Matcha is having a moment. From ceremonial bowls to whipped einspanners and dessert-forward pastries, Bay Area cafes are treating the bright-green powder with care and creativity.
The rise in popularity is immense: Retail sales of matcha powder have jumped by 86% in the past three years. But the surge in demand, coupled with poor harvests in Japan, has led to a global supply shortage, driving up prices for the prized tea leaf, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. This has impacted local shops, with some struggling to keep matcha stocked. Here in the East Bay, places like Oakland’s Tea on Piedmont have occasionally posted online notices that their matcha supply has run dry. Members of Third Culture Bakery staff shared on Instagram that they had to travel to Japan this year to secure the contract with their matcha supplier since the market has become so competitive.
The challenges of sourcing this coveted green tea, however, have not dimmed the creativity of East Bay shops. Despite the supply crunch that has many purveyors scrambling, a dedicated handful of cafes continues to serve matcha, transforming the powder into everything from traditional bowls to inventive lattes and pastries. To trace the vibrant green path through the region, the following list details the essential matcha destinations in Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond.
Berkeley
Asha Tea House
A Berkeley staple, Asha Tea House serves Uji matcha — which comes from the matcha belt of Japan — in ceremonial bowls, shaken drinks or lattes with milk and boba. Seasonal flavors rotate throughout the year.
Asha Tea House: 2086 University Ave. (near Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley; open daily 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Binge Coffee House
Binge rotates seasonal matcha drinks and layered lattes and offers a variety of creative flavors, including banana, sesame, strawberry, mango and ube. For those looking for a bite to eat, they also serve a variety of banh mi sandwiches.
Binge Coffee House: 2199 Bancroft Way, Berkeley; open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Blue Willow Teaspot
A longtime favorite, Blue Willow sources teas directly from Japanese farms. Their menu includes ceremonial bowls, creamy lattes and seasonal specials. Loose-leaf matcha is available for home brewing.
Blue Willow Teaspot: 1200 10th St. (at Gilman Street), Berkeley; open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
De Matcha
Berkeley’s De Matcha serves ceremonial-grade matcha — a term used for premium matcha powder made from the youngest and most vibrant green tea leaves, intended to be enjoyed pure with water — drinks and Japanese-inspired snacks. Their menu features inventive beverages like brown sugar hojicha lattes, osmanthus matcha and yuzu matcha tonics, paired with classic Japanese bites such as chicken karaage, takoyaki and warabi mochi. It’s a must-visit for matcha lovers and anyone craving flavorful bites.
De Matcha: 2315 Telegraph Ave. Berkeley; open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Forest Tea Bar
Shattuck Avenue’s newest matcha spot, Forest Tea Bar, emphasizes the ritual of tea. Expect single-cultivar Asahi matcha and black sesame lattes all prepared in traditional chagama kettles. The minimalist space makes it perfect for a focused tea experience.
Forest Tea Bar: 2628 Shattuck Ave. (at Carleton Street), Berkeley; open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Mind Coffee
Specializing in einspanner-style drinks, Mind Coffee’s matcha latte is topped with thick whipped cream, balancing the earthy tea with a sweet foamy crown. The original Einspanner — named for the one-horse carriages whose drivers drank it — is a strong, black coffee topped with a generous, insulating layer of cool whipped cream that is sipped through the cream and left unstirred. Mind Coffee applies this technique to their matcha latte, which is topped with thick, velvety whipped cream, balancing the earthy tea with a sweet foamy crown.
Mind Coffee: 2490 Bancroft Way, Berkeley; open daily 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekend
Third Culture Bakery
Known for mochi muffins and inventive matcha drinks, Third Culture Bakery also features matcha in pastries and sweets. Their menu includes matcha-glazed mochi donuts, custard cakes and chiffon cakes. They also offer playful twists like sparkling lychee matcha soda, making it a destination for both purists and adventurous matcha lovers.
Third Culture Bakery: 2701 8th St. (at Carleton Street), Berkeley; open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yume Mori Matcha
A newcomer to Berkeley this August, Yume Mori focuses on Japanese-inspired drinks and desserts. Their matcha lattes are thoughtfully balanced and they’re now serving matcha crepes filled with fresh fruit and matcha cream, highlighting the tea’s flavor in a delicate dessert format.
Yume Mori Matcha: 2319 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley; open daily 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
U Dessert Story (drinks and cakes)
Known for dessert-forward matcha, the menu features drinks like the strawberry and mango matcha fizz and both the oat matcha and hojicha cheese lattes. Desserts include a chocolate matcha lava cake (served warm with matcha ice cream) and the matcha Basque burnt cheesecake.
U Dessert Story: 1849 Shattuck Ave. (in between Hearst Avenue and Delaware Street), Berkeley; open Monday 3-10 p.m., Tuesday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Oakland
Bake Sum
Bake Sum is known for Asian-inspired matcha pastries. Matchamisu, which regularly sells out when available, layers espresso-soaked chiffon cake with matcha-spiked mascarpone cream, and the strawberry matcha bun combines matcha pastry cream with house-made strawberry jam topped with matcha sugar and meringue. All matcha comes from premium Uji leaves from Asha Tea House.
Bake Sum: 3249 Grand Ave., Oakland; open Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Highwire Coffee Roasters
Highwire serves matcha lattes made with high-quality Japanese matcha and lightly textured steamed milk. The drinks are smooth, flavorful and balanced, perfect for matcha purists or those seeking a creamy latte.
Highwire Coffee Roasters: Multiple locations in Oakland; open daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
House of Phin
House of Phin specializes in authentic Vietnamese coffee and offers a dedicated matcha menu. Their signature house matcha is smooth, creamy and blended with housemade vanilla. They also serve a unique variety of flavored matcha lattes, including banana, strawberry, coconut, black sesame, ube and pandan, with several dairy-free options available.
House of Phin: 1920 International Blvd. Oakland; open Wednesday to Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kinfolx
Kinfolx is a Black-owned coffee shop and wine bar in Uptown Oakland. It’s a place to connect over quality coffee and drinks — including a matcha latte made from tea cultivated in Kagoshima, Japan.
Kinfolx: 1951 Telegraph Ave., Oakland; Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saturday to Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar is a welcoming neighborhood spot offering coffee, pastries and small plates, complemented by a full bar. Their daytime menu includes a matcha latte, while their bar menu features the “Matchatini,” made with vodka, matcha and Irish cream.
Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar: 308 41st St., Oakland; open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Suptea Lab
Suptea Lab is a bubble tea shop offering an iced matcha latte. They feature a menu of savory Chinese and Japanese-inspired snacks alongside their extensive list of specialty teas and drinks.
Suptea Lab: 3349 Grand Ave, Oakland; open Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tea on Piedmont
This cozy Piedmont Avenue cafe offers customizable matcha lattes and seasonal specials. Their strawberry matcha latte is a fan favorite, and the cozy storefront makes it a great spot to sip and relax.
Tea on Piedmont: 4098 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; open daily 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pinole
East Bay Coffee
East Bay Coffee Co. in Pinole is a local hub that operates as a coffee and breakfast/brunch spot in the mornings and a bar with cocktails in the evenings. Look closely at their menu, and you will find its popular matcha latte served iced or hot.
East Bay Coffee: 2529 San Pablo Ave, Pinole; open daily 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Evening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Richmond
El Jardin de los Suenos Cafe
El Jardín de los Sueños is a family-friendly bakery and cafe offering coffee, breakfast and comfort food. The cafe right off I-80 serves iced matcha and iced strawberry matcha lattes, but, for something different, sample the matcha smoothie made with matcha, almond milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, and yogurt, topped with whipped cream.
El Jardín de los Sueños Cafe: 12411 San Pablo Ave, Richmond; Monday to Friday 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kaleidoscope Coffee
Kaleidoscope Coffee is known for its cozy atmosphere, local art and health-conscious menu options, which include various coffee and tea-based beverages. The matcha menu includes a tea, a latte, lemonade and the matcha’gato, a scoop of ice cream with a shot of matcha poured on top.
Kaleidoscope Coffee: 109 Park Place, Richmond; open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Le Dessert Lab
Le Dessert Lab offers a variety of specialty milk and fruit teas, along with an extensive menu of desserts and snacks, including a strawberry milk latte with matcha creme.
Le Dessert Lab: 3288 Pierce St C113, Richmond; open daily 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Open Air Coffee
Open Air Coffee is a small, outdoor-focused spot in Richmond offering coffee and quick bites, primarily operating on weekends. They currently offer a seasonal “Forest Dew” matcha latte, with the option to add lavender syrup and/or cold foam.
Open Air Coffee: 600 Hoffman Blvd, Richmond; open Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bonus matcha-flavored foods
Cookie Bar Scoop Shop
This scoop shop specializes in creative ice cream flavors, including the popular matcha Oreo, which combines the earthy notes of matcha with the classic crunch and sweetness of the cream-filled cookie.
Cookie Bar Scoop Shop: 1608 Webster Street, Alameda, CA 94501; open Sunday to Thursday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sobo Ramen
Sobo Ramen’s Downtown Berkeley location offers a new matcha ramen — a creamy, savory bowl built on a rich matcha-infused coconut broth. It is paired with house-made vegan noodles and topped with crispy fried enoki mushrooms, tofu, fresh arugula and finished with a yuzu cold foam for a bright, citrusy lift. This is a vegan-friendly and highly unique matcha-flavored food experience.
Sobo Ramen: 2000 Milvia St., Berkeley; open Monday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
