The beauty of coffee is that it goes with almost anything. And I’m not even talking about food. Coffee is the perfect complement to bike shops, tattoo parlors, plant shops, clothing stores. Anytime there’s an establishment where someone is thinking deeply about what’s going on, coffee is an basic choice.
We thought we had seen all the expressions of Coffee And… the world had to offer. And maybe we had, until this latest pop-up was added to the rolodex. In Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Kawabonsai is a novel pop-up café opening in a jiu-jitsu studio.
Fresh York original agency concept Studio GarnishKawabonsai combines Thi Lam’s two passions: coffee and jiu-jitsu. “It’s definitely a random concept, but I really wanted to break up the monotony of the typical coffee shop experience,” Lam tells Sprudge. Opening Saturday, Aug. 31, the novel space is open to all levels of practitioners, both jiu-jitsu and coffee. There are rolling mats and Mini La Marzocco Line for spr.
While they may seem like different disciplines, Lam believes they have more in common than you might think. “To get a great shot of espresso, you have to test a lot of variables: roast, grind, puck preparation, temperature, and time. Playing with all of these variables requires a lot of trial and error and an unwavering spirit to constantly chase the perfect shot,” Lam says. “Jiu-jitsu practitioners have the same intensity when it comes to perfecting their craft. We’re constantly changing our game based on the opponent we’re facing.”
The name Kawabonsai is itself an expression of duality. It came to him in a dream, Lam says. The most obvious reference point, at least for any millennial, is Cowabunga, the slogan of ’90s skate and surf icons Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which represents the casual coffeehouse experience Lam is looking for. But it’s more than just a playful nod to nostalgia. “Kawa” means “coffee” in many languages, and in Japanese means “river”; “flowing like water is a common motif in martial arts,” he says. And “bonsai” evokes the practice of pruning bonsai trees, which “requires discipline and artistry to thrive—like a game of jiu-jitsu.” It’s amazing how everything makes sense in hindsight!
Kawabonsai is the latest initiative from La Marzocco’s Espresso Anywhere, where people can take their coffee (and Linea Mini) to novel places. “It’s very inspired the adventurous spirit of home baristas and coffee enthusiasts who have taken their love of coffee beyond the confines of their homes,” says Ben Blake of La Marzocco. “Anyone who has immersed themselves in coffee knows that it’s a journey full of questions: ‘so what next?’ Over the past decade, we’ve seen home baristas ask themselves that question often, and then answer it with the Linea Mini. Garage pop-ups, espresso in remote locations, adding great espresso to cocktail menus, upgrading your office equipment, creating a traveling pop-up or farmers market stand, etc.”
Other Espresso Anywhere installations include Hannes Becker Midnight Sun Pop-up on the Norwegian Lofoten Islands, Race Service Pop-Up Garage in Los AngelesAND A jumping whale thirsty for Justin Sajda. And now Kawabonsai.
Kawabonsai is currently open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but hours and availability are likely to change. For up-to-date hours, follow Kawabonsai on Instagram. Gi or no gi, coffee or decaf, whatever you prefer, opt for Kowabonsai.
