Today we’d like to introduce you to Estelle.
Hi Estelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Kyotobrew is something my siblings and I had been thinking about for many years. My sister has long been into baking, and when we were young I used to jokingly ask her if she would open her bakery next door to my coffee shop. While those conversations often served as a little escape into our daydreams, I think we both knew that one day we wanted to build something together. I personally was putting aside some money every month for over ten years for the future coffee house. Over the past few years our wishful conversations became more specific, my brother and his partner joined in, and Kyotobrew started taking shape.
We started from a few of the values we knew we wanted to form this space. We wanted an environment that allowed people, ourselves included, to slow down and experience a moment of calm and delight. We believed our offerings should be something we have first-hand experience, with and authentic to who we are. Having grown up drinking green tea and getting the chance to visit Kyoto coffeehouses with our family, we were drawn to the idea of bringing elements of Japanese coffee and tea culture into our Texas setting. We’ve lived between these two cultures our whole lives, so we knew there was a way to thoughtfully bring them together.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There were a few times when we weren’t sure if we would make it to opening. We were working on a historic building that had been vacant for two years. There were several delays that came up through permitting and construction, and unexpected expenses that kept coming up. It also took us a while to work out our funding, which came through an SBA loan. It was a challenging couple of years and we learned a lot.
At the same time we had local friends and experts who gave us advice, the support of the city, and the tools and motivation to problem solve and keep moving forward. We definitely could not have done it without this amazing network and our loved ones who often worked alongside us and cheered us on. Our local community shows up for us every day and that’s allowed us to keep doing what we do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kyotobrew?
We are a Japanese coffeehouse and bakery tucked in the corner of Lancaster’s historic town square. We became known for our matcha, which we take a lot of care in how we source, store, and prepare. When we first began researching for our matcha program, we took trips to Japan to educate ourselves on matcha farming, milling, and tea ceremony. We had no idea that matcha was about to become mainstream globally, so our timing was lucky in that regard.
When it comes to Japanese culture, we think a lot about what to preserve, what to adapt, and how to make it feel natural in our environment. We’ve also found that there is some fun Japanese-Texan crossover when it comes to drinks and pastries. For example, Japanese style toast is thick cut and and fluffy inside, just like Texas toast. In Japan they like to serve pigs-in-a-blanket or Texan-style kolaches in their coffee shops.
Our space is inspired by the idea of the Japanese izakaya, a word that translates to “stay-drink-place.” We care about our craft and the quality of each ingredient that our food and drink are made from. Our cafe ceramics are handmade in Japan, and our walls are made of clay. We wanted to welcome in the natural light, and we even took into consideration that the drive to our shop takes you past trees and green space with open skies. We wanted promote a feeling of harmony with nature, where people can savor a moment with crafted drinks and tasty treats.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I had a lot of energy for trying something new. I had many interests and a big imagination. I liked being outside, playing in the trees and running around our school track which was in walking distance to my home. I could spend an entire summer in the library, bringing home rounds of books, and reading late into the night. I had one kids book with a bunch of science projects in it, and I tested every experiment that I could find the materials for. I also liked to play music, bake and make art. I had a friend who would make short films with me, and we would edit them on a dual VCR editing setup. I started a small ebay business when I was a teenager, selling things I would make or find around the house. On the flip side, I would put something down as quickly as I picked it up. As I got older I sometimes felt bad for not specializing in anything.
Looking back, I see a hobby that quietly ran from my childhood into adulthood. I got a lot of enjoyment out of taking little excursions to share a nice time over something tasty. When I was a kid, I looked forward to taking my little sister to the corner store to pick out a bag of chips or some candy. I had a friend who lived near the train tracks, and we spent many hot summer days walking along the tracks to the sno cone stand. As I got older, coffee shops became the places I sought out, and I loved to sit for a moment after getting off school or work. When you’re traveling in a new country, it’s the place that is at the same time an introduction to the local culture, yet familiar and welcoming. I developed a personal connection to the idea of the coffee house and what it’s added to my quality of life. I tended to note what I liked or didn’t like about any given coffee shop experience.
Pricing:
- Kyoto Cold Brew $7
- Matcha Latte $6-8
- Pecan Cinnamon Roll $4.75
- Morning Set – Coffee + Toast w/ butter & jam $4.75
- Yuzu Old Fashioned $16
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kyotobrew.com
- Instagram: @kyotobrew
