Project Description

Japan
Hiraku Kondo
Ituka Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I work at Ituka Coffee in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. I have a 5 year roasting career and my main machine is a Fuji Royal R-105, 5kg roaster.

How did you get started in coffee?

My first time to drink coffee was when I was 14 years old. After that, I gradually became more interested in coffee and roasting.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

May 2016: Japan Brewers Cup (JBrC), Preliminary Round

July 2016: Japan Cup Tasters Championship (JCTC), Preliminary Round

August 2016: Japan Coffee Roasting Championship (JCRC), 1st place

May 2017: Japan Brewers Cup (JBrC), Semifinalists

July 2017: Japan Cup Tasters Championship (JCTC), Preliminary Round

What roaster do you currently roast on?

I roast on a few different machines.

Giesen: W6A

Fuji Royal:R-105, Discovery

Probat: Probatone5

Loring:S15 Diedrich:Ir-2.5

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

I learned my roasting know-how in “Ituka Coffee” with my chief of coffee roasting.  My career started with sample roasting and coffee cupping.  I am currently working on improving my quality control.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

Music (especially classical music), movies, hiking (especially in autumn), motorcycle riding (especially at seaside), scotch whiskey, to name a few.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

I want to have my own café and serve my coffee to many coffee lovers.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

I would like to say many thanks to Mr. Hideo Kato, chief of my workplace, Ituka Coffee. He gave me the skill of coffee roasting, and a lot of valuable support. I’d also like to thank the Specialty Coffee Association of Japan (SCAJ), and particularly the SCAJ Roast Masters Committee who have provided much advice. I would like to say many thanks again to all my coffee friends who have supported me.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

I would like to go to as many coffee shops as I can go in the city. Also, I would like to talk about coffee especially coffee roasting with other coffee roasters.

Instagram: Jallisey