Light Up Coffee

Founded in July 2014 with an opening in Kichijoji, Tokyo, Light Up Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster and retailer dedicated to sourcing and roasting expressive single-origin coffees. The roaster's mission is to illuminate daily life through delicious coffee, pursuing a roasting style that highlights each bean's individual character while maintaining a comfortable, approachable balance—including sweetness that persists as coffee cools. Roasting is carried out at a dedicated facility in Mitaka using a Probat UG22 roaster, with weekly cuppings and monthly quality alignment sessions across locations. Light Up Coffee operates physical cafés in Kichijoji and Shimokitazawa, runs a robust online subscription service delivering beans nationwide, and is involved in coffee production in Bali, Indonesia and Dalat, Vietnam. The team of approximately 30 members spans café, roasting, online retail, and back-office operations. The roaster also develops accessible coffee products such as coffee bags, syrups, and novelty items, and offers an online barista education platform called Coffee School.