Bear Pond Espresso

Bear Pond Espresso opened in Shimokitazawa in 2009 under Katsuyuki Tanaka, a New York-trained barista who runs the machine himself — he doesn't let other hands near it, citing the risk of inconsistent shots. The shop's famous pour is the "Angel Stain," named for the drips left on the cup's side when Tanaka whips the portafilter mid-extraction, which he calls "a sign that came from God." It's rationed: a maximum of ten cups a day, served only until 1:00 p.m., after which regulars are out of luck until the next morning.

Tanaka, known by the nickname "Angelstain," appeared in the 2014 documentary "A Film About Coffee" and has been covered by Condé Nast Traveler and Japan's Asahi Shimbun. One well-known coffee blog reportedly declared the search for transcendent espresso in Tokyo over after visiting. The theatrics — the daily cap, the single pair of hands on the machine — read as gimmick until the shot arrives, thick and deliberately extracted, built around a technique Tanaka has spent over a decade refining in a shop the size of a closet.