＜CAFE VOICE＞Vaughan Allison from MIA MIA
MIA MIA cafe is located in Higashi-Nagasaki, Tokyo, a commuter town two train stops away from Ikebukuro. Run by Vaughan Alison and his wife Rie Alison, MIA MIA is more than just a cafe; it’s a community hub that connects the region, local people, and culture together. Vaughan and Less Plastic founder Sonny Mai, are both originally from Australia and good friends, they spent their early days together in Tokyo brainstorming ways to promote Australian culture through the cafe. We spoke to Vaughan about Australian cafe culture, his memories of KeepCup, and his work at MIA MIA.
It all started in Melbourne, the city of coffee
Vaughan is from Melbourne, Australia, a city known for its vibrant espresso-based coffee culture, thanks to its large Italian Australian community. Cafes are an essential part of daily life in Melbourne, often serving as a second home where customers can enjoy great coffee and connect with familiar baristas and fellow cafe goers. The name MIA MIA means ‘shelter’ in the Wathawurrung language of the Aboriginal Australian people, and just like the cafes in Vaughan's hometown, MIA MIA is designed to be a welcoming space where everyone from locals to tourists, the young to the elderly, can gather.
Vaughan first encountered KeepCup while working part-time at a café in Melbourne. "I remember they were always stacked next to the register, and we sold a lot every day. Almost every customer had a KeepCup, using it daily for their favourite takeaway coffee. Sometimes, if someone forgot their KeepCup, they'd use it as an excuse to buy a new one in a different colour. People would mix and match the sleeves and lids based on their mood or the season and KeepCup was as integrated into their lives as the cafe itself." Vaughan became a big fan and even handed out 250 KeepCups as gifts at his wedding party. Now, his café, MIA MIA, also proudly sells KeepCups, bringing things full circle.
Take small steps every day to make the place a better place
When asked what he values most in running MIA MIA, Vaughan replied, "There are many things we pay attention to. It's a community where anyone is welcome, and a shop filled with BIG LOVE. Of course we're particular about coffee, but we also want to create a space where everyone we come into contact with, including customers and passersby, can live happily and pursue what they want in life with the people around them. Coffee is the start of the morning, and a communication tool that creates friendships. Every Wednesday, we do radio exercises in front of the shop from 6:55am. Staff and customers gather together to do the exercises, exchange greetings, share light conversation, and then head to their workplaces or homes to start their day. It's a small gesture, but something other cafes don't do, and I believe it's a meaningful initiative that helps MIA MIA remain a place that nurtures both good days and good lives.
Let's spread the spirit of BIG LOVE to the Earth
Our daily efforts to make the world a better place are reflected in the coffee we serve, as well as in our commitment to the environment. "The reason I like KeepCup is because it shows how everyone's small actions can collectively make a big impact on environmental issues. As I saw in the cafes in Melbourne, KeepCup’s design makes you want to use it everyday, and it has led the cafe scene to encourage people to enjoy reuse. Since opening in April 2020, MIA MIA has been selling KeepCups, and we offer a 30 yen discount to customers who bring their own cups. At the beginning of 2023, we also hosted a 'Make Your Own Cup' workshop at our gallery, I AM, and now many people are using KeepCups.
It's common for customers to bring KeepCups they bought in Australia. Having their own KeepCup often shows that they like specialty coffee and cafes with style or they have travelled to interesting cities. Many of our customers have a love for culture and cities, and KeepCup is often the trigger for a lively conversation. "
The coffee community that MIA MIA aims to createMIA MIA's unique style has been featured in numerous media outlets, and the cafe is always bustling with customers, from locals to foreign tourists. Vaughan’s hospitality ensures that everyone who visits feels welcome. The restaurant frequently hosts live musicians, and regular customers even help develop the breakfast menus. With its constant offering of new experiences, it’s no surprise that MIA MIA has so many loyal regulars who keep coming back.We asked Vaughan, who is busy working on new projects every day, about his outlook for the future. "In Australia, coffee and cafe culture are part of the national identity, and the market size is much larger than in Japan. However, Japan is also a country full of potential. There may not be many cafes like those in Melbourne in Japan right now, but I believe that if high-quality coffee and the community of people who gather there can grow, coffee life will become more enjoyable and dramatically richer. MIA MIA will celebrate its fifth anniversary next April, but there is still a long way to go. We want to continue evolving so that Higashinagasaki will be put on the map. We are currently working on various projects, and it will be a while before we can show them to everyone. First, please come to our radio exercises every Wednesday morning, and let's start the day together with good coffee and conversation!"
Vaughan's favorite KeepCup
Helix Bottle Thermal
I love the innovative design that serves two purposes depending on the situation. When enjoying coffee at a cafe, you can disassemble it and use just the bottom cup to drink from. When you're on the go, it functions as a bottle for carrying water. It's leak-proof, easy to clean, and simple to use.
