Emily Stein

3 weeks ago

"The real deal. Matcha and teas of various qualities. You can reserve a session to see matcha prepared and served in various ways. Hot or cold, plain or latte. Have a nice cup of tea here."

Cecilia Lee

a month ago

"Kettl certainly sets the standard, easily establishing itself as a top source for exceptional matcha quality. Tried the Hukuju from Yame, a blend I found to be quite bold and aromatic. Its profile offered a clear umami depth, reminiscent of fresh seaweed? I look forward to returning soon to compare their full range of matcha offerings in a tasting"

Maria D

2 months ago

"Corn black sesame latte was amazing. They offer multiple alt milks including pistachio and kojioat. Baristas were super friendly and sweet. One saw I was scrap journaling and gave me some kettl stickers 🥰 There’s a large table in the center that tended to have seats open up. Noise is moderate - calm background music with lots of indoor chatter. I like that they also offer “cortado matchas” - aka matcha lattes with half the milk so that the matcha flavor can come through better."

Jea Kim

2 months ago

"Stylish Japanese café with a strong tea and latte game. A friend of mine swore this is his favorite Japanese café in the city, so I came by on a weekday morning to see for myself. The dining space had warm wood décor and a calm vibe that seemed perfect for reading or working, but at 9:30 a.m., the space was surprisingly empty. Anyways, for matcha they offered three varieties, and while they recommended that I try hot to taste the real difference, I opted to have it as an iced matcha latte. After a short discussion with the barista, I went with soy milk in Shirakawa Matcha latte to bring out the umami/salty notes, and it was a good call. Started a bit grassy, but once it settled, it was rich, round, and savory—just as described. I also got the Sobacha latte and the Hojicha late and both were great. Really liked that they didn’t rely on sugar or honey to smooth out the bitterness. The hojicha, made with pistachio milk, was nutty, mellow, and full-bodied despite having zero sweetness. Sobacha latte was the most monotonic of the three, but exactly what I needed on a 100°F day. Light, nutty, and mild—very reminiscent of quinoa shake that I used to love in Korea, but with a more roasted finish. Weekday food options were limited to pound cakes and cookies. The sake azuki pound cake, served cold, was soft with just enough sweetness to pair well with the drinks. The matcha cookie was solid."

S. B.

4 months ago

"The Uji matcha latte was pretty good. They also sell a variety of teas from all over Japan, and the interior is clean and pleasant. They also offer matcha-making classes, which are quite interesting. The only downside is that there aren’t many seats, and some people stay for a long time studying, so it was a bit difficult to relax."