What are the highlights of the UCC Coffee Museum?
The UCC Coffee Museum is a coffee-themed museum created by the Japanese coffee brand UCC in Kobe, self-proclaimed as the largest coffee sanctuary in Japan. The museum features a spiral layout; after taking the escalator to the first exhibition room, you follow a gentle slope downward through 7 exhibition rooms: origins, cultivation, appraisal, roasting, extraction, culture, and the future. From traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies and recreations of Brazilian red soil cultivation to green bean quality appraisal, as well as brewing equipment from various eras and coffee cups from famous kilns around the world, you will piece together the complete story of a cup of coffee from origin to table. A typical visit takes about 1 hour, though you may want to reserve more time if you wish to explore each area in detail.
What can you do at the UCC Coffee Museum?
Upon entering, you will see coffee trees from the equatorial coffee belt; depending on the season, you might even see coffee flowers or fruits. The 7th exhibition room, the Future Zone, showcases UCC's research results, where you can touch, smell, and challenge yourself with quizzes about the future of coffee. By answering a few simple questions, you can meet your own coffee monster through a coffee personality diagnosis and stamp your souvenir card. The tasting area features a monthly rotating selection of coffee, and every visitor receives one free tasting upon entry. Coffee bean motifs are hidden throughout the museum, making the exploration even more fun. For those who want to learn more about coffee, the museum also offers paid experience courses such as roasting, hand-drip, blend creation, and 3D latte art (requires separate reservation).