When it comes to coffee at your convenience, Japan can’t be beaten. Here are the 5 best combini coffee I recommend for your next Japan trip!
7-Eleven Hot Coffee Range
Wherever you go, each country will have its own spin on its 7-Eleven hot coffee range. Japan’s 7-Eleven coffee machines are pretty sophisticated compared to other countries, taking great pride in their “Seven Café” varieties.
You can choose between hot black coffee or a hot café latte, and there is a great variety of milk shots, sugars, and sweet syrups to add on as preferred. I highly recommend the hot café latte for first-timers in Japan as it has a good balance of coffee and milk for a strength level that would suit most coffee drinkers.
7-Eleven Iced Café Latte
Where Japan’s 7-Eleven coffee truly shines is with its iced range, offering a delicious iced café latte range with plenty of varieties. Unlike other 7-Elevens (like Australia’s), Japan’s coffee machines have dedicated iced coffee settings that don’t just pour hot coffee over ice.
Again, for first-timers, I’d recommend the original iced café latte as it has a very balanced flavor that would appeal to most people. Of course, if you prefer to adjust your own milk levels, you can try the iced black coffee and add milk and/or sweeteners to your preferred level.
7-Eleven Iced Espresso Bitter
If you’re like me and prefer a stronger hit with your iced coffee, then look no further than the 7-Eleven Espresso Bitter Iced Caffe Latte. This is essentially a stronger version of the previous item, offering a richer taste with more coffee and less milk.
When it comes to combini coffee, Japan offers an abundance of choices so that everyone can get their precise strength and richness preference. The 7-Eleven Espresso Bitter is by far my favorite of the “Seven Café” range as it’s both refreshing and revitalizing, a beverage I can appreciate on a hot or cold day.
Ministop Marrons Au Lait
As one of the more niche combini coffee options, the Marrons Au Lait is harder to come by as it is exclusive to Ministop, Japan’s lesser-known combini franchise. This one is for those with a sweet tooth, offering a mix of a strong coffee taste with a sugary sweet flavor made of hazelnut.
The extra strength and sweetness of the Marrons Au Lait make it a great drink to sip on all day. Since it’s not recommended to drink while walking in Japan due to cultural norms (though not illegal), this particular drink is tightly sealed, allowing you to fixate the straw in place and take a few “sneaky sips” on the go.
Mt. Rainier Roast Almond Caffé Latte
Saving the best for last, no combini coffee has been quite as memorable for me as the Mt Rainier Almond Roast Caffe Latte. This cold brew coffee really puts the roast in roast almond, giving off a brilliant nutty aftertaste that puts you in a good mood for hours later.
The best things in life are scarce, as this Mt Rainier variety is a seasonal item that can only be enjoyed in the autumn months around Halloween. Regardless, if there was a single flavor I’d urge you to try before leaving Japan, it would undoubtedly be the intense and sweet “Roast Almond Carnival” flavor by Mt Rainier!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
