Sawada Coffee in Chicago merges Japanese coffee artistry with the city's urban, industrial energy. Located in the West Loop, this café is a collaboration between Hiroshi Sawada, a world champion barista, and Hogsalt Hospitality. The result is a coffee shop that stands out for its design, coffee offerings, and cultural blend.
- Design: Combines Japanese precision with Chicago's industrial charm - featuring exposed wood, graffiti, skateboards, and communal seating.
- Menu: Highlights include the Project X coffee blend, crafted with Metropolis Coffee, and premium matcha imported from Japan.
- Impact: Sawada Coffee has influenced Chicago’s café scene by showcasing how diverse elements can create spaces that feel both bold and welcoming.
This café isn't just about coffee - it’s about creating an experience that reflects both Tokyo and Chicago in every detail.
Designing a Modern Coffee Shop – Industrial Style with Concrete, Steel, and Red Accents
Industrial Design Elements at Sawada Coffee
Sawada Coffee captures the essence of Chicago's West Loop with a striking industrial design that blends grit with sophistication. The café takes traditional industrial elements and reimagines them into a space that's both edgy and inviting. Its architectural features create an urban vibe that perfectly complements the neighborhood's character.
Main Architectural Features
The café's industrial-chic interior pays homage to the area's manufacturing roots [5]. Inside, a thoughtful mix of materials and textures highlights the merging of Japanese and American design styles. The open layout reflects Chicago's vibrant coffee culture, while oversized windows flood the space with natural light. This creates a bright, welcoming atmosphere and offers prime opportunities for people-watching [8].
Skateboarding and Urban Elements
Sawada Coffee takes its industrial foundation and injects it with urban energy through unique design touches. Hiroshi Sawada, the café's namesake, brings his love of skateboarding into the space. Skateboard decks have been cleverly repurposed as pastry display shelves [6], and the walls showcase skateboards adorned with Sawada's designs [1]. These elements aren't just decorative - they serve as cultural nods to urban life. Adding to the playful vibe, one of the tables doubles as a ping-pong table [8], encouraging interaction and a sense of fun.
Lighting and Seating Design
Lighting plays a key role in creating the café's warm and inviting atmosphere. Overhead lights provide a calm yet stylish ambiance throughout the day [2][8]. A chandelier above the second entrance [8] serves as a standout centerpiece. The seating area, shared with the neighboring Green Street Smoked Meats restaurant [1][2][8], features communal tables that encourage socializing. The versatile seating design supports everything from casual meetups to focused work sessions [7][8][9]. Metal fixtures and the interplay between natural and artificial light reinforce the industrial aesthetic, making the space equally suited for morning coffee runs and evening hangouts.
Menu and Coffee Offerings
Sawada Coffee’s menu is a blend of Japanese and American influences, reflecting the café’s unique industrial vibe. At the center of it all is their standout coffee blend, Project X, which combines the elegance of Japanese coffee traditions with the boldness of American coffee culture.
Japanese and American Coffee Blends
The star of the menu, Project X, was created in collaboration with Metropolis Coffee Company, a Chicago-based roaster established in 2003. To develop this blend, Metropolis worked with samples of beans roasted by Hiroshi Sawada for his Tokyo café, carefully replicating the flavor profile to honor the essence of Japanese coffee. The result? A blend that’s proudly described as “Inspired by Japan. Grown in Brazil. Roasted in Chicago” [4][11].
"We loved the style of the Japanese coffee we had tried, and Metropolis was gracious enough to recreate that by sourcing and roasting the beans to best fit what we were looking for. We knew this wasn't 'trendy', but we wanted a coffee that was versatile enough to use in multiple ways (we use Project X as our drip, espresso and cold brew)." – Ryan Dailey, Manager of Hogsalt Hospitality brands [3]
Beyond coffee, Metropolis Coffee Company also oversees the import and distribution of 100% green tea matcha powder from Shizuoka, Japan [10][12]. This matcha is hand-roasted and nitrogen-flushed to maintain peak freshness, ensuring every cup delivers what they call “Roasted to Order Goodness” [4][11].
These carefully crafted blends form the foundation of Sawada Coffee’s standout menu.
Special Menu Items and Equipment
With its chocolatey richness, bold profile, and smooth, low-acidity finish, Project X shines across various brewing methods - whether it’s drip coffee, espresso, or cold brew. This versatility caters to both casual coffee drinkers and aficionados, perfectly encapsulating Sawada Coffee’s mission to create a coffee experience that feels both approachable and distinct.
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Sawada Coffee's Impact on Chicago Café Design
With its mix of industrial charm and Japanese precision, Sawada Coffee has reshaped the design landscape for cafés in Chicago's West Loop.
Design Trends in Chicago Coffee Shops
Sawada Coffee's industrial elements have become a source of inspiration for other West Loop cafés, steering them toward embracing the raw, urban character of Chicago rather than opting for overly polished or sterile designs. This trend reflects a broader shift among café owners who now celebrate the city’s industrial roots, creating spaces that feel authentic and grounded.
The café’s success also highlighted the power of visually striking interiors combined with unique offerings. By creating spaces that are both functional and Instagram-worthy, Sawada Coffee has shown that unconventional design choices can attract a wide range of patrons - from coffee aficionados to casual visitors looking for a memorable experience.
Mixing Japanese and Chicago Design Styles
Drawing from earlier design principles, Sawada Coffee seamlessly blends Japanese minimalism with Chicago's gritty urban aesthetic. This thoughtful combination results in a space that feels truly one of a kind, inspiring other cafés in the city to experiment with integrating diverse influences into their own designs.
This approach demonstrates that authenticity doesn’t mean choosing one style over another. Instead, it’s about finding harmony between influences to create something entirely fresh. Sawada Coffee’s success has encouraged other Chicago coffee shops to explore new cultural elements, enriching the city’s café scene with more diverse and imaginative spaces.
Awards and Recognition
Named a must-visit spot by BestCafeChicago.org, Sawada Coffee has earned praise for its innovative design, which marries a cozy atmosphere with an edgy urban vibe. This recognition has positioned the café as one of Chicago’s standout coffee destinations, celebrated for its ability to combine exceptional coffee with bold architectural and cultural storytelling.
The accolades underscore Sawada Coffee’s influence on the local café scene, setting new benchmarks for what makes a coffee shop truly special. By merging great coffee with inventive design and cultural depth, Sawada Coffee has carved out a lasting legacy in Chicago’s café culture.
Sawada Coffee's Design Legacy
Sawada Coffee continues to leave its mark on Chicago's café scene, reshaping how urban spaces are designed. The café seamlessly merges industrial vibes with Japanese-inspired touches, creating a space that's both functional and welcoming.
What Sets Sawada Coffee Apart
Sawada Coffee stands out by blending urban design with a touch of Japanese minimalism. This thoughtful combination strikes a balance between practicality and style. Collaborating with Metropolis Coffee Company, the café enhances its atmosphere with industrial lighting, raw materials, and cozy seating. By incorporating these elements, it creates a space that feels both modern and inviting. This unique blend of aesthetics and functionality offers a fresh perspective for coffee lovers and designers alike.
Takeaways for Coffee Lovers and Designers
Sawada Coffee serves as a great example of how diverse design elements can come together to create something special. By combining industrial design with minimalist principles, it offers a space that feels balanced and purposeful. Its layout caters to a variety of needs while maintaining a distinct personality, providing inspiration for anyone looking to design a café that stands out.
FAQs
How does Sawada Coffee combine Japanese and Chicago design influences?
Sawada Coffee brings together the best of Japanese and Chicago design, creating a space that's both stylish and welcoming. The café’s industrial vibe - complete with exposed brick walls and oversized windows - captures Chicago’s urban charm. Meanwhile, subtle Japanese touches, like green accents, shimmering gold and silver tiles, and a menu brimming with matcha drinks and traditional Japanese spirits, add a layer of elegance and authenticity.
The café’s unique character is further enriched by Hiroshi Sawada, a celebrated Japanese barista known for his skill in latte art. His influence infuses the space with a personal and artistic flair. The result? A coffee spot that feels rooted in Chicago yet carries a global perspective, making it a true gem in the city’s coffee culture.
What makes the 'Project X' coffee blend stand out from other blends?
The 'Project X' coffee blend strikes the perfect harmony between time-honored tradition and modern creativity. Its flavor is rich and full-bodied, with hints of dark fruit, smooth chocolate, and a subtle touch of roasted hazelnut. Together, these elements create a taste that’s as satisfying as it is memorable.
Designed with an emphasis on premium quality and depth, 'Project X' delivers a bold yet polished flavor profile. It’s an ideal choice for coffee lovers who crave something truly special in every cup.
How has Sawada Coffee influenced café design trends in Chicago?
Sawada Coffee, tucked away in Chicago's lively West Loop, stands out by blending Japanese artistry with the essence of American coffee culture. The café's industrial-chic vibe - complete with exposed brick walls, reclaimed wood accents, and vintage details - offers a fresh take on what a coffee shop can be.
This distinctive design doesn’t just make the space cozy and inviting; it’s also sparking inspiration among other Chicago cafés to experiment with bold, imaginative designs that balance practicality with artistic flair.
