[ CROWD ROASTER Introduction Case] KEVELOS Meiji Jingumae Store
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CROWD ROASTER coffee is used in high-quality restaurants.
We would like to introduce one of these stores.
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Omotesando is lined with numerous luxury brand shops, and if you go down a side street just off the main street you will find a number of unique cafes, select shops, and hidden gourmet restaurants.
Among them, one famous restaurant that always has a long line of customers is "KEVELOS," which opened in 2014 and serves carefully made pizza baked in an authentic wood-fired oven.
This is a Neapolitan pizza restaurant run by pizza chef Nao Ohara, who trained at the famous pizza restaurant "SAVOY," and who has inherited the authentic taste and traditions of the original.
Starting in 2023, CROWD ROASTER coffee will be served at KEVELOS.
We spoke to the owner, Nao Ohara, about KEVELOS, why he chose CROWD ROASTER , and the reactions he has received from customers.
Among them, one famous restaurant that always has a long line of customers is "KEVELOS," which opened in 2014 and serves carefully made pizza baked in an authentic wood-fired oven.
This is a Neapolitan pizza restaurant run by pizza chef Nao Ohara, who trained at the famous pizza restaurant "SAVOY," and who has inherited the authentic taste and traditions of the original.
Starting in 2023, CROWD ROASTER coffee will be served at KEVELOS.
We spoke to the owner, Nao Ohara, about KEVELOS, why he chose CROWD ROASTER , and the reactions he has received from customers.
The one and only "Marinara" you can find here
The pizza that is synonymous with "KEVELOS" and Mr. Ohara is the Marinara.
Marinara, a popular local dish from Naples, Italy, does not use cheese and is made with a simple combination of ingredients such as tomatoes, aged garlic, oregano, and olive oil to create a satisfying flavor.
"We are extremely particular about the ingredients we use, such as aging the garlic we use in the store for about 10 days to two weeks. When I was training as a craftsman, I only grilled two types of pizza, Margherita and Marinara. I spent five years perfecting just these two menu items."
Marinara, a popular local dish from Naples, Italy, does not use cheese and is made with a simple combination of ingredients such as tomatoes, aged garlic, oregano, and olive oil to create a satisfying flavor.
"We are extremely particular about the ingredients we use, such as aging the garlic we use in the store for about 10 days to two weeks. When I was training as a craftsman, I only grilled two types of pizza, Margherita and Marinara. I spent five years perfecting just these two menu items."
The defining feature of Obara's Marinara is the moisture balance of the dough, which is pushed to the very limit of whether it can be shaped into pizza dough. In the world of pizza, where conditions are never the same, every day is a challenge.
"I don't think there are many pizza restaurants that add this much water to their dough. By maintaining the balance at the very limit and keeping it that way until the pizza is baked, we can adjust the moisture content just right and create a fluffy, soft pizza."
This results in a lightness that is completely different from other pizzas.
"Even if something tastes good, if it weighs heavily on your stomach after eating it, I don't think it's light. A pizza that's not heavy even if you eat a whole pizza by yourself is an experience that you can only get at KEVELOS."
It may be rare to find a pizza chef who has devoted himself to training and has such a strong commitment to pizza. Many people visit the restaurant just to try this marinara, which can only be found here.
We wanted a well-balanced espresso that would stand up to pizza.
Being such a craftsman, Obara is naturally particular about coffee. The most important thing is to find a coffee that goes well with pizza. However, for the past six months, he has not been able to find a good coffee.
"The coffee we were using before had a change in farm owner, and the quality of the beans had become unstable, which led to the roast balance being thrown off. The beans were fresh, but when we opened the package the crema was too strong, and after a few hours the condition had changed completely. We didn't have a barista in our shop, so we struggled to get the quality right.
That's when I came across CROWD ROASTER . After consulting with them, they gave me two types of coffee beans to choose from, and after tasting them and experimenting with the roast level, I was able to get much closer to my ideal flavor and create the final product I had imagined."
At CROWD ROASTER , we listen to the customer's requests and adjust the quality, as well as the type of beans to be roasted by which roaster, the flavor, and the roast level they are looking for. At KEVELOS, we mainly serve espresso, but by listening to the store's requests, we checked the taste together with Ohara and came closer to the ideal coffee.
"In terms of food compatibility, marinara is quite a strong flavor, so I needed something with a strong flavor that could stand up to it. But that doesn't mean it doesn't go well with lighter dishes, and I think it has a good balance of bitterness and acidity when made into hot coffee."
"The coffee we were using before had a change in farm owner, and the quality of the beans had become unstable, which led to the roast balance being thrown off. The beans were fresh, but when we opened the package the crema was too strong, and after a few hours the condition had changed completely. We didn't have a barista in our shop, so we struggled to get the quality right.
That's when I came across CROWD ROASTER . After consulting with them, they gave me two types of coffee beans to choose from, and after tasting them and experimenting with the roast level, I was able to get much closer to my ideal flavor and create the final product I had imagined."
At CROWD ROASTER , we listen to the customer's requests and adjust the quality, as well as the type of beans to be roasted by which roaster, the flavor, and the roast level they are looking for. At KEVELOS, we mainly serve espresso, but by listening to the store's requests, we checked the taste together with Ohara and came closer to the ideal coffee.
"In terms of food compatibility, marinara is quite a strong flavor, so I needed something with a strong flavor that could stand up to it. But that doesn't mean it doesn't go well with lighter dishes, and I think it has a good balance of bitterness and acidity when made into hot coffee."
Another thing we paid particular attention to during the tasting was the balance of sugar added.
"When you add sugar, it becomes like a cocoa drink, and I think that only the quality of the beans can do that. It's not just bitter, but it has a sour, rich, savory taste, a lingering aftertaste, and when you add sugar, it takes on a different flavor. It goes just as well with my pizza as I imagined it would."
In fact, while creating the flavor of the coffee in this way, he was reminded of the dedication and passion he had when he first opened his shop.
"About six years ago, I started out using beans from Naples, and then for the first time I changed CROWD ROASTER this time, I remembered, 'This is what I was aiming for six years ago!'"
"When you add sugar, it becomes like a cocoa drink, and I think that only the quality of the beans can do that. It's not just bitter, but it has a sour, rich, savory taste, a lingering aftertaste, and when you add sugar, it takes on a different flavor. It goes just as well with my pizza as I imagined it would."
In fact, while creating the flavor of the coffee in this way, he was reminded of the dedication and passion he had when he first opened his shop.
"About six years ago, I started out using beans from Naples, and then for the first time I changed CROWD ROASTER this time, I remembered, 'This is what I was aiming for six years ago!'"
The result is a unique KEVELOS blend that matches perfectly with KEVELOS pizza.
Regular customers say it's even more delicious than before
Obara told us an episode in which customer reactions clearly changed after they switched to CROWD ROASTER coffee.
"After we switched to CROWD ROASTER coffee, one of our regular customers, who loves coffee and always orders hot coffee, said to us, 'The coffee here isn't really coffee, in a good way.' When we asked him what he meant, he said, 'It's like they've perfected espresso,' and 'It's even more delicious than before.' We were really happy that he understood the flavor we were imagining. He always gives us his honest opinion of our pizza, and since he praised our coffee, we knew it must have been really good."
Finally, we asked Mr. Ohara again about CROWD ROASTER .
"First of all, I think the biggest feature is that the quality of the beans is high and doesn't change. After all, it would be difficult to handle if the condition changed every day. Also, when I tasted the coffees to select them, some had a nice acidity. There are many coffees that are just sour and have an unpleasant aftertaste or lack sharpness, but this was completely different. I really felt that CROWD ROASTER 's coffee has great potential. CROWD ROASTER is directly roasted by Japan's top roasters, so in that sense I think you can't go wrong."
"After we switched to CROWD ROASTER coffee, one of our regular customers, who loves coffee and always orders hot coffee, said to us, 'The coffee here isn't really coffee, in a good way.' When we asked him what he meant, he said, 'It's like they've perfected espresso,' and 'It's even more delicious than before.' We were really happy that he understood the flavor we were imagining. He always gives us his honest opinion of our pizza, and since he praised our coffee, we knew it must have been really good."
Finally, we asked Mr. Ohara again about CROWD ROASTER .
"First of all, I think the biggest feature is that the quality of the beans is high and doesn't change. After all, it would be difficult to handle if the condition changed every day. Also, when I tasted the coffees to select them, some had a nice acidity. There are many coffees that are just sour and have an unpleasant aftertaste or lack sharpness, but this was completely different. I really felt that CROWD ROASTER 's coffee has great potential. CROWD ROASTER is directly roasted by Japan's top roasters, so in that sense I think you can't go wrong."
This time, CROWD ROASTER has asked some of Japan's top roasters to create the perfect flavor for Neapolitan pizza. CROWD ROASTER is always able to provide high-quality beans and roasted coffee. Come to KEVELOS Meiji Jingumae to try the world-class combination of Obara's signature marinara and the perfect espresso.
If you are a restaurant or retailer who would like to serve CROWD ROASTER coffee in your store, please contact us using the form below.
We will help connect your store with Japan's top-class coffee.
<Store Information>
KEVELOS Meiji Jingumae Store <br /> KEVELOS Meiji Jingumae Store Shibuya-ku Jingumae 6-12-4 Hidano Building 1F
Mon-Fri 11:30-14:30, 18:00-22:00
Weekends and holidays 12:00-21:30
Open everyday (closed during summer and New Year holidays)
KEVELOS Meiji Jingumae Store <br /> KEVELOS Meiji Jingumae Store Shibuya-ku Jingumae 6-12-4 Hidano Building 1F
Mon-Fri 11:30-14:30, 18:00-22:00
Weekends and holidays 12:00-21:30
Open everyday (closed during summer and New Year holidays)
