Since the start of college, I've wasted no time establishing myself as a matcha fanatic to those around me. I'm seldom spotted in public without an iced matcha latte (or the remnants of one) in hand. My favorite quarter-zip sweatshirt is the exact creamy shade of matcha, and I always half-joke that my dream car is a matcha-colored Kia Soul. For me, it's hard to imagine my world before the earthy green drink, despite the fact that my fascination with matcha was actually recently adopted after my trip to Korea last summer.
South Korea is a frequent flight destination for my family, whether it’s to spend time with our relatives or devour delectable street food. I’ve noticed that with each trip, I bring home a slice of Korea to add to my lifestyle back in Austin – one of these slices being my newfound enthusiastic love for locally-owned coffee shops and matcha.
While exploring Seoul and Jeju Island that summer, I noticed the emphasis that was placed on Korean cafes. Most of the time it seemed like cafes themselves were more of an art form and an experience, a display of creativity and crafted ambience. Young people flocked to aesthetic cafes to take Instagrammable pictures, to go on dates, or to simply bask in the vibes. It's no wonder why 'cafe-hopping' is a popular activity in Korea -- there are just so many beautiful, unique coffee shops that you want to try out as many as you can fit in one outing.
When we visited Korea in the summer of 2022, my mom and I were walking along a street on a rainy day after eating lunch. Much like the downcast weather, I was feeling a bit dejected. After some time, we came across an unassuming small coffee shop on the corner of a rickety stone sidewalk. I felt compelled to walk inside; after some convincing, my mom agreed to check it out with me.
When entering the cafe, I was instantly warmed by the cozy brick walls, black metal bookshelves, and delicious coffee aroma. We sat down after ordering -- my mother a hazelnut latte and me a matcha latte -- and the owner promptly approached our table with a dish of small wrapped chocolates. She smiled and explained that every customer was gifted chocolates along with their coffee order. After having a gloomy day, I was deeply touched by this gesture, even if it was routine. I'm still not sure if it was just due to my much-improved mood or not, but the matcha latte that day was the best I'd ever had.
From then on, I began to appreciate and love the cafe experience. The power of the experience I'd had, of making my entire day brighten with a single experience, had been so impactful that I began to seek the same feeling back at home, in Austin.
To me, it’s not so much about the coffee as it is about the distinct beauty of each cafe, personalized in its story and ambience. Since I came back from my trip, I've visited about a dozen local Austin coffee shops, and my appreciation for them continues to grow. And of course, with each new cafe I visit, my order remains the same -- a matcha latte.
Here are some of my favorite coffee spots so far:
Try Hard Coffee Roasters
Cafe Creme
Civil Goat
What was Civil Goat's matcha like?? This is such a slay