Sarutahiko Coffee Sengawa Atelier

Nice, bright and big coffee place. A lot of friendly people taking care of your wish. they road the beans right upstairs. I ordered a drip coffee, it was good, probably not the best I’ve had (but my standards are high since living in L.A.)
The place is really clean, there’s outdoor seating and wifi. So I’d say it’s one of the better coffee spots in Tokyo.

Unilocal 100 Challenge 2015 — ²⁴⁄₁₀₀
Sarutahiko Coffee in this location is newly opened as of February 2015. The original location is on the north side of JR Ebisu station, but honestly, this new shop is not only bigger, but better too. Why? Read on…
Short story:
+ Interior: Modern, bright, well-​lit but in a modern retro theme. Subdued blue against lots of natural wood grain and earth tones create a warm, cozy atmosphere (⁴⁄₅)
+ Menu — coffee: Key highlights are hand-​dripped straight coffee drinks featuring in-​house bean blends; highly recommended over typical espresso «gourmet» coffee drinks, although their macchiato is a killer ;-) (4.5÷5)
+ Menu — food: There is a trend in hipster cafes across Tokyo now that features the «slut» food item. What’s that? It’s made of potato, egg, seasonings served in a Mason jar (check Wikipedia) — personally, I’m not a fan of this item so I’ll not rate it here. Otherwise, there are few other items on the menu, but there is a noticeable absence of food here. (³⁄₅)
+ Service: As it’s newly opened, the staff are still finding their land legs, but keep in mind that hand-​dripping coffee takes time, so no major problems here (⁴⁄₅)
Long story:
As with new openings in Tokyo, you’ll find long lines for the first couple of weeks as crowds of customers and media fight for «early adopter» tests of the food, service and experience. This place was no different but now that we’re approaching two months since opening, there’s much less waiting for seating or your order.
That said, a key highlight is the staff, many of whom had previously worked at other «famous» coffee chains (yes, including the one that starts with «S»). I hope they adopt a new, unique service style that is less like a ramen shop where they shout orders and greetings and more subdued but sincere in their operations and gratitude towards customers.
I particularly like their sampling of the featured roast right outside the entrance. It’s great chance to strike up a conversation to learn and gather Unilocal intelligence! ;-) The staff are also pretty knowledgeable about coffee bean types, origins and the roasting process. This location has a third of the floor area on the second floor devoted to a huge roasting machine. Hence, you’d be better off getting a straight drip that expresses the roasting process done on-​site. Go ahead and ask about it too — the staff are happy to help you appreciate the thought and effort that has gone into the process.
A few comments on the atmosphere. The BGM (background music) is modern hipster tunes or retro new age, depends on the day. Sometimes it’s a bit too loud, forcing patrons to speak in louder, more annoying voices. Lighting is modern industrial; no glaring florescent tubes or white LEDs here. This gives the space a warmer, more intimate feeling.
One caveat is the furniture. I like the bare, rugged retro look but the chairs and tables look like they rescued furniture from old schools destined to be demolished. In other words, lots of wood and steel but somewhat uncomfortable. Maybe more than the chairs themselves is the obvious effort to cram in as many tables, chairs and customers as possible. This makes the second floor almost an acrobatic challenge when squeezing in or out during crowded times. Open up more elbow room by clearing out about a third of the furniture. People can wait or order take out, as they’re not camping out anyway (e.g., no wifi)
Overall, they’re off to a good start — damn good coffee, for sure. Here’s to hoping the service brand, food menu and interior seating can be improved over time.