The Roasters is a small, independent coffee bean roastery in Wakayama. It was started by furniture designer Ken Kamiya, who grew up in the area but had relocated to Fukushima where he worked. But with the fallout of the nuclear power plant in 2011, he decided to make a U-turn and move back to Wakayama, taking his family with him.
Returning to Wakayama, Kamiya was saddened to see that all the beloved mom-and-pop stores he knew as a child had now shuttered. So together with his wife, an experienced coffee bean roaster, they decided to open a small shop that would function as a roastery but also a design office.
They enlisted graphic designer Masashi Murakami to create the packaging design for their coffee beans. Forgoing the earthy tones and organic colors typically used in coffee packaging, Murakami created a series of fantastically colorful and geometric designs that were unique to the location where the coffee beans were sourced.
The packaging design was so ingenious that it helped Murakami go on to win this year’s JAGDA new designer of the year award!
Bonus tumblr post: Masashi Murakami’s graphic patterns used for the packaging
The Roasters is open to the public, who are welcome to stop by on weekdays (except Wednesday when they close) either to buy beans, or for a cup of coffee. The roastery was originally a farmhouse that was renovated by Murakami himself. They close on weekends but 30 min by car is another cafe that they operate called The Stand.
