Sprout Outdoor Espresso
I was in Kutchan for a friend’s birthday and stopped by at a café called Sprout Outdoor Espresso. Located at literally a stone’s throw from the station, Sprout is an espresso bar/chill space for what seems to be mainly the local crowd. 
As the name suggests, Sprout is an outdoor-themed shop and is decked out with various outdoor (mostly alpine sports) related goods for sale, including used skiing/snowboard gear. 
That aside though, the real highlight of this shop is its espresso. Let’s just say, the best espresso I’ve had in Japan. I haven’t been all that much into espresso recently as brewed coffee has been more my thing, but this shop was a nice reminder of how delicious a good shot of espresso can be. 
The coffee aside, the atmosphere is really laid back too. The café space is almost reminiscent of the lounge at a hostel or a guesthouse, with simple furniture, a computer, a bookshelf, and a people reading quietly. A really down-to-earth place, with a straightforward menu (drinks only!) and a location far enough from the ski resort to be free of an excess of tourists (although this was on a weekday evening.) Unfortunately I don’t find myself in central Kutchan too often, but Sprout will certainly give me a nice excuse to make a short detour on the way home after skiing at Niseko.
