Espresso yourself

Master roaster Kiyokazu Suzuki conceived the idea for a communal roaster as a means of encouraging the fledgling coffee scene in Japan. ‘We take a lot of data from the roasting process to make the best profile for each coffee bean. If we can share this data, the improvement process can be much faster for new brands,’ he says.

Suzuki is the protégé of Australian coffee entrepreneur Paul Bassett, whose company has been brewing in Japan since 2006. 

Traditionally a tea-drinking nation, Japan has been steadily embracing the bean and is the second biggest importer of Colombian coffee behind the US. With local baristas winning international competitions, Suzuki hopes that his efforts will encourage Japan to do bigger and better things in the realm of roasting.

The Big Picture: Collaborations are occurring on a deeper level. Companies are entering long-lasting relationships with other brands. Take a look at our Symbiotic Branding macrotrend to learn more.