Minami Ward, Sapporo City. While most of this area is mountainous and part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is one of the city's most popular suburban spots, with numerous restaurants and hot spring resorts along National Route 230, a major road.

Did you know that in the Fujino district of Minami Ward, there's a very stylish cafe that boasts a world-renowned latte art master?

That's "STANDARD COFFEE LAB," which opened in 2005 as a coffee shop that roasts its own beans.

I decided to check out this cafe, which is rumored to satisfy women of all tastes—those who love stylish cafes, latte art, and sweets.

Now, please take a look.

<Table of Contents>
1. It's not just latte art! Their homemade waffles and pizzas are also exquisite!
2. Our writer has tried it and recommends this menu item!
3. A world championship winner! We delve into the passion behind creating artistic latte art.
Final thoughts

Upon entering the store, you're greeted by a moody and stylish atmosphere created by the subdued lighting.

The space is spacious enough, and it's a stylish area where everyone can relax and spend their time as they please.

Now, let's try the much-talked-about coffee and sweets & food menu.
This is what I ordered.

Coffee (with latte art) ... ¥450 (excluding tax)

The heart-shaped latte art is adorable! But that's not all.
The espresso is properly extracted, and the smooth, creamy steamed milk is made with meticulous care, resulting in an exceptional taste.

Homemade pizza (Margherita) ... ¥780 (excluding tax) / *Set ¥980 (excluding tax)

I had the classic Margherita pizza, which had a fantastic combination of cheese and tomatoes. The dough is stretched to order, resulting in a chewy and delicious crust. The crispy edges were also a plus.
In addition, they always have at least two types of pizza available as "Today's Pizza."

Homemade waffles (strawberry sandwich waffle set) ... ¥980 (excluding tax)

These waffles, made from scratch and baked one by one, are a proud specialty, boasting the aroma of Hokkaido-grown wheat. The refreshing scent of strawberries, combined with the sweet and sour taste and fresh cream, creates a perfect harmony! They also offer limited-time waffle menus depending on the season and events.

Mr. Oiso, the owner of this cafe, is a leading figure in latte art. Having won international competitions, he is truly a latte art master that Sapporo can be proud of, and we had the opportunity to interview him about various things.

"I believe that latte art, which earned me the world championship, is similar to the presentation of food and desserts. First, customers enjoy it visually, thinking, 'It's beautiful! It looks delicious!' This provides satisfaction and makes them enjoy their cappuccino or latte even more. I believe it's a technique for that purpose. I don't think it's a technique for my own self-satisfaction."

My passion for latte art, and my motivation for actively participating in competitions, all started with one customer. It was their delight at my still-developing latte art that sparked my passion. Every time that customer came back, I would try to improve, to create different designs to keep them entertained. That was my starting point.

And there's one essential element for beautiful latte art that we must never forget: high-quality espresso backed by expert extraction techniques, and silky smooth steamed milk.
"I started participating in competitions in order to acquire that skill," she said.

His participation record in that tournament is also an astonishing achievement. Please see here.

*Satoru Oiso's Latte Art Competition History

June 2011, San Diego, USA
COFFEE FEST
LATTE ART Championship Winner
(World Champion)

September 2011, Seattle, USA
COFFEE FEST
LATTE ART Championship Runner-up

2013
UCC Coffee Masters
Latte Art Division Winner
(Japanese Champion)

2015
UCC Coffee Masters
Latte Art Division Winner
(Japanese Champion)

2016
Japan Hand Drip
チャンピオンシップ
Hokkaido Preliminary Round Winner

2016
Japan Hand Drip
チャンピオンシップ
National competition 4th place

He has achieved results that truly make him a leading figure in the latte art world both domestically and internationally.
That's probably what contributes to the popularity of this shop's meticulously crafted latte art.
I'm convinced.

Finally, Ms. Oiso passionately explained, "For the 12 years since we opened, my focus has been on making our customers feel moved and happy with the cups we serve them. For that, the quality of the green coffee beans, roasting, and brewing techniques and methods are all very important, and these are the characteristics and points of pride of our shop, and points that we cannot cut corners on. What we are particular about is our in-house washing and roasting process, where we carefully wash the green coffee beans before roasting them. By washing them, any bitterness or astringency is removed, resulting in a clean aftertaste that makes it easier to feel the natural sweetness of the coffee, and it tastes delicious even when it cools down."

He added, "There's another feature of our place: this espresso machine. We use a state-of-the-art espresso machine and grinder, and our baristas brew each cup fresh, making it a truly luxurious coffee experience."

Final thoughts

I was deeply impressed by their uncompromising dedication to coffee during the interview.
From the shop's atmosphere and the beautifully crafted latte art to the deliciousness of their freshly roasted coffee, and their tasty sweets and food menu, this is a top-notch cafe that I would recommend in every respect.

This is a fantastic restaurant that I highly recommend you visit at least once.

Shop information
STANDARD COFFEE LAB.
Address: 7-1, Fujino 3-jo 6-chome, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2283
Telephone number: 011-593-2260
Hours: 10: 00 ~ 18: 00
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
HP:http://standard-cafe.com/

Interview, writing, and photography: Maverick

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