Eiji's Story
Eiji Dobashi’s path into coffee began with a happy accident. Working as a pastry chef, he originally set out to learn coffee simply as a complementary skill to elevate his shop. But once he discovered the magic of hand-drip brewing, his curiosity took over.
The true defining moment came over a single cup of Ethiopian at a traditional Japanese "kissaten". The vibrant, expressive flavors in that first cup completely shattered his expectations of what coffee could be, sparking a lifelong obsession that would reshape his career arc.
Building Ignis & Sourcing at Origin
Driven by his own vision of what a coffee shop should be, Dobashi founded Ignis coffee in Tokyo. For Dobashi, honoring the bean means going straight to the source. He regularly travels to coffee-producing regions around the globe — with a deep affinity for Panama — personally visiting nearly 30 farms, including renowned estates like Mount Totumas and Lost Origin. By walking the soil and building direct relationships with producers, he hand-selects rare micro-lots truly worthy of the guests at Ignis, with whom he also maintains a deep connection.
You can have the best coffee or the best brew, but without good communication and connection with your customers, it doesn't mean anything."
The Art of Roasting
Dobashi’s roasting philosophy is shaped by relentless trial, error, and disciplined cupping. In this way, he is able to fine-tune each profile until the coffee expresses its full potential. His light roast approach is designed to step out of the coffee's way, to discover and highlight its natural sweetness, clarity, and unique character.
This can only be accomplished by approaching each bean with humility, taking ownership over every roasting decision — both the good and the bad — and striving for continuous, iterative improvement.
Redefining the Standard
Rather than chasing fleeting industry trends, Dobashi is driven by the quiet pursuit of new standards. Through Ignis, he hopes to introduce people to sensory experiences they have never encountered before, inspiring curiosity, and redefining what a modern coffee shop can be.