The 8th installment of "Weekend Cafe Club" is a suggestion for an "at-home cafe" brought to you by the Weekend Cafe Club atelier.

This time, we used the "Espresso Cube" from "LIGHT UP COFFEE", a specialty coffee shop run by Kawano Yuma, to make an affogato, an iced latte, and a hot latte, which is a classic variation. Light Up Coffee "Espresso Cubes" (4-pack: 980 yen including tax (currently on sale for 490 yen during the campaign), 12-pack: 2,600 yen including tax, 30-pack: 6,000 yen including tax) "As the weather gets warmer, it's the perfect season for iced lattes and espresso tonics. Using espresso cubes makes it easy to enjoy delicious coffee at home, so I hope everyone will give it a try," says Kawano. The "espresso cubes" used in this article are rich espresso brewed by hand by a barista, carefully checking the taste, then flash-frozen and vacuum-storing it to keep it fresh. It's a fantastic product that lets you recreate the aroma and flavor of freshly brewed espresso at home.

These frozen "espresso cubes" are melted and ready to use.

This product allows anyone to enjoy the taste of a specialty espresso shop, anytime, even without a high-end espresso machine or the skills to brew espresso. First, let's start with an affogato variation.


At the Weekend Cafe Club, we highly recommend the affogato, an arrangement using an espresso cube. All you need is one cube and your choice of vanilla ice cream.

Arrange the ice cream in a bowl like this
Put the espresso cube in a heat-resistant container and heat it in a 500W microwave. Pour the liquefied espresso over vanilla ice cream...
And now it's done!
The sweetness and richness of the vanilla ice cream and the sourness and bittersweetness of the espresso are perfectly balanced. You can adjust the flavor to your liking by changing the amount of ice cream, so if you want a bitter taste, use less ice cream, or conversely, if you want a milky, sweet flavor, use more ice cream. It's fun to try and find the perfect balance for yourself.

Another great thing about this drink is how easy it is to make. Wouldn't it be great to be able to quickly serve these stylish and delicious sweets when you invite friends over? Choosing the right tableware to suit your guests could become a new hobby.

Next, I tried making an iced latte, perfect for enjoying daily this summer.

Working from home has become the norm, and coffee breaks between workdays are now also at home. However, many people probably don't have a favorite coffee stand nearby.
That's where espresso cubes come in handy.
All you need is one espresso cube, 100ml of milk, and 3-5g of sugar to taste.

Put the cubes into a heat-resistant glass (or cup) and microwave for 30 seconds at 500W (if adding sugar, mix it in now). Pour this into a glass filled with cold milk and it's done.

Aiming for the marbled texture of milk and coffee you see in stores...
Finished! For an even cooler iced latte, it's a good idea to add plenty of ice to the glass.
Like the affogato, this is a simple yet authentic latte. It's a refreshing cafe latte that's perfect for sipping on a hot day. It has a slightly sour taste.

Of course, you can also simply dissolve the espresso cube in hot water (120ml) to enjoy it as black coffee, or you can put the espresso cube and milk in a cup and heat it in the microwave to make a hot cafe latte, which is a classic way to enjoy it.

To make a hot latte, you will need the same ingredients as for an iced latte: one espresso cube, milk (100ml), and sugar (3-5g) to taste. Put the espresso cube and milk in a cup, heat it in a 500W microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds, then stir with a spoon to make a hot cafe latte.



The hot cafe latte impressed with its subtle flavor. In my opinion, the hot version was more gentle than the iced version, as the milk counteracted the acidity.

Many people regularly make drip coffee at home to make lattes, but I believe this is a cafe latte flavor that can only be achieved with espresso. Adding sugar (3-5g), as recommended in the official recipe, results in a more delicious, mellow caffè latte, further enhancing the flavor of the cube.


Enjoying a delicious, satisfying coffee break at home can also help you work from home more efficiently. A good break is essential for good work.

Light Up Coffee, the maker of the espresso cubes used in the various recipes, named their shop after their desire to brighten our lives with delicious coffee.

The various styles of coffee they offer are sure to continue to add color to our lives, not only in their stores, but also in our homes, offices, and studios. Recently, they launched a subscription service for espresso cubes.

Light Up Coffee is one of our favorite coffee shops that we'll be checking out in the future.

That's all for the Weekend Coffee Club.
photography: NATSUME TEZUKA
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