear General names. The company operates as a private, independent business. Its café in Kitazawa serves as both a retail outlet and a showcase for its coffee innovations, while the wholesale side supplies the Flower Child blend to business customers in Japan and abroad.

Bear Pond Espresso was established in Tokyo, Japan, by Katsuyuki Tanaka, who serves as owner and roaster. The brand operates a café in the Kitazawa neighborhood of Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, at 2-36-12 Kitazawa. While the exact founding year is not specified in the available evidence, the brand's public timeline includes significant milestones beginning in 2008. In 2008, Tanaka became a Counter Culture Coffee certified barista, and the brand received early media attention from The New York Times. The following year, 2009, saw the introduction of "Angel Stain," an original espresso creation featuring two-layer espresso rings of cold milk without ice. This was followed in 2010 by "Dirty," another original espresso drink. In 2011, the New York Post featured the brand, and in 2012, WSJ Magazine covered it. In 2013, Tanaka was named a Chemex Global Ambassador. The brand continued to innovate with the 2014 launch of the "EXPERIENCE coffeedust bar," an original product made without cocoa butter. In 2015, Bear Pond Espresso was featured in the documentary film A Film About Coffee. More recently, in 2022, Forbes USA included the brand in its coverage. The brand's core product, the Flower Child blend, is a complex post-blend created by Tanaka featuring green coffee beans from major growing regions in South and Central America and Africa. It serves as the base for his original espresso drinks and is available for wholesale, including to overseas business customers. Products and books are independently developed by Tanaka under the Bear Pond Espresso and Little Bear General names.

• 2022

  Featured in Forbes USA.

• 2015

  Featured in documentary film A Film About Coffee.

• 2014

  Launch of "EXPERIENCE coffeedust bar" made without cocoa butter.

• 2013

  Katsuyuki Tanaka named Chemex Global Ambassador.

• 2012

  Featured in WSJ Magazine.

• 2011

  Featured in New York Post.

• 2010

  Introduction of "Dirty" original espresso drink.

• 2009

  Introduction of "Angel Stain" original espresso with two-layer espresso rings of cold milk without ice.

• 2008

  Katsuyuki Tanaka becomes a Counter Culture Coffee certified barista; brand featured in The New York Times.

Specialty coffee brand and espresso bar focused on original espresso creations and a signature house blend, with a strong independent and artisanal identity.

• Flower Child blend

  Complex post-blend of green coffee beans from South and Central America and Africa, with flavors of dark chocolate, sweet citrus, and caramel; suitable for espresso and pour-over.

• Angel Stain (2009)

  Original espresso featuring two-layer espresso rings of cold milk without ice.

• Dirty (2010)

  Original espresso drink.

• EXPERIENCE coffeedust bar (2014)

  Original product made without cocoa butter.

1. 1Bear Pond Espresso official websitebearpondespresso.com