Kaldi Coffee Farm Coppice Kichijoji

Unilocal 100 Challenge 2015 — ⁵⁰⁄₁₀₀
Kaldi Coffee Farm is a chain store featuring import and specialty foods. They seem to be everywhere; in fact, there are no less than three in Kichijoji alone. Today’s Review features the biggest store, located in the basement of the Coppice shopping complex on the north side of JR Kichijoji station.
Take the escalator down (see photo), enter the doors and go straight. You’ll run right into the store which occupies a large floor area.
Layout basics:
+ Imported wines/​beers and coffee are located on the left
+ Foodstuff throughout the store but sweets and candies located in the middle section, as is the cash register
+ Free coffee located off to the far right. Black is available if you ask; otherwise, you’ll get coffee of the day that has been pre-​sweetened and includes cream
Highlights:
+ Huge selection of imported and domestic foods. Not just a large variety of foods, but also a good selection of single food items
+ Expansive layout — follow the simple guide above. You’ll find most anything you could want from exotic spices, pre-​made foods, specialty foods like hard to find cheeses and dried ham from several European countries
+ Reasonable pricing — considering many import stores charge an arm and a leg for certain items, you’ll often find things on sale that rival their prices in the respective home countries
+ Friendly staff — always attentive and busy but very happy to answer any questions you may have. That includes what kind of wine, coffee or ingredients you may need to choose for a recipe you’re having a hard time finding ingredients for
Overall, I’d rate this place 4.5 stars only because some items, no matter how long they’ve been imported, never seem to drop in price. However, five stars due to the extra friendly service and little details to make your shopping experience more fulfilling. For example, they’ll always as if you need a shopping bag, and if so, plastic or paper. If you’ve purchased a lot, they will always double-​bag your order, because they know it’s tough carrying bags of groceries on public transportation or carting them home on your bicycle. They will always wrap glass jars or fragile breakables in cushioned, recyclable paper too.
It’s a great store and although you may find lesser service or availability of certain goods at other stores in the chain, you can rest assured that this location will have almost anything you could want. If they don’t have it, they will gladly check and sometimes special order if the current inventory is out.
The only question that has always remained in my mind, regardless of any Kaldi I shop at: Why are there only women working here?