Blue Bottle Coffee Redefines Iced Espresso Drinks with Kyoto-Style Espresso Inspired by Kyoto's Water Drip Culture

Blue Bottle Coffee is launching Kyoto-Style Espresso (Kyoto Style Espresso) globally, inspired by Kyoto's meticulous, time-honored water drip coffee culture that values craftsmanship and patience. Blue Bottle Coffee Japan LLC (headquartered in Koto City, Tokyo) will begin offering it first at Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya Cafe, Harajuku Cafe, and Kamakura Cafe starting Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Since its founding, Blue Bottle Coffee has pursued delicious coffee under the philosophy that "delicious coffee makes life more beautiful." We continuously reevaluate not only brewing methods but also how we deliver the coffee experience to our guests. In recent years, as iced coffee and iced espresso-based drinks like iced lattes have gained global popularity, we have been determined to deliver an even better cup by exploring new possibilities.

Traditionally, most iced espresso drinks are made by cooling hot espresso with ice. However, we noticed that this rapid temperature change often results in smoky notes, bitterness, and a loss of delicate aroma and balanced sweetness. In response, Blue Bottle Coffee developed Kyoto-Style Espresso based on the concept of "Cold by Design — designed from the start for iced drinks." Kyoto-Style Espresso is a new type of espresso crafted specifically for iced beverages, setting a new standard for extraction methods and taste experiences.

Inspired by Japan's Kyoto water drip tradition, Kyoto-Style Espresso uses a cold extraction method, slowly brewing with cold water over time. By using time instead of heat for low-temperature extraction, it minimizes flavor degradation and excessive bitterness caused by sudden temperature shifts. This method achieves a smooth mouthfeel, natural sweetness, and a clean, transparent taste previously unseen in conventional iced espresso drinks. Designed specifically for iced beverages, Kyoto-Style Espresso opens up new possibilities for diverse drink development, brewing techniques, and ways to enjoy coffee.

The Kyoto-Style Espresso menu lineup features eight varieties. From everyday favorites like the classic Iced Latte and Iced Mocha, to the Shakerato — made by shaking espresso with aromatic syrups — and seasonal drinks featuring seasonal ingredients, we offer a wide range of options showcasing the unique appeal of Kyoto-Style Espresso.

Please enjoy this carefully crafted cup, made with patience and deep respect for Japan's coffee culture.

Introducing Kyoto-Style Espresso

"Cold by Design" — A New Espresso Designed for Iced Drinks

For years, Blue Bottle Coffee has been exploring what the ideal flavor truly means for iced espresso drinks like iced lattes and iced mochas. The standard approach — rapidly cooling hot espresso with ice — has been dominant. However, we felt that this abrupt temperature change often compromises the delicate aroma and balance of sweetness.

"Cold by Design" means not simply cooling down a hot drink, but designing the drink to be delicious from the start as a cold beverage.

Kyoto-Style Espresso embodies this philosophy. Inspired by Kyoto's traditional water drip coffee culture, it is a new type of iced espresso. By using cold water and slowly extracting over time, this cold extraction method avoids the drastic changes caused by heat, gently drawing out the coffee's inherent sweetness, clarity, and depth of flavor. Because extraction relies on time rather than heat, the flavor remains stable even when served over ice, delivering a smooth, naturally sweet experience from the first sip to the last.

Kyoto-Style Espresso uses Blue Bottle's signature espresso blend, "Hays Valley Espresso," serving as the base for a variety of iced espresso drinks. Alongside daily staples like Iced Latte and Iced Mocha, we offer the Shakerato — a light, refreshing drink made by shaking espresso with fragrant syrups — and seasonal offerings, all showcasing the unique taste of Kyoto-Style Espresso in a diverse lineup.

With craftsmanship that values time and care, and deep respect for Japanese coffee culture, Kyoto-Style Espresso represents Blue Bottle Coffee's new standard for iced espresso drinks.

Kyoto-Style Espresso Developer

Director of Global Product Development Kevin Thaxton

"Every day, through tasting, roasting, recipe development, and ingredient selection, I explore the possibilities of coffee and drink experiences. Iced lattes, in particular, are beloved by many, yet this category has seen little innovation. That's why Blue Bottle Coffee began developing Kyoto-Style Espresso — to rethink its flavor and experience and deliver something truly new and delicious. Thanks to technological advancements, we can now extract espresso-strength concentration using cold water, something once considered difficult. This allows us to approach iced espresso drinks from a fresh perspective. Kyoto-Style Espresso isn't hot espresso cooled down — it's designed from the start to be delicious when cold. We aimed to highlight the natural sweetness, smooth texture, and balanced flavor that shine in cold conditions, creating a cup that remains enjoyable from the first sip to the very last.

I hope Kyoto-Style Espresso brings you the delightful discovery: 'Iced coffee can be this good.'"

KYOTO-STYLE ESPRESSO LINE UP

Developed under the "Cold by Design" concept, Kyoto-Style Espresso serves as a new foundation for iced espresso drinks, offering an unprecedented iced coffee experience. Available first at Blue Bottle Coffee Shibuya Cafe, Harajuku Cafe, and Kamakura Cafe starting June 16 (Tuesday).