Matcha spots worth your $9.50

A guide to finding the perfect shade of green

I, (like many), started my matcha journey at Starbucks. I remember going through the drive through with my friends in high school and throwing a wrench in the ordering rotation when I asked for a Matcha with oat milk. The cloudy green in my plastic cup stuck out like a sore thumb amongst its Frappuccino friends on the drink holder, and every member of the car took a sip and had the same reaction- confused…delighted…obsessed.

What I didn’t know at that point in time that I know now is that I was drinking a cup of marshmallow-sweet green tea powder, which I continued to do throughout college for “less caffeine” until I moved to New York.

My first ‘real’ matcha was at a trendy Avenue A cafe outside of my tiny first apartment. I remember taking a sip and almost spitting it out. It tasted like grass? I timidly confronted the barista and he giggled telling me that they didn’t use sweetened Matcha powder like Starbucks and the chain coffee shops of the world. Safe to assume he had probably observed this epiphany from other young 22 year olds taking the East Village by storm a few times in his career.

3 years and 40+ Matcha spots later, the more umami and savory the better. I also learned what the word ‘Ceremonial’ meant in the context of Matcha, and refuse to spend my money on anything but. Even Starbucks has hopped on the trend as they silently switched their Matcha to unsweetened (but the drink description still says it has 25g of sugar and refers to it as green tea?).

This is also your sign to always ask the barista [before making fatal and expensive mistakes] what Matcha they’re using because green tea powder disguised as Matcha is costing us just as much.

Matcha with the perfect shades of green

1. Setsugekka

This barely marked East Village teahouse is a safe-haven. I love place that feels like a spa without the cost of being a spa.

Step inside and sit criss-cross-applesauce on a cushion up against the counter and pick a matcha that suits your flavor profile- all ceremonial, all vibrant in color. They have laminated menus that describe each type of Matcha that you can select based on 6 types of character (velvety, luxurious, mellow, delicate, refreshing, or nutty), and level of umami on a scale of 1 to 5.

After making your selection, your Matcha is whisked up by the barista, served to you on a small wooden tray, and the world is your oyster. I recommend staying awhile and continuing to relax with a book.

2. Nippon Cha

I mentally wrote off Nippon Cha the many times I passed it for a few reasons. One being the fact that it’s on Bedford Avenue, the new Times Square, and two because it’s the type of place that has menus with photos pasted all over the exterior. Everyone knows the rules- never trust a place with photos on the menu, but I can assure you that Nippon Cha gained my trust.

All of their Matcha is ceremonial and so rich it could be a meal, so I love their Matcha with coconut water. The natural sweetness from the coconut water brightens up the heavy umami flavor pairing perfectly with their Matcha tiramisu that they correctly advertise as the “best matcha Tiramisu in New York”. I’m not sure they have a ton of competition, but I’ll validate them in such.

3. Larry’s

My holy grail sunny Saturday spot- Larry’s is just one of those places you feel so at home that you could move right in. Their matcha cold foam over coconut water topped with a bunch of crunchy coconut flakes is divine, and so is their Vietnamese iced coffee if you’re looking for something a tiny bit stronger.

Admittedly, I can’t go to Larry’s without getting both, so I usually start with a coffee, sit outside and people watch on one of their cobalt blue stools, and grab a matcha for the road that I usually spill all over myself because it must be sipped without a top for full effects.

4. Happier Grocer

I can admit it, I’m a huge Happier Grocer fan. I need people to stop calling it the ‘Erewhon of New York City’, but they do have damn a good beverage bar. What makes their matcha so good is the combination of Rocky’s Matcha powder (superior to all) and their house made pistachio milk. Sometimes I buy the pistachio milk and drink it straight because it has hints and notes of animal crackers in the best way possible.

They also have matcha affogato that they pour over their vanilla soft serve, and a jammy strawberry matcha for a tart treat to sip on as you walk around deciding if you should spend $17 on gluten free chicken tenders.

5. Taku Parlor

Matcha dessert is perhaps more popular than matcha itself, but a little birdy told me that almost all matcha dessert is made with green tea powder instead of real matcha because the sugar masks the taste anyway, so why use the expensive kind?

Let’s just say…Taku Parlor uses the expensive kind of matcha in their matcha float. An island of matcha ice cream is surrounded by iced matcha water, neither too sweet, in fact this is one of the most savory desserts I’ve ever had, (if that makes sense?) It was so strong and rich I could only finish half, but it’s something I still dream about, and yes…I went alone to Long Island City to get this.

6. Sorate

Sortate is similar to Setsugekka in the sense that it’s a whole tea house experience, which reflects in the length of the line over the weekend. You wait for so long that you’re going to enjoy every second once you make it inside to stand amongst the 10 other people packed in like sardines trying to film the one person behind the matcha bar whisking up everyone’s order.

My one issue with Sorate is the fact that you’re paying $10 for them to use Almond Breeze milk. I remember being in a haze of admiration watching my latte be made so gracefully, and having that moment starkly halted when the barista pulled out the lowest quality almond milk possible. I’m not a nut milk snob, but like…Almond Breeze? I think that’s the kind that doesn’t even need to be refrigerated.

7. Kijitora

I knew I couldn’t write a newsletter about matcha without Kijitora, even though I know everyone is probably tired of seeing it all over social media. Here’s why I still go-

The cafe is themed after cats, which, if you know me, I love a good cat figurine. A day started at Kijitora is also always a good day- you’re steps away from finding a cheap antique at Mother of Junk or a nice McCarren Park stroll. They do admittedly have amazing matcha, the strawberry has gotten too sweet for me, but their peach matcha fizz or classic iced matcha latte is right on the money.

8. Rhythm Zero

Strawberry matcha is stilllll taking the internet by storm, but the blueberry matcha at Rhythm Zero is both purple and fierce (just like anyone who’s favorite color is purple). The tartness of the blueberries muddled at the bottom of the cup are different than the expected result of a familiar syrupy flavor that almost every other fruity matcha has, and the matcha is shockingly high quality for a non-matcha place.

9. Isshiki

Isshiki is a matcha place by day and turns into Moko omakase at night. Something about the mix of smells here from the previous night’s sushi rice vinegar mixed with matcha makes everything taste better and familiar to smells in Japan that I still have yet to experience.

Is it the best matcha I’ve had in my life? no. However it’s a much better and higher quality than its next door neighbor, La Cabra, that is the epitome of the cup of milk with a sprinkling of green tea powder.

10. Montauk General

I’ve already raved about Montauk General in two newsletters now, so didn’t need to sell you again on it, but this pop up concept actually has the best matcha I've ever tasted. I also love all of the creative concepts from the Magnolia banana pudding topping to the strawberry collab they had with culture frozen yogurt. One thing about me is that I’m a sucker for good branding and MG hits the nail on the head every single time.

Where’s the best and worst Matcha you’ve ever had?