Quietly centering myself, a reward time at Hoshino Coffee

Hoshino Coffee

Waiting for my child's lesson.

Just once a month,
I have a little "reward time" for myself.

My destination is always Hoshino Coffee.

Actually, just 10 meters away,
there is also a Komeda's Coffee.

But strangely,

For my alone time, it's Hoshino Coffee.
When I'm with my child, it's Komeda's all the way.

In my mind,

Komeda's is a "place of excitement."
Hoshino Coffee is a "place to quietly center myself."

Leather sofas.
Jazz playing in the slightly dim interior.
The rising aroma of coffee.

It has a classical, calm atmosphere,
like a somewhat "luxurious drawing room."

Time slows down just a little bit.

The shop is quiet,
and you hardly hear any loud voices.

People reading books.
People opening their laptops.

Each person is spending their own time.

The moment I sit in my seat and lean back into the sofa,
my shoulders drop a little.

There is nothing I have to do.
I find myself feeling relieved by that.

The tension I was holding without realizing it,
just melts away.

My favorite is
the "Oven-baked Vanilla Soufflé."

A "soufflé" is
a slightly ephemeral French confection,
baked with a meringue base.

Because it deflates quickly once time passes,
even the 20-minute wait for it to be freshly baked feels somehow endearing.

I'm a tea person,
so I have it with a royal milk tea.

When I take a bite, it's slightly warm,
fluffy on the inside, and then it melts away.

This time, I chose the raw chocolate sauce.

A gentle sweetness,
layered with a melting, bittersweet touch.
I love that moment when they blend together.

When I'm at home,
I get called by my children,
or I worry about unfinished housework.
Somewhere, a little switch is always turned on.

It's not that I dislike my home.

But here,
I can gently turn that switch off.

Lately, I often write articles for note.

As I arrange my words,
I think I am quietly organizing myself.

My shoulders drop, my breathing steadies,
and my scattered thoughts
gradually return to their proper places.

And by the time I head home,
I am able to look forward, just a little bit.

I don't need any big changes.

Spinning words quietly in a place where I feel at ease.

That is my small luxury right now.

What is your
favorite coffee chain?

If you have a place
where you go to feel centered, please let me know ☕✨