Kaffelogic in Japan: Insights, Inspiration, and Exciting New Partnerships

There’s something truly special about Japan’s coffee culture — an extraordinary blend of precision, craftsmanship, and passion for quality that mirrors everything we value at Kaffelogic.

Our Sales Director, John Robson, recently visited Tokyo, some of the highlights of his trip are recorded here.

Japan was both enlightening and energising. It marked the start of an exciting new chapter as we officially welcomed MGL Inc. Ltd as our newly appointed distributor for the Japanese market.

Meeting MGL Inc. Ltd – Our New Partner in Japan

Catching up in person with Tomoki Sakurai and his team at MGL Inc. Ltd was a real highlight of the visit. Their deep understanding of Japan’s import, distribution and marketing   challenges, coupled with their enthusiasm for Kaffelogic technology, makes them an ideal partner to help bring our vision to Japanese home and professional roasters.

Together, we explored strategies for introducing Kaffelogic to a market where precision and quality are deeply embedded in everyday life. It’s clear that Japan’s appreciation for craftsmanship aligns perfectly with what Kaffelogic offers — control, consistency, and creativity in every roast.

Our First 207 Users – Kibidango and Kaffelogic’s Successful Product Launch

As with other key markets, using a Crowd Fund platform provider to once again launch Kaffelogic into a new market, proved to be very successful. This time we partnered with Tokyo based Crowd Fund specialists,  Kibidango, a business with great experience bringing international products to the Japanese market. 

Kibidango's understanding of the challenges of launching new foreign products in Japan meant we achieved a very successful product launch with our very first 207 Kaffelogic customers coming on board.  This fantastic result has confirmed and validated market potential for Kaffelogic in this market. Customer feedback confirmed that Kaffelogic’s small footprint, precision roast performance, easy operation and customization of roast profiles were all key factor in their decision to buy. 

This first group of Kaffelogic users represent a wide cross section of customers, from home coffee lovers and roast enthusiasts to some of Japans very best commercial roasters and baristas. This group will establish a considerable community of Kaffelogic users who will enable the sharing of profiles, hints and tips with current and future new users. 

A Deep Dive at SCA Japan

The annual SCA Japan exhibition was nothing short of incredible. Over 400 exhibitors and 70,000 visitors across four days — a true celebration of coffee innovation and community. 

From roasters and green bean importers to baristas and coffee enthusiasts, the energy was off the chart. The event offered a unique window into Japan’s coffee industry, where excellence in detail and presentation defines every aspect of the craft.

I came away with valuable insights into the trends shaping the future of coffee in Japan — from the rise of small-batch roasting to the growing interest in home roasting and technology-driven precision.

Tokyo’s Coffee Culture: Fresh, Local, and Beautifully Crafted

No trip to Japan would be complete without exploring Tokyo’s thriving café scene. What stood out most was the commitment to freshness — many cafés roast in small batches daily to ensure every cup is served at its peak.

The emphasis on quality over quantity and personal connection with customers was inspiring. It’s a reminder that roasting and brewing are not just processes here — they’re daily rituals of craftsmanship.

This mindset aligns perfectly with Kaffelogic’s mission: empowering roasters to create fresh, flavourful coffee tailored precisely to their customers’ tastes.

Support from the NZ Embassy and NZTE

Another highlight of the trip was visiting the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and meeting the team at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), in particular Zea Rose who supported us so well during our build up to product launch in Japan. 

Their ongoing support for New Zealand exporters in Japan is absolutely outstanding — offering guidance, local market insights, and connections that are already helping us navigate this exciting new territory with confidence.

Looking Ahead

My time in Japan reinforced what we’ve long believed — that Japan is a natural home for Kaffelogic. The attention to detail, respect for process, and passion for quality that define Japanese coffee culture are exactly what Kaffelogic was built for.

With Tomoki and his  MGL Inc. Ltd team  leading the charge, and with the support of NZTE both in Japan and New Zealand,  we’re looking forward to building meaningful partnerships, supporting local roasters, and sharing the joy of precision roasting across Japan.