(Connor O'Brien / Heights Editor)
It’s nearly impossible to walk across campus without spotting at least ten people holding a clear cup filled with bright, green liquid.
Matcha’s PR team seriously deserves an award (or a guest lecture spot in Carroll School of Management), as this drink has completely taken Gen Z by storm. Whether you’ve never tried it or can’t get enough of it, this guide to Boston’s best matcha is for you.
Blank Street
For matcha lovers, Blank Street has become a household name. With locations all across Boston—including Brookline, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Cambridge, and a new Prudential Center storefront opening soon —it’s not hard to find one nearby. Their recently launched fall menu features fun flavors like banana bread, carrot cake, and gingersnap. If you’re not ready to experiment with your matcha just yet, try the Daydream Matcha Latte, a classic matcha with hints of vanilla and cinnamon, for a more traditional taste.
The matcha’s flavor itself is pretty standard, but the unique flavors and seasonal menu items make Blank Street worth the stop. One caveat: Most locations have limited seating, so they are not ideal places if you’re looking to camp out and study. That said, grabbing a matcha from Blank Street and strolling through Beacon Hill boutiques make for a great Saturday morning.
BON! Specialty Coffee
Located next to the Boston Common in Beacon Hill, Bon is newer to the scene. The store itself is adorable, with thoughtful decorations and extremely cute cups. The matcha itself doesn’t have the boldest flavor, but it is nonetheless smooth and enjoyable. Their best menu items are the fruit flavors, and I recommend trying the strawberry and passion fruit matchas.
Bon is the perfect choice for a chilly fall morning exploring the Common.
Tatte
Tatte wins the award for accessibility, with 24 locations across Boston, including one a little over a mile from campus in Newton Centre. Truly the perfect study spot, you are sure to run into everyone you know here on a Sunday afternoon. It’s cozy, spacious, and has great food and drinks. While I wouldn’t name it the best matcha in Boston, it’s pretty solid. When it comes to reliability, Tatte never disappoints.
Matcha Cafe Maiko
One of the best matchas I’ve tried so far in Boston is Cafe Maiko. The vibrant color alone lets you know that this matcha is the real deal. The flavor is perfectly balanced—it’s sweet, with just the right amount of bitterness. Beyond lattes, they also have an array of matcha soft serve, which is the ultimate sweet treat.
Located in Fenway, Maiko has a decent amount of seating, making it a perfect place to meet a friend and explore the neighborhood.
Kyo Matcha
Kyo’s menu is by far one of the most creative in all of Boston. From lattes and soft serve to a variety of matcha-flavored cakes, there’s no shortage of choices here. It even recently added a “Matcha Flight” to their menu, where you can try smaller versions of the most popular drinks.
The shop is clean, modern, and an all-around must-visit. If you’re the type of person who loves trying out new things or taste-testing viral foods, you can’t miss Kyo. The matcha latte is extremely tasty, and it’s clear they are using high-quality matcha powder to make it.