The spirit of March Madness has seized the basketball community. Millions of people have filled out their ideal brackets (myself included), and millions of people have been disappointed by the upsets and outcomes so far (myself included).
But to the beverage community — not to worry!
As all eyes are on the upcoming NCAA Sweet Sixteen games, I’ve got a Sweet Sixteen bracket that won’t cause any heartbreak: matcha treats in and around Los Angeles that will have you feeling like a champion no matter which place you try.
No. 1: Dulce
In my Matcha Madness bracket, Dulce would be a No. 1 seed — one of the top contenders for the title. While the blueberry matcha latte remains its highly-touted star, Dulce is a consistently reliable pick for any style of matcha. Their matcha latte and premium matcha are smooth, light and classically luxurious. Plus, it’s the closest matcha place around campus.
No. 2: Midori Matcha
A straight shot from USC to Little Tokyo by Metro, Midori specializes in matcha powder in Kagoshima, Japan. Their must-try is their matcha soft serve, which you can swirl with other flavors like hojicha (green tea) or vanilla rose.
No. 3: Stereoscope
“Pursuit of depth and simplicity in coffee, in culture, in life” is Stereoscope’s motto, and their entire menu lives up to those standards. With locations in Hollywood and Echo Park, Stereoscope is a pure, undiscovered gem in the coffee community and a top underdog in Matcha Madness often eclipsed by big-shot coffee chains. I would recommend the Ceremonial Matcha Milk, but they have other excellent coffee and tea options, like their Lychee Peach Black tea.
No. 4: Mandarin Coffee Stand
From my very own hometown Pasadena, Mandarin Coffee Stand is tucked away in an adorable, albeit tiny, mini-plaza full of locally-owned businesses. I love how they spin a range of Asian-inspired palettes into classic drinks: if the Matcha Tonic doesn’t grab your attention, maybe the Gui Hua Latte will.
No. 5: Maru Coffee
Aesthetic and authentic, Maru uses Ippodo matcha from Kyoto. Most of their production takes place in the Arts District in their minimalistic cafe. One of Maru’s hot items is the Matcha Latte (ask for a Cream Top, too).
No. 6: DAMO Tea House
DAMO is another Koreatown favorite. Like other places on this list, their matcha is thoroughly stirred and delicious. Unlike other places, the cafe is tea-focused, which only augments the quality of their lattes. Look out for seasonal drinks, like the Chestnut Matcha Einspener.
No. 7: Stumptown Coffee
Stumptown is serious about the first sip. To them, it represents years of work and passion. The company chain has locations on both coasts of the U.S., and also Kyoto. Stumptown is more acclaimed for its espresso and flat white, among other coffee offerings. However, their approach to matcha is the same in highlighting the flavor from its particular origin. Overall, a solid No. 7 in my bracket.
No. 8: Yeems Coffee
At Yeems, I would recommend the Rose Matcha, which is made with ceremonial-grade matcha. I like things that are a little bit sweet, and I love a good floral fragrance. Other popular beverages in this Koreatown cafe are the Matcha Strawberry Latte and Vienna latte (for those non-matcha coffee lovers).
No. 9: Tea Masters Matcha Cafe
Here’s another great Little Tokyo location that has emphasized and mastered the art form of tea. Tea Masters has made its mark in the L.A. matcha world with its soft serve with a dusting of matcha powder on top. You can even purchase their matcha powder to make your own drink at home.
No. 10: Memory Look
While on the outskirts of Koreatown, Memory Look still garners huge lines, mostly for that one drink: the Matcha Einspanner. It’s very thick in cream, very rich in flavor, and very memorable (no pun intended). Even if it doesn’t blow your mind, it’ll blow your wallet with a hefty price of over eight dollars — one of the pricier treats on this list.
No. 11: LaB Coffee & Roasters
LaB is a family-owned business northwest of Koreatown. They offer coffee courses if you’re looking to sharpen your espresso expertise. I recommend their Strawberry Matcha. In terms of Matcha Madness, LaB would have a strong postseason showing, as the afternotes in their drinks are heaven for matcha lovers.
No. 12: Farm Cup Coffee
With locations in Century City and West Hollywood, Farm Cup Coffee is relatively far from campus (depending on traffic, of course!). But if you ever find yourself in either area, check out the Pistachio Rose Matcha — it has an earthy, unique flavor profile!
No. 13: Kindness & Mischief
Just off Figueroa in Highland Park, Kindness & Mischief is straight chic. While they do have a decent Matcha Latte, they are more known for specialty drinks like the Pandan Horchata.
No. 14: Community Goods
Community Goods is a trendy and quintessentially L.A., apparently a top celebrity spot for a morning treat. The Matcha Latte here has received mixed reviews; some say it’s the perfect balance between refreshing and creamy, while others don’t believe the drink lives up to its hype.
No. 15: Boba Guys
This Culver City place is the definite underdog making a Cinderella run in my Matcha Madness. Hailing from San Francisco, Boba Guys develops artisanal milk tea, and I have to mention their Strawberry Matcha Latte, the most popular item on the menu.
No. 16: Chit Chat Coffee & Matcha
There’s a plethora of matcha options here in this West L.A. cafe. The finest of Chit Chat is probably its Matcha Rose Latte; perhaps the matcha flavor does not stand out among its counterparts, but it’s worth a taste.
Hopefully, this exhaustive list will land you your perfect “match-a.” Whichever sweet treat you try on this list, it’ll taste like victory. Happy sipping!