Excelsior Caffé is a Japanese chain of coffeehouses owned by Doutor Coffee. Established in 1999, it operates exclusively in Japan. The restaurant has an Italian style, hence its use of "caffé" (the Italian spelling) instead of "café" in its name.

Excelsior Caffé
Native name
エクセルシオール カフェ
Ekuserushiōru Kafe
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFood and drink
Founded1999
Number of locations
123 (2021)
Area served
Japan
OwnerDoutor Coffee
Websitewww.doutor.co.jp/exc/

History

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The company was created in 1999 by Doutor Coffee. Its first location opened in July of that year in Seavans A Mall in Shibaura.[1] Doutor was a more grab-and-go coffeehouse without any baristas, using machines instead. They wanted to create a more "premium" experience for its customers, allowing them to have a place to sit and relax in a quiet atmosphere. In 2000, American coffee chain Starbucks filed for an interim injunction against the Doutor, saying that their logo (which has since changed) and appearance looked to much like its own.[2][3]

In 2021, Excelsior started using the food sharing service TABETE to reduce food loss.[4][5]

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Coffee from Excelsior Caffé

The chain has a seasonal menu that changes often. Still, it also has many stationary drinks, including lattes, uji matcha, hōjicha, mocha, Americano, milk tea, espresso panna cotta, Unshu mandarin orange juice, and lemonade. It uses four varieties of coffee beans, Excelsior, Yirgachefe Washed, Decaffeinated, and Organic Guatemala, from Brazil and Tanzania, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala, respectively. The milk used in the drinks comes from cows in Hokkaido. Other than beverages, the coffeehouse serves hot dogs, sandwiches (consisting of roast beef and Danish cream cheese, shrimp and salmon cream cheese, pastrami and lettuce, and mortadella and Gouda cheese), beef stew with mozzarella, yuzu koshō doria, shrimp and avocado doria, and pasta (with varieties such as crab tomato crean, salmon and four-cheese, shiso soy sauce with mascarpone, and bolognese with truffle oil).[6]

Locations

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As of 2021, Excelsior Caffé has 123 stores, all in Japan. It is mainly concentrated in the Kantō region.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "History and Characteristics of Excelsior Caffé". Coffeemecca (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Excelsior Caffé: Exploring Japan's Coffee Culture". Japanese Coffee Co. July 4, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Stop using logo: Starbucks". The Japan Times. July 14, 2000. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Japanese coffee shop chain Excelsior to curb food loss via food sharing service TABETE". Japan Today. September 12, 2021. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Japanese coffee shop chain Excelsior to minimize food waste by tapping food-sharing service". EconoTimes. September 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Official website" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
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