Resonance of Photography and Coffee | Barista Kenta / Physiotherapist Kou. | ISSUE #16

Kenta became fascinated with coffee during his university days, starting with a part-time job he found by chance. Now, he is a manager at , which has seven locations nationwide centered in Fukuoka, while continuing to work as a barista. What thoughts does he hold daily as he engages with coffee?

"There's a perception that 'working in a restaurant is tough because it's a standing job,' but I strive to create an environment where everyone, including the staff, can work happily." For him, enjoying work every day is more important than the challenges of being a manager.
The camaraderie among the staff is notable, with many young staff members in their early 20s who are highly motivated, which is one of the attractions of . After business hours, they often gather for joint practice sessions, and some stores even plan trips for all staff members.

Many customers visit the store after seeing posts on social media. Efforts are made to provide services that exceed customer expectations, such as developing new dessert menus, offering coffee that pairs well with desserts or can be enjoyed on its own, and creating a relaxing atmosphere. Creating a welcoming space is a particular focus for the staff.

Currently, Kenta posts coffee photos from various perspectives, primarily on Instagram. Although he wasn't originally knowledgeable about photography, the COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst.
With the situation making it difficult to go out freely, he began creating photo and video content to allow customers who couldn't visit the store and coffee lovers nationwide to enjoy coffee easily.

Among his posts, the latte art photos are particularly eye-catching. In major competitions, such as international ones, there are often photo selections in the preliminaries. He is very conscious of how to showcase the designs, such as shooting from directly above, considering light reflection and entry, and ensuring no unnecessary items are in the shot. He even purchased a camera for competitions.

However, it's surprising that most of his social media posts are shot with an .

"Customers often take photos with their iPhones, so I try to match the environment as much as possible," he says, noting that many customers come to him wanting to shoot similarly.

Social media not only allows for easy nationwide dissemination but also motivates customers to visit the store. In fact, the desire of customers to experience the same coffee and space creates a reason for them to visit, and efforts are made to develop new menus and improve service quality to provide experiences that exceed their expectations. The coffee born from this cycle undoubtedly provides us with fulfilling moments.

"Coffee is not only about taste and aroma but also something to enjoy visually," he says, emphasizing the significance of capturing coffee in photos and videos. While he strongly feels the appeal of sharing coffee through photography, he candidly admits, "I want people to enjoy coffee while it's warm and delicious, so I hope they don't spend too much time photographing it."

What started as a part-time job at a coffee shop found by chance has now led Kenta to thrive as a manager. It's no exaggeration to say he is someone who discovered photography through coffee.

Kou., who calls himself a 'coffee-loving physiotherapist,' works in a completely unrelated field while energetically sharing coffee-related content on Instagram. What is the allure of coffee that drives him so much, and what sparked his love for it?

His fascination with coffee began about 10 years ago. As a physiotherapist, Kou. helped patients improve their body functions and quality of life, but upon reflecting on his own life, he realized he wasn't living a high-quality life. This realization led him to think, "It's cool to enjoy coffee on my days off," prompting him to buy a coffee grinder and beans, marking the start of his new hobby to enrich his life.

Kou.'s unique perspective on coffee is particularly evident in how he views the production, logistics, roasting, baristas, drinkers, and other stakeholders as forming a single circle to create delicious coffee.
However, the reason he started sharing on social media was different.

"Working in fields like healthcare and caregiving, we often feel close to death, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt that many people were experiencing the fear of death and loneliness," Kou. explains. In those gloomy days filled with dark news, when it was difficult to go out and lift one's spirits, he began to think about what could be enjoyed at home and started sharing his coffee hobby.

Even now that the pandemic has settled, he continues to post content that entertains coffee lovers with rare foreign equipment, latte art, and humorous videos.

Looking at Kou.'s social media posts, you'll find photos of coffee taken in various situations, almost conveying the rich aroma through the screen. Kou. began shooting with a mirrorless camera after starting to share on social media.

"Initially, I completed both photos and videos with an iPhone, but I decided to stretch a bit and bought a mirrorless camera," Kou. laughs, using a , which he found easy to use in a magazine. Although he admits he still doesn't fully understand the settings since he wasn't originally using a mirrorless camera, Kou.'s ability to capture deeply flavorful photos is immeasurable.

Although Kou. only takes coffee-related photos, his genuine love for coffee is evident in his words.

"I don't think I could take good photos if it weren't something I love this much. When I'm taking coffee photos, I think about delivering something good, but I can't take good photos of things I'm not interested in," he says, revealing his sincere approach to coffee.

Even when using the same equipment and beans, the way light enters and steam rises is completely different. This uniqueness is part of the appeal of photographing coffee, Kou. explains.
In fact, the photos and videos Kou. takes resonate with and inspire many people both domestically and internationally. He is undoubtedly someone who maximizes the value hidden in photos, which capture moments and share them with others.

Recently, Kou. says he has been receiving more requests for coffee-related work.
Having discovered coffee as part of his search for a hobby, he became someone who shares its allure during the pandemic, and now has an inseparable relationship with photography through his love for coffee. While the power of photography is inherent, its convenience as a medium for conveying information, the abundance of information it can hold, and the ease of incorporating the sender's intent are recognized as essential strengths for many people.