Everyone needs their morning or afternoon caffeine, but on occasion it is nice to cut down the high doses and resort a more relaxed amount. Brewed coffee often holds an average of 95 to 200 milligrams per cup, while a fine powdered Japanese tea like matcha only has 35 to 75 milligrams per serving. Made of tea leaves from the camellia sinensis plant, a liking for the flavor might leave your wondering: where can you get the best matcha?
You either love it or hate it. In my own life, my mother and I absolutely adore iced matcha, while my best friend tends to despise it. She describes the flavor as a “grassy” taste that does not sit well with her. Although that may seem like a con to this popular pastel drink, for some it happens to be the most refreshing part about matcha. That is why I have decided to tour around Wilmington’s coffee shops and help you decide where your favorite matcha lies.
My methodology:
I created a scale to help explain the flavor of each matcha. First, we have my best friend’s term, “grassy.” This means the drink incorporates more of that bitter matcha flavor. Then we have “milky,” which implies that the ratio of milk overpowers the tea. Finally, we have “perfect,” which is a lovely mix of milk and matcha. I have also ordered all the drinks iced, unsweetened and without flavor so that you can get a better understanding of the base matcha itself!
IT’S COFFEE TIME
Rating: 2/5
Taste: Milky
Cost: $5.45
It’s Coffee Time is only a short three-minute drive from campus, making it extremely convenient for students who need a morning treat. Although their matcha was not my favorite, I strongly recommend going there for their bakery items; they had a wide variety that included sweet red bean buns, banana muffins and even coffee cake. As for the drink itself, the matcha to milk ratio was off (which might have been a minor accident by the barista). Unfortunately, the drink tasted like plain milk. Though, when I did get a hint of matcha, it gave off a surprisingly delicious floral essence.
SOCIAL COFFEE AND SUPPLY CO.
Rating: 3/5
Taste: Milky
Cost: $5.65
Located on Wrightsville Avenue and Oriole Drive, Social Coffee and Supply Co. was temporarily the debut coffee shop at Central Perch in Randall Hall. The matcha I ordered at the library was quite different from the others I tried; it was incredibly milky with a flat and watered down matcha flavor. This happened to turn the drink into an exceptionally light refreshment, which I would recommend for people whose stomachs are easily bothered like mine. It was not the best matcha I have had, and the price was extremely high. Though, if it is hot outside and you are looking for something to chug, this is the perfect choice.
HIDDEN GROUNDS COFFEE
Rating: 4/5
Taste: Grassy
Cost: $5.75
This incredibly unique Jurassic themed coffee shop was an adventure for the senses, and their highly praised menu lived up its hype. Hidden Grounds’ matcha was a good combination of the grassy flavor while also having just enough milk to mask that strong earthy punch. Unfortunately, my matcha had a rough texture due to it not being properly mixed (even after mixing the drink myself), which caused some sips to be more bitter than others. Despite that, it still tasted wonderful. You can even enjoy your order with a dinosaur statue on their one-of-a-kind layered patio!
THE MAROON MONKEY
Rating: 4/5
Taste: Grassy
Cost: $4.70
The Maroon Monkey is another downtown Wilmington coffee shop, and it happened to be quite good especially for its reasonable price. Finding matcha under five dollars is rare, and on top of that it ended up tasting better than the more expensive ones I tried. Though, this matcha definitely had that earthy musk with a slight bitter aftertaste. If that is not your jam, I would recommend adding sweeteners to hide that flavor. If not for the menu, at least stop by to experience their shop’s cozy jungle atmosphere!
CASA BLANCA COFFEE ROASTERS
Rating: 5/5
Taste: Perfect
Cost: $4.75
After a lengthy 17-minute drive, Casa Blanca Coffee Roasters made every second count by becoming my absolute favorite coffee shop. They served a super refreshing blend of a not-so bitter matcha and cold milk (I ordered it without their added vanilla). No flavor was too overpowering, and the drink was not heavy at all, making it perfect for an early morning. The atmosphere was also captivating, taking me back to my Spanish architecture style home in Florida with its white clay exterior and burnt red rooftop. A huge bonus was the price; finding the most delicious matcha at under five dollars is a gem.
Overall, matcha’s vary from location to location. You cannot go wrong with any of these five coffee shops, but it can be hard saying goodbye to six hard earned dollars. The question is, where will you stop by first?
