Do you all like coffee? Coffee might be a necessary drink for some of you. Just like famous coffee brands such as CITY CAFE, Let's Café, etc in Taiwan, you can go to a convenience store if you wish to get freshly brewed coffee when traveling in Japan making It is so easy and convenient for the consumer to get a nice cup of coffee. Moreover, the coffee has great value for money ~ However, you might have difficulty in deciding from 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, or LAWSON, etc. In this article, the FUN! JAPAN team will introduce three major Japanese brand coffees which you can find in convenience stores across Japan!

LAWSON MACHI Café

Besides coffee, MACHI Café within LAWSON also has some tea products and some other limited edition products, this brand actually has the most choices among the coffee brands in all convenience stores. Furthermore, it is not self-service, instead, it's prepared and handed over by the convenience store staff. Also, there are various package designs for the cups depending on the season or holiday period.

Variety of menus

  • Hot/iced Coffee: 100 yen (S), 150 yen (M), 180 yen (L)
  • Caffeine-less Coffee: 150 yen (S)
  • Caffeine-less Iced Coffee: 200 yen (M)
  • Caffe Latte: 150 yen (M), 180 yen (L)
  • Iced Caffe Latte: 150 yen (M)
  • Caffeine-less Iced Caffe Latte: 200 yen (M)
  • Iced Milk: 150 yen
  • Hot Milk: 130 yen
  • Iced Earl Grey Tea: 180 yen
  • Machi Caffe Darjeeling Tea: 180 yen
  • Iced Milk Tea: 210 yen
  • Rich Loyal Milk Tea: 210 yen
  • Hoji Tea Latte: 210 yen
  • Hot/Iced Cafe Mocha: 210 yen
  • Hot/Iced Milk Cocoa: 180 yen
  • ※Size: S 160 ml ╱ M 250 ml ╱ L 300 ml

FamilyMart FAMIMA CAFÉ

FAMIMA CAFÉ of FamilyMart in Japan has colorful varieties, besides coffee, it also serves matcha and frappes. Among them, frappes are the most popular products which are sold with three or four different menus during summer.

Buying a Coffee can be Confusing at First

Here's a step-by-step for buying a coffee from FAMIMA CAFÉ!

  • When purchasing hot drinks: You have to order directly at the cash register and you will be given a cup. Then go to the coffee machine and push the button of the purchased item. When it is ready, take it out and enjoy your coffee!
  • When purchasing iced drinks: Take the product you wish to purchase from the freezer and make payment at the cash register. Then proceed to the coffee machine and push the button of the purchased item. When it is ready, take it out and enjoy your coffee!
  • There are sugar, syrup, milk, and cup lids nearby the coffee machine for your hot or iced drinks that you can take freely.

There are unique drink menus such as Matcha and caramel as well!

  • Iced Blended: 100 yen (S), 150 yen (M), 180 yen (L)
  • Iced Coffee: 100 yen (S), 180 yen (M)
  • Caffe Latte: 150 yen (M)
  • Iced Cafe Latte: 180 yen (M)
  • Caramel Latte: 210 yen
  • Iced Caramel Latte: 240 yen
  • Itoen Uji Matcha Latte: 150 yen
  • Thick cocoa: 150 yen
  • Frappe: 270 yen
  • ※Size: S 155 ml ╱ M 220 ml ╱ L 310 ml

7-ELEVEN SEVEN CAFÉ

7-ELEVEN's SEVEN CAFÉ in Japan offers uniquely made coffee. The dripping machine used is functional to freshly brew the coffee for your enjoyment. The coffee here is also served in a self-service style, and the method to purchase is exactly the same as FamilyMart FAMIMA CAFÉ.

The drinks menu in pursuit of taste

  • Iced Coffee: 100 yen (R), 150 yen (L)
  • Hot Coffee: 100 yen (R), 180 yen (L)
  • Iced Caffe Latte (without sugar): 180 yen (R), 250 yen (L)
  • Hot Caffe Latte: 150 yen (R), 200 yen (L)
  • ※Size: R 150 ml ╱ L 235 ml

Comments by FUN! JAPAN staff

There are three convenience stores nearby FUN! JAPAN office. Here are the opinions of FUN! JAPAN’s staff who drink convenience store coffee every day!

FamilyMart FAMIMA CAFÉ

  • The taste of blended coffee is slightly bitter

  • The smell of coffee, when it is just prepared, is so good.
  • Since strong acidity coffee beans are used, highly recommended for those who like Kenya coffee.
  • In order to bring out the taste of the coffee, the milky taste of Caffe Latte is less than others. It can be said that the bitterness of Caffe Latte is stronger, similar to blended coffee.

LAWSON MACHI Café

  • The taste of coffee beans is strong and there is not much acidity.

  • Caffe latte is considered by most of the staff to have the best balance of bitterness and thickness.
  • The taste of Caffe latte is as gentle as a caffe au lait and is recommended for those who do not like bitter or milky tastes.

7-ELEVEN SEVEN CAFÉ

  • The taste and the smell of the coffee is good.

  • It has the perfect bitterness in order to let the consumer enjoy the taste of roasted coffee beans.
  • Caffé latte has a strong smell of milk, with no conflict with the taste of coffee.
  • It's with good acidity and suppressed bitterness, which is easy to drink.
  • If you want to taste the taste of dark roasted coffee, please go to SEVEN CAFE!

The coffee at each convenience store has its own characteristics, and also has different tastes and quality. When you visit Japan, please try the coffee at any convenience store of your choice. You may try the coffee of different convenience stores every day to find out your favorite!

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