Chicago Matcha 🍵

need matcha? find the best in chicago

Where to find the best Matcha Latte in Chicago

Matcha mania is still an underground revolution in Chicago. But it’s getting louder and tastier. We’re always scouring the city to find the best spots and what you need to know about Chicago’s matcha latte options. But definitely LET US KNOW what you’re finding and liking!

Last updated:

💚💚💚💚
The Best Matcha is at NOMAD-Chicago

As of fall 2025, you’ve now got more options for finding the best matcha latte in Chicago! However, we still say the best matcha latte is at…

NOMAD.
They’re using a nicer, higher quality, expertly blended, better tasting, more craft/artisanal matcha powder (pretentious, rrright? but it’s very good!). It tastes of more umami and a touch chocolatey compared to most typical latte matchas. The only issue is that their hours are a little limited, but if they’re not open there’s a Dollop & Fairgrounds nearby.

And afterward CONTACT US and tell us how much you loved it!

💚💚💚
The Reliably Good Matcha

I always feel good about getting a matcha latte from any of these places, all are good iced, most are usually good hot:

  • Allez Café 💚💚 👍 interesting latte options, usually made well
  • Altar Home 💚💚 👍 new West Town spot recently upgraded their matcha quality, interesting specialty lattes
  • SUGOi Sweets 💚💚 👍 iced lattes only BUT excellent quality matcha unlike any place else in the city, BONUS get the (vegan!) matcha ice cream! (only open weekends)

These are also excellent spots. Consistency and quality can vary, but usually still some of the best…

  • Center for Order and Experimentation 💚 👍 often a couple interesting lattes
  • Coffee Lab in Lakeview 💚 👍 great matcha, usually made well
  • Convene Downtown 💚 👍 good matcha, always made well (and great staff!) but only open Mon-Thurs
  • Dollop Coffee Co. 💚 good matcha, often made well (and great staff!)
  • Drip Collective 💚 👍
  • Fairgrounds 💚 👍 good matcha options, usually made well, can upgrade to better quality matcha, their best matcha is even decent without milk
  • FROTH at the Duncan 💚 👍 good matcha, always made well, occasionally fun speciality drinks
  • Intelligensia 💚 good matcha, often made well
  • Lost Larson 💚 good matcha, usually made well
  • Metric 💚 good matcha, often made well
  • Mojo Coffee 💚 👍 good matcha, always made well
  • Passion House 💚 good matcha, usually made well, occasionally fun speciality drinks
  • Tomokohi 💚 👍 fun specialty drinks, well crafted and balanced and decent matcha powder

💚💚
The Un-Reliably Okay Matcha

At these places, I’ll usually get an iced matcha latte or iced speciality matcha drink:

  • Mindful Baking 💚 good matcha, sometimes made well, great vegan food & treats
  • Oromo 💚 okay matcha, sometimes made well, but usually fun speciality drinks
  • Side Practice Coffee 💚 good matcha, sometimes made well, sometimes good speciality drinks

💚
The Meh Matcha, they’re trying…

  • CapitalOne Cafe – okay matcha, but rarely made well
  • Colectivo – fine matcha, sometimes made well
  • Dayglow – yuck matcha, but always made well
  • Heritage Bikes – okay matcha, sometimes made well
  • Ipsento 606 – okay matcha, sometimes made well
  • La Colombe – recently added Rishi matcha to the menu
  • Postcard – new West Loop spot, poor quality matcha powder
  • Prequel – fine matcha, but rarely made well

🚫🚫🚫
Avoid these places:

  • Avoid Matcha Cita 🚫 excessively sugary & gimmicky, very low quality matcha, “go for the gram” (then go somewhere else for good matcha)
  • Avoid Sawada Coffee 🚫 gross & gritty matcha powder, go only in the summer, only on foot, and only for the Hojicha roasted matcha • Note: Some folks really love this place. I’ve never actually had good matcha there and finally quit trying. I’m willing to try again if something changes, but have spent too much money for now. One More Note: Sawada was ahead of the curve and used to own Chicago’s first full-on matcha-focused cafe (now closed).
  • Usually avoid these as well:
    Aglaïa Coffee, Big Shoulders, Chicago French Press, Doppio Coffee House, Firecakes Donuts, Hero Coffee, Hexe, Kyo Matcha, Matcha-En, Revival Cafe Bar / Revival Food Hall, Ritual Coffee, Spinning J, Stan’s Donuts, Stringria Bubble Tea
  • And these don’t usually have matcha at all:
    Dark Matter

What about the big brands?

  • Pick Starbucks over Peet’s
    As of January 2025, Starbucks now uses unsweetened matcha… and to be honest, it’s not all that bad! It’s a fine baseline matcha latte. 

  • Pick Peet’s over Dunkin’
    Peet’s (and the CapitalOne Cafes) actually use unsweetened matcha powder (some Mighty Leaf, most Rishi), but they’re often not great at making it and it’s usually just okay

  • Pick Dunkin’ over nothing
    I actually kinda like the Dunkin’ house blend coffee, I just don’t like drinking coffee. And I don’t hate their matcha, it’s just the pre-sweetened (and sickeningly sweet)

Last updated: