MIKENEKO blend coffee

MIKENEKO blend coffee

＊Please note: Shipping is available within Japan only.
This product is a special blend made from small batches of beans that were either kept frozen or roasted for testing purposes.
It’s shipped at room temperature, and the flavor and quality may vary from batch to batch.
In return, it’s offered at a more affordable price.

Product Information

A Lucky Dip in Every Bag — KURONEKO COFFEE’s “Staff Meal Blend”

This is our roastery’s version of a staff meal — a casual, behind-the-scenes blend originally meant for personal use.
It’s made from small leftover lots, experimental test batches, and off-spec beans that were set aside for in-house consumption.
Now, we’re offering it in limited quantities as a one-time-only, deep-roast leaning blend for adventurous coffee lovers.

What does it taste like?
Honestly… even I don’t know! 😄

What’s in the blend?

The base typically includes beans from Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, and Indonesia,
but there may also be test batches using other origins or experimental ratios blended in.
While we sort the batches into two general categories — medium roast and deep roast — please note that there may still be slight variations in roast depth or bean size.
We exclude any beans with extreme differences in roast level to maintain balance, and each batch is hand-picked before shipping with the same care as our regular products.

Recommended Enjoyment

・Coffee lovers with a “gacha spirit” — open to surprise and new flavor experiences
・Those who don’t chase perfection in coffee, but enjoy variation as part of the charm
・Daily drinkers who like trying new things just for fun

・Those who prioritize consistency in taste and quality
・People with strict preferences for specific origins or ratios
・Guests or formal occasions where you need something polished and predictable

This blend began with a simple thought　“It’s a shame to waste leftover beans.”
At first, I gave it away to regulars as a kind of behind-the-scenes treat — like crusts from a loaf of bread.
To my surprise, I started getting reactions like
“I think I liked this better than the last one,”
and even
“That was weird… but really interesting!”

If you’re someone who enjoys a bit of casual experimentation, this is for you.
You may never get the same flavor twice — but that’s part of what makes coffee fun.

Other Products

The Story Behind the Blend

As the name suggests, the “Staff Meal Blend” began as a private, in-house brew — something I drank myself out of responsibility, using beans that didn’t quite make the cut.
These were often leftovers from test batches that didn’t hit the target flavor during blend development, or small quantities of frozen beans that couldn’t be sold as official products.
In other words, they were “almost good enough” beans — not failures, but not quite right either.

Naturally, these leftover beans started to pile up.
And while I tried to drink my way through them, there’s only so much one person can consume (especially when every cup is a lesson in humility!).
I didn’t have the heart to throw them away, so I began giving out little samples to friends and regulars, saying,
“Here — have a taste while I clear out some stock.”

Surprisingly, the response was far more positive than I expected.
People started saying things like,
“I think I like this one even better than the last.”
or
“It’s weird, but actually kind of interesting.”
Sometimes, these accidental blends produced unexpectedly delicious results — flavor combinations I never would’ve come up with on purpose.
Even for me, it became an exciting source of inspiration, and the idea of a “Staff Meal Blend” took on a new life.

Of course, since these blends mix beans from different roast dates and batches, they’re not consistent in flavor or always available.
But that’s exactly why the price is kept low, and why it’s only offered in limited quantities when I have suitable beans on hand.
You may never taste the exact same version twice — and that’s part of the charm.
I hope you’ll enjoy this special little batch for what it is: a casual, behind-the-scenes offering from a small roastery.

This English translation was created using ChatGPT.
We appreciate your understanding if any expressions feel slightly unnatural.