In the third space, both time and coffee return to their purest form.
On a quiet corner in Chiyoda, Tokyo, there is a café that has been beloved by locals since 2011—SHANGS Cafe. For over a decade, it has been regarded not only as a place to drink coffee but as a true “third space”—a haven where guests can breathe freely, slow down, and savor life. Every cup served carries both the gentleness of time and an unwavering attention to detail.
“We hope that everyone who visits SHANGS Cafe can treat this place as a part of their everyday life—where a single cup of coffee offers a moment of calm and comfort.” — SHANGS Cafe
The Limitations of Manual Sorting: Focused Yet Exhausting
In the past, SHANGS Cafe relied heavily on manual sorting to maintain coffee quality. Baristas would examine green beans under bright lights, removing defects such as moldy, insect-damaged, or immature beans. While this meticulous work helped safeguard quality, it also demanded enormous amounts of time and energy.
Hours of repetitive labor not only caused fatigue but also made human error inevitable. Defective beans would occasionally slip through, affecting the overall flavor after roasting. For SHANGS Cafe, this had long been a challenge that was difficult to completely overcome.
The Change Brought by CS One: Stability Meets Efficiency
The breakthrough came with the introduction of the avercasso CS One AI Green Coffee Sorter. Using advanced 4K imaging and AI-powered modules, CS One can automatically detect and remove SCA-defined primary and secondary defects with an accuracy of up to 99%.
Compared with the hours once required for manual sorting, the process is now faster, more stable, and far more reliable—leaving no room for defective beans to slip by. For SHANGS Cafe baristas, CS One has not only reduced the pressure of tedious sorting but also freed up valuable time and energy. Now, they can focus on roast profile design, flavor development, and meaningful interactions with customers.
“With CS One, we can serve every cup of coffee with greater peace of mind. It doesn’t replace us—it quietly safeguards quality, allowing us to devote more energy to the essence of coffee and the experience of our guests.” — SHANGS Cafe
Technology in Harmony with Craftsmanship
At SHANGS Cafe, technology has not disrupted craftsmanship—it walks alongside it. CS One has become the steady, invisible hand that handles the tedious groundwork of quality assurance, allowing baristas to refocus on what truly matters: making every cup better. This human–AI collaboration not only ensures consistent flavor but also preserves the warmth and value that define SHANGS Cafe as Tokyo’s cherished “third space.”
