I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so when I’m looking for a boost in energy, I turn to matcha. Matcha is a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves. You may recognize it by the signature bright green color of matcha lattes. And I’ve made it my mission to find the best matcha in the neighborhood.
For context, I order iced matcha lattes made with almond milk, either unsweetened or half-sweet depending on the day. I don’t go for extra flavors or creamy toppings. We’re looking at bare bones, “how good is your regular matcha” drink orders.
My rankings are as follows:
Porchlight: 2/5 – Too much ice, too much vanilla flavor, not much bang for your buck.
Barista Botanist: 3/5 – Nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about. Not a standout, and we know matcha isn’t cheap, so why waste your time?
Better Buzz: 2/5 – Too sweet. More dessert than drink.
12 HRS Matcha Cafe: 4/5 – Quite tasty ceremonial-grade matcha. I like that you can add supplements like collagen or lion’s mane. But it’s a fairly small cup for the $9 price tag.
Java Earth: 5/5 — My neighborhood winner. They source their ceremonial-grade matcha from PARU, the specialty tea store in La Jolla. I order it sweetened with agave instead of maple syrup. This is the matcha I crave every week, and it comes in around $7.
Honorable mention, Wayfarer Bread: 5/5 – Technically outside Pacific Beach and into Bird Rock, but worth the detour. The matcha here is excellent, and I usually order it unsweetened because it holds up beautifully on its own. I’m not sure where they source it, but if you’re stopping in for a baguette or croissant, add a matcha to your order. At $5.50, it’s also the most affordable on this list.
These are my personal rankings and don’t reflect any kind of community survey. But if you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up, these spots are worth a try.
