Japan's New Celebration of Bold Flavor

This year there is a new official commemoration on September 15th. From this year, Concentrated Coffee Day 濃縮コーヒーの日 is one of the official commemorations of the Japan Anniversary Association. The anniversary was created by Nestle Japan, the company behind familiar favorites such as Nescafe and KitKat. 

Concentrated coffee is brewed to be stronger and more intense than regular coffee, resulting in a liquid base that can be enjoyed in countless ways. You can dilute it with water, milk, soy milk, oat milk, or even sparkling water for an espresso‑tonic twist. It also pairs beautifully with ice cream for an affogato‑style treat. This flexibility is a major part of its appeal, and the anniversary aims to share that creativity with a wider audience, encouraging more people to explore new coffee habits and helping energize Japan’s coffee culture.

They chose the date of the anniversary from a playful number association of 9/15 (September 15th) "Ko (9) i (1) kō (5) hī (日)", meaning "strong coffee".  It also falls during the seasonal shift from summer to autumn, a perfect excuse to enjoy concentrated coffee hot or iced, depending on the day’s mood.