The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
Even though it’s the neighbor to the matcha hot spot that is New York City, it’s relatively hard to find authentic and delicious matcha in Boston. However, a select few spots have presented themselves as competitors for being the best place to get matcha. The rise in prioritization of authentic, flavorful matcha on social media has caused customers to have increasingly refined palettes, but not everyone looks for umami flavor notes in their morning drink. In this list, we will discuss the pros and cons of the most popular matcha spots in Boston, not only on the basis of authenticity, boldness, and nuance in flavor, but also on enjoyability, price, and aestheticism. This all-encompassing list will reveal the ultimate winner of Boston’s best matcha.
The Sipping Room (Fenway)
The Sipping Room is the smallest of the shops, nestled right next to the Fens. The interior is gorgeous, displaying local Asian artists’ artwork on the wall. Usually it’s not too busy and there are only one or two people operating the store. They also have a relatively small menu, but I appreciate the focus on pan-Asian diversity within the selection! Seeing as they use a scale, whisk, and every tool required to make for an authentic and well-portioned matcha latte, I think The Sipping Room has the potential to be really good. I unfortunately did not like my latte because of the lack of flavor as a whole, but I can see it just being an issue with the amount of matcha (not the quality of the matcha powder). I’m curious as to what matcha they use and what their other drinks taste like — I can’t say I’d recommend the matcha, but I’m open to giving it another shot!
Maruichi Select Store + Pop-Up (Brookline)
Possibly the most famous of the list, Maruichi Select is a market, matcha, & meal spot in the heart of Brookline! They sell an assortment of Japanese foods, teas, tools, and serve delicious meals with their matcha. I’ve visited this place at least 5 times this semester, one of which during the Yamamotoyama pop-up (a “matcha legend” travelled from Japan to supposedly serve authentic matcha for a couple of weeks). The matcha they use on a regular basis is Ujido first harvest ceremonial matcha. Though I’ve only gotten a strawberry matcha latte at this spot, I’ve enjoyed every single one of them – the pureé is the perfect level of sweetness, the matcha is bold and flavorful, and the latte is well worth the $5/6 dollars (depending on with or without strawberry). I will say they added much too little matcha during the pop-up, and I honestly enjoy their regular matcha more. Outside of the pop-up, this is definitely a favorite Boston matcha spot for me.
Ogawa Coffee (Seaport)
Ogawa’s internet hype created high expectations for me beforehand. Judging by the cafe having Hojicha and Japanese blends of coffee, I assumed that the matcha would taste pretty authentic. They also use their own matcha blend from Uji, Japan, but it is unclear if it is single-origin/first harvest. Out of these shops, I’ve visited Ogawa the longest amount of time ago, but from what I remember, there was surprisingly little nuance and flavor in this matcha for its level of authenticity. The matcha had a decent green color, but it seemed like they didn’t add enough matcha itself. The company seems to put a large emphasis on their artisanal coffee, so it isn’t a big surprise that their is a lack of information around the blend and practice of their matcha. For the price ($8 w/out tax), I don’t think the matcha is worth it, but if you’re in a bind or are looking for any source of caffeine, Ogawa is great for authentic and yummy drinks.
Green Haus Cafe (Mission Hill)
I stumbled upon Green Haus, which is on Mission Hill, and I was pleasantly surprised by how adorable it is! The shop doesn’t specialize in matcha, but claims to have “premium-grade matcha.” I didn’t have much of the matcha, however, the sips I did take were super sweet and not too flavorful. I also saw some clumps of powder at the bottom of the drink. The latte had a faint matcha flavor that would make it enjoyable for anyone wanting a dose of sugar and caffeine, but it wasn’t nearly the best matcha I’ve had. I do, however, want to shout their excellent service and focus on community building. I’d come back here for a plant or a chai, but I can’t say the matcha was authentic.
Honorable Mentions & Future Spots
Out of the cafes I have been to, Maruichi Select is an easy favorite. Although I’m sure that this list would look different if I got a matcha at places that don’t specialize in it, I just prefer to spend money on matcha if I’m certain it beats a homemade cup. However, I can’t be sure that just the places that specialize in matcha have the best matcha lattes. For example, Phinista Cafe, South End Buttery, and Pavement are among my favorite cafes because I can’t easily make jam-packed bagels or Vietnamese coffee in my dorm room, but I still have yet to try their matcha! I think what you are paying for in terms of the cafes on this list is not just taste but authenticity, sustainability, and aesthetics. Matcha comes in all different forms, and depending on your preferences, your favorite spots may look different. Though we may not have the abundance of matcha that other cities have, I am confident that you can find a good matcha on this list or maybe even at your local Capital One Cafe!