Kyoto Brew is bringing a Japanese-inspired coffee and cocktail spot to Lancaster’s Historic Town Square by the summer of 2024, owner Estelle Hernandez told What Now Dallas. The unique shop “will imitate the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese izakaya — a word which translates to ‘stay-drink-place’.”
Because of the historic nature of the building, Estelle told What Now Dallas that design and construction have been a slightly more in-depth process, aiming to cohesively create a Japanese-inspired place that still fit within the historic Texas town.
“We do coffee and cocktails, with a focus on Kyoto-style slow-dripped cold brew. We will also do fresh bread and pastries made from scratch every morning,” Estelle told What Now Dallas. “Our primary morning bread will be sausage kolaches and shokupan (Japanese milk bread) along with a rotating selection of pastries. At night we will focus on desserts — pies, tarts, and cookies, along with some other small plates.”
Estelle explained that Kyoto-style cold brew, made drip by drip, is different from immersion style cold brew because the drip method brings out all the nuances and subtleties from the coffee beans. It works especially well for lighter roasts that preserve the flavor of the coffee.
Estelle described the style that incentivizes guests to implement the “stay-drink” aspect of the shop. “During the day, the coffee shop is bright and airy with lots of natural light. Our evening vibe is designed to reflect the cozy, intimate atmosphere of a traditional Japanese izakaya. Japanese design is minimalist without being sterile or bland. There is always a warmth that is brought in with natural materials, lighting, and attention to craft. We worked with Coeval Studio for our architecture and design and couldn’t be happier with how they realized our vision.”
Kyoto Brew is the fruition of Estelle’s long-held goal of opening her own coffee shop. “I started saving to start my coffee shop, a little every month, when I was in college over 10 years ago,” she said. The ownership team is comprised of three siblings and their sister in law.
“The City of Lancaster approved an Economic Development grant for Kyotobrew to redevelop the space, and help drive activity and nightlife to the downtown area,” Estelle told What Now Dallas. “The grant will awarded based on performance.”
Learn more about the one-of-a-kind concept at www.kyotobrewtx.com
