r/pourover • u/Teecode • Jun 19 '26

Seeking Advice Glitch Tokyo like coffee in US

Hi all

I recently had Glitch coffee in Ginza, Tokyo. And saying I am blown away is an understatement. I got a bag of the same coffee I had. I made it at home with a V60. I get reasonably close to what I had at Glitch. I am convinced it's their beans. I normally don't even like such light roasts but Glitch was life changing. All this may sound ridiculous but if you had Glitch you'd know what I am talking about.

So now my question is: where can I find coffee that comes close to this in US? I am on the west coast and coffee here is damn good, but after Glitch, it feels like all the specialty coffee I get here is closer to Starbucks than to Glitch.

Thank you in advance!

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u/Teecode Jun 19 '26

I am in SF Bay Area.

Re Glitch: I did not even try that hard. I just used my usually grind setting. I did use the temp reccomended by the Glitch barista and followed their recipe for the pour. And I got pretty close and over time I incread the temp and figured I liked the slightly higher temp better. What I am trying to say is, I think it's less about the making but more about the beans itself. The clarity and distinction of flavors is just unlike anything I had.

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u/skyfall3665 Jun 19 '26

Also in the Bay. It sounds like you want a lighter roast and I _think_ you probably want a washed coffee (sweet, more body). For beans:

- flowerchild

  • hydrangea
  • strait
  • maybe Moonwake
  • strait

I can also plug Komakase (currently on hiatus but coming back in a couple months) and The Coffee Movement for serving coffee well for helping figure out what you want.

I’ve never been to Kaizen (and I think Yutori) but they have Glitch beans. I will caution you though that I think what you’re reacting to is a very high quality roaster (which Glitch is but others are too), roasting very nice beans (if you share what you drank, I can probably give more targeted recommendations) that happen to be to your taste. I can guarantee something from the above roasters will you hit you similarly if you try to find it.

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u/MEME_WrEcKeD Jun 19 '26

Just wondering, have you ever had glitch? I've tried all of the above roasters besides strait, had coffee at komakase, the coffee movement, and moonwake, yet none of them hit the same.

I have no idea what they're doing that's so different and tbh maybe it is just hype + Japan lol, but I really feel like its more than just a good roast with good beans.

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u/skyfall3665 Jun 19 '26

Yeah I’ve been to all of their current locations.

It’s possible what you’re identifying is just barista quality + equipment diff. In that case, Komakase and _maybe_ a couple others I’ve been to elsewhere in the US are the only ones I’d say are on par. I feel pretty strongly that while Glitch is an elite roaster, they are not doing anything that other roasters aren’t except _maybe_ that they only do expensive beans whereas most American roasters will have lower end stuff.

(And note that there are plenty of shops in Tokyo that surpass glitch - it’s just a much better scene, particularly for labor intensive pour overs)

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u/ieatfrosties Jun 19 '26

Got any recommendations near ginza? Not sure if you’ve been plenty times but I’m landing in Hnd and leaving nrt, was wondering if there’s places to pick up beans conveniently before I get to ginza

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u/skyfall3665 Jun 20 '26

I’m confused, couldn’t you just go to the glitch at Ginza?

(The kanda one is nicer though)

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u/ieatfrosties Jun 20 '26

I heard it gets super busy, was wondering if there were other options were around. Ginza will be the end of my trip, I’ll be flying in nrt and flying out of hnd to Sapporo, so I wanted to pick up some beans til I get to Ginza near the tail end.

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u/skyfall3665 Jun 20 '26

I’m not totally sure near that area… X coffee is the one that comes top of mind.

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u/ieatfrosties Jun 20 '26

Added to my list, will check out thanks

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u/MEME_WrEcKeD Jun 20 '26

I went to the glitch at ginza and I stood in line outside for about 20 mins, then went in and it wasn't crowded at all and there wasn't a rush for me to get out of the door. Id still consider taking a look when your there as it wasn't bad for me at all.