1. Bluestone Lane
Bluestone Lane is probably one of the first matchas I’ve tried in Hoboken, and boy, was it heavenly. It was just perfectly creamy yet earthy, and a bonus point because Bluestone is consistently adding new flavors seasonally. The one I like is the strawberry matcha coconut cloud drink, which is just creamy, earthy, fresh strawberry puree strawberry deliciousness in a cup. The matcha itself is the right green color, and they use ceremonial grade matcha, which they often top with cold foam in their flavored matcha drinks. In the past, they have done Banana Cream, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Blue Lavender Cloud Matcha. I love a good flavored matcha, hence why I put Bluestone first. The only drawback is that Bluestone is a bit expensive.
2. Toast x Bowl
Genuinely, the matcha itself is probably the best out of all the options, even better than Bluestone. I got mine sweetened with oat milk, and it was super creamy, not overly sweet, just subtle with that rich umami matcha flavor. Whenever people say they don’t like matcha, I really wish they could try the Toast x Bowl matcha because it is exactly how a proper matcha should taste. The only downside was the amount of ice in my drink, since there was honestly way more ice than matcha, so you have to drink it fast before it gets watered down. This matcha felt like I was drinking melted matcha-flavored ice cream. I will probably be making Toast x Bowl my regular go-to spot, and on top of that, I got a student discount, which makes it even better.
3. Hidden Grounds
At Hidden Grounds Coffee, I literally saw the barista hand-whisk the matcha in front of me using ceremonial-grade matcha, which is how you know they make it authentically and with good quality. I usually get the lavender matcha and prefer it hot because somehow the lavender flavor is way more prominent. The texture was perfect, and the color was too. It felt smoother and more fluid overall. My only complaint about the iced matcha was the ice, since it came as one big unsnapped block fused together. The matcha at Hidden Grounds is a bit more earthy and subtle compared to other places. If you want a really strong matcha flavor, though, I would recommend Toast x Bowl.
4. Bwè Kafe
I used to get matcha only from Bwè all the time, but after trying these other places, I kind of stopped going. Bwè has a good classic matcha with a strong flavor. I’ve gotten it iced and hot, and both times the matcha flavor was consistent. I will say, though, that sometimes it feels like the milk flavor overpowers the matcha, regardless of what milk you choose. The matcha flavor is strong but more in a grassy way, as people call it. Overall, I think this matcha is a solid classic.
5. Jefferson’s Coffee
When it comes to matcha from Jefferson’s, I would not say it is their strong suit. The matcha powder was clumping into bits at the top, so I would end up drinking straight powder clumps. I stirred it with a spoon a bit more, and it was fine, but I just did not think the matcha was very well made. Good matcha is supposed to be whisked with water first, so I do not know why there were still bits. If you are looking for a quick cheap matcha to pick up, I would say this is the place, but it was not super high quality.
