Over the past decade, younger generations like Gen Z in the U.S. have become particularly obsessed with matcha drinks. San Diego is no exception, with numerous spots offering matcha drinks opening in recent years, and almost every coffee shop now offering matcha drinks, such as the popularized matcha latte.
Like “Matcha Cafe Maiko” or “Holy Matcha,” there are some matcha places being popular and focusing on matcha. But you may not know what “coffee shop” serves an exceptional matcha latte. Here, you can find some coffee shops in San Diego you want to go today for matcha latte!
Rikka Fika
If you are looking for an authentic matcha, you should try it at RikkaFika first. The coffee is undoubtedly excellent, but perhaps even more so, the quality of the matcha is astonishingly high.
The matcha latte served there is made fresh to order, one cup at a time, by whisking the matcha on the spot. They are highly conscious of the process of making them, as you can see from the fact that they are publishing the recipe online.
The selection of interiors, including magazines and books there, is very curated and sophisticated.
It’s also nice that there’s a merchandise area. You can purchase what they use in their drinks like high quality and authentic tea powder from Yugen, a tea shop in Kyoto, Japan.
The Keep Coffee
The Keep Coffee is a coffee shop opened in Convoy St. in 2024 and quickly became a hot new spot. They only mention “Craft Coffee / Homemade Basque Cheesecake / Garlic bun” on their Instagram bio. However, in fact, they have gone viral recently for their matcha drinks.
They use Uji matcha for the drinks, a high-quality powdered green tea from the Uji region of Kyoto, Japan. Like RikkaFika, each drink is prepared by whisking the matcha fresh upon order.
The vibe and space are casual and modern where wooden piano is placed in bare concrete. Many young people are chatting and laughing with friends, creating a lively atmosphere.
Their pastries are also worth trying, especially because of their focus on curating them. The Keep Coffee is the perfect spot to grab a light meal with a great matcha drink in hand.
Java Earth Coffee
Chances are you have heard of Paru, a shop specializing in loose leaf teas and matcha at La Jolla, if you are a matcha and tea lover. Unfortunately, they stopped serving homemade drinks in 2024 and now focus on selling loose-leaf tea and merchandise.
However, there are several places where you can enjoy drinks made with the matcha they supply. Java Earth Coffee is one of those places. It is a family-owned and operated coffee shop, becoming a neighborhood gathering place for locals since they started their business in 2012.
One slight disappointment is that they serve matcha latte made with prepared matcha liquid. This is a big difference between this shop and the two coffee shops above. It is easy to make and can be served fast, but the quality is not as good as the drinks made in an authentic way.
That said, it remains an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy a quick and easy matcha latte or savor a drink in an open, airy space.
The local coffee shops introduced this time are definitely worth visiting for the people looking for a place to enjoy a high-quality matcha latte in a good atmosphere. You should try these instead of matcha lattes from chain stores!
