'Flat whites the biggest seller': the man bringing Aussie coffee culture to Japan

The Advertiser

6 hours ago

John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan.
Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans.
With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice.
The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy.
His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out.
"I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it."
Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up.
"I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend."
A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller.
"I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5."
Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult.
It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee."
Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal."
Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said.
Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here."
He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map."
John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan.
Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans.
With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice.
The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy.
His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out.
"I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it."
Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up.
"I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend."
A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller.
"I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5."
Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult.
It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee."
Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal."
Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said.
Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here."
He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map."
John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan.
Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans.
With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice.
The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy.
His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out.
"I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it."
Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up.
"I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend."
A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller.
"I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5."
Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult.
It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee."
Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal."
Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said.
Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here."
He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map."
John Widmer has become quite the popular "coffee bloke" on a small island in Japan.
Two years ago, he moved to Himeshima, where he opened a cafe that exclusively uses Australian beans.
With his Japanese wife, Teruko Nakamichi, they run Ozi Cafe - and all the locals and tourists have taken notice.
The island has a population of only about 1700 people. Mr Widmer, from Cronulla, is the island's only foreign resident. He says his business is boosting the local economy.
His cafe sits directly across a ferry pier. The first thing tourists see is his cafe. And it's not hard to spot. Painted in green and gold, it stands out.
"I think my cafe is the most photographed thing on the island now," he said. "It has bright Aussie sporting colours. When you look at the rest of Japan, there are many greys and browns. When the ferry pulls in, all the people pull their phones out and take pictures of the cafe. A walking tour called Walk Japan has also included the island on its tour - lots of Aussies do it."
Bringing Australian coffee to Japan has been a hit, he says. "I couldn't get good beans or good coffee here. It was either under or over-roasted or too weak. The coffee culture is about 20 years behind Australia's, but I don't think it will take them 20 years to catch up.
"I rang Di Lorenzo, and they sent me eight kilos for free. People love it, and we're getting lots of online orders. Customers are driving from other areas of Japan - three hours away, to buy the beans or have a coffee at the weekend."
A popular request is a flat white. But it wasn't always the case. "Japanese are big on their black coffee - they're a lot like the Americans. I used to make Americanos, but now I call it an Australiano," Mr Widmer said. "They won't touch iced coffee in winter, but they like flat whites - our biggest seller.
"I'm also making tea from a supplier from Perth. It's an Aboriginal-backed company that uses native Australians like lemon myrtle. They're a hit. I also use eco-friendly cups - no plastic lids. A cup of coffee is about $5."
Mr Widmer also teaches children on the island how to swim. He previously owned a successful swimming school in Sutherland Shire. But the business went into liquidation during COVID-19, and he left Sydney at a time when travel was difficult.
It was where he learnt how to make a decent coffee. "When I had the swim school, we had a coffee shop, so I did a barista course then," he said. "I knew how to make coffee."
Now a resident of Japan, he says he feels right at home. "I love this country," he said. "The respect, courtesy and politeness of the Japanese people are unmatched anywhere in the world. It's cheap, and the food is fresh and seasonal."
Despite the language barrier (he speaks very little Japanese), he adjusted to life by bringing a familiar taste of Australia to Japan. He started communicating with customers using Google Translate, and his wife helps. "I speak single words," he said.
Mr Widmer's signature logo - a caricature of a face that he draws, features on the coffee cups. "It's the face I've been drawing since I was 12," he said. "I do it in eight different colours. People cut them off, put them on the back of their phones, and collect them. I've seen them on windows in people's cars. It's become a bit of an icon on the island. We've been on national television here."
He also sells snacks, and aromatherapy balms made by Cronulla's Sharon Turner. But he's best known for his "loud shirts". "I can't go anywhere without kids recognising me," he said. "The mayor said I'm putting the island back on the map."