A Shigaraki ware coffee kyusu called KOGA has launched a pre-order campaign on the crowdfunding platform Makuake starting March 24, 2026. The product was jointly developed by KISSHIN365 (based in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture) and Okuda Taiki, the third-generation master of "Tsubohachi," a Shigaraki ware kiln established in 1955. With its sealed, lid-hole-free design and the natural properties of Shigaraki clay derived from an ancient Lake Biwa stratum approximately four million years old, KOGA delivers a coffee experience where a concentrated burst of aroma is released the moment the lid is lifted.
The Story Behind KOGA
While home coffee brewing has grown in popularity in recent years, finding the right extraction method has remained a challenge for many. Pour-over drip can produce inconsistent results depending on technique, French press often lets fine grounds slip through, and capsule coffee can lack aromatic depth. Each existing method requires a trade-off between convenience and quality. KISSHIN365, based in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, set out to address these issues by combining traditional Shigaraki ware craftsmanship with contemporary coffee culture.
Product Overview: Coffee Kyusu KOGA
Five Design Principles
1. Sealed, Lid-Hole-Free Design — Aromas Captured and Released at the Perfect Moment
Standard teapots and kyusu include a small hole in the lid to allow steam to escape — but that same opening lets coffee's aromatic compounds escape, too. KOGA eliminates the lid hole entirely and applies a glaze to the underside of the lid, allowing steam to circulate internally during brewing. The result is a concentrated burst of aroma the moment the lid is lifted — an experience that no conventional coffee brewer can replicate.
2. Clay from a Four-Million-Year-Old Stratum — Rich Body and Depth from Ancient Shigaraki Earth
The body of KOGA is made from Shigaraki clay sourced from an ancient Lake Biwa stratum approximately four million years old. This distinctive material brings out the characteristic texture of Shigaraki ware and enriches every cup of coffee brewed in it.
3. Unglazed Interior — Mellow Flavor through Natural Absorption
The interior of KOGA is left unglazed, an approach known as "inner unglazed finish." The rough surface of Shigaraki clay gently absorbs unwanted bitterness and sharp acidity during brewing, while preserving the body and umami of the coffee for a smooth, well-rounded taste.
4. Full-Immersion Brewing — Consistent Results with Just Three Minutes of Steeping
KOGA uses full-immersion brewing, in which the coffee grounds are fully submerged in hot water throughout the steeping process. Because the water comes into even contact with all the grounds, there is no need to control a pour, and anyone can reproduce a stable, delicious cup every time.
5. 80-Mesh Stainless Steel Filter — Coffee Oils Preserved, Fine Grounds Minimized
After extensive prototyping, an 80-mesh stainless steel filter was chosen to pass the coffee oils that paper filters would otherwise absorb, while minimizing the flow of fine grounds into the cup. No paper filter is required, and the stainless filter can be washed and reused.
Made by Tsubohachi — A Shigaraki Kiln Founded in 1955
KOGA is crafted at Tsubohachi, a Shigaraki ware kiln in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, that has been in operation since 1955. The third-generation master, Okuda Taiki, has built a specialty in kyusu (teapot) production — a relatively rare focus within the Shigaraki ware tradition. Every detail that directly affects the user's experience — the fit of the lid, the feel of the pour, and the finish of the unglazed interior — is shaped by hand, one piece at a time.
Expert Review: Roaster Masuda of Café Salon in Otsu, Shiga
Recipe development for KOGA was carried out in collaboration with Café Salon (Café Saron), a beloved local café in the Seta area of Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture — known for its unique rotating-owner format. Roaster Masuda, one of the café's specialists, shared the following thoughts on KOGA:
"Coffee begins releasing its aroma the moment hot water is poured. With KOGA, the aroma that greets you when you open the lid is remarkably rich — notes of fruit and nuts waft up gently. That fragrance alone is enough to ease your mind. If this is the cup you start every morning with, I think it can genuinely change your day."
Product Specifications
- Product name: Coffee Kyusu KOGA
- Dimensions: Width approx. 108mm / Depth approx. 184mm / Height approx. 87mm
- Weight: Approx. 385g
- Capacity: Approx. 360cc (1 to 2 coffee cups)
- Materials: Ceramic (Shigaraki ware), stainless steel filter
- Country of origin: Japan (Koka City, Shiga Prefecture)
- Standard retail price: ¥11,800 (tax included)
Makuake Pre-Order Details
- Campaign period: March 24, 2026 (Tue) to May 10, 2026 (Sun)
- Format: All-in (project proceeds regardless of whether the funding goal is reached)
- Estimated delivery: End of July 2026
- Early supporter price: from ¥8,614 (tax included, 27% off standard retail price)
- Project URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/shigaraki-coffee-kyusu-koga/
