The Beginning of ULT: A Tale of Passion, Partnership, and Coffee

by Marcia Yoko Shimosaka

Around 7–8 years ago, the seeds of ULT Coffee Roaster were planted, though none of us knew it at the time. It all started when I had the chance to meet both Boram and Taka-san almost simultaneously—but through very different circumstances.

At that time, Taka-san was part of Japan's Coffee in Good Spirits Championship team, and I was invited to help support the team. Right away, I noticed his immense passion and dedication to the craft. While working together, he opened up about his dream of building a coffee importing company in Japan. Without hesitation, I promised to help him achieve that dream someday.
In the meantime, I began working at Fazenda Um in Brazil, overseeing quality control and coffee exports. Coincidentally, Boram had also taken over quality control tasks at the same time, which naturally led to us working closely together.

A few years later, Taka-san reached out to me again, sharing the exciting news that he had finally realized his dream and founded his import company in Japan. He expressed his keen interest in working with Brazilian coffee. During his first visit to Brazil, he explored the coffee regions of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, quickly falling in love with the quality and diversity of the coffee these regions offered.
That year, a partnership was born between Syuhari Coffee (Taka-san's company) and Fazenda Um, laying the foundation for what would later become ULT Coffee Roaster. Over the years, this relationship continued to grow stronger, built on trust, shared values, and a deep commitment to quality.

After Boram and I achieved victory at the World Barista Championship, we began searching for an opportunity to open a roastery in Asia. Naturally, our choice was Japan, and there was no better partner for this dream than Taka-san. This dream materialized in the form of ULT Coffee Roaster, founded in Taka-san’s hometown of Osaka.

【The Spirit of ULT Coffee Roaster】
ULT Coffee Roaster is more than just a coffee shop or roastery-it’s the fulfillment of a shared dream between three coffee professionals. Each one of us values the relationships along the coffee supply chain, the dedication of producers, and above all, the pursuit of exceptional quality.
From its foundation, ULT’s core values have been built on transparency and respect. We are committed to leading the specialty coffee market by setting a new standard for excellence. Every detail of ULT-from its sophisticated yet simple architectural design to the quality of the coffee we serve-reflects those principles.
ULT was created not only to share our collective story but also to contribute to the growth of the coffee industry throughout Asia and Japan. Drawing on our extensive experience across every link in the coffee supply chain, combined with the finest aspects of Japanese hospitality, we aim to offer both expertise and passion in every cup.
When customers visit ULT Coffee Roaster, we want them to not only enjoy the finest specialty coffee but also experience the warmth and dedication behind it. Whether in our stores or at home, we hope customers will share their newfound love of coffee with their families and friends—spreading the passion together.