Here are 10 must-visit spots for every matcha lover, along with the specific drinks that made them famous!
🍵 The Ultimate OC Matcha Bucket List
1. MemoryLook (Fullerton)
This place is the definition of “aesthetic.” It’s sleek, modern, and has a huge following for its decadent cream-topped drinks.
- The Must-Try:Matcha Einspanner
- Think of it as a matcha latte topped with a thick, velvety layer of sweet cream. It’s like drinking a cloud of matcha.
2. Vivot Coffee (Fullerton)
A hidden gem for those who take their whisked greens seriously. They focus on quality and presentation.
- The Must-Try:Matcha Flight
- Can’t decide? Get the flight! You get to sample different variations of matcha drinks in one go. It’s a total crowd-pleaser and super photo-worthy.
3. Kit Coffee (Newport Beach / Irvine)
Bright, airy, and always bustling. Kit Coffee is known for creative infusions that you won’t find anywhere else.
- The Must-Try:Boysenberry Matcha
- The tartness of the boysenberry cuts through the earthy matcha perfectly. It’s refreshing, colorful, and surprisingly balanced.
4. Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe (Anaheim)
Since this is a Japanese bakery, you know their matcha is the real deal. Plus, the smell of fresh bread is heavenly.
- The Must-Try:Banana Cream Matcha
- The creamy banana topping adds a nostalgic, fruity sweetness that complements the high-grade matcha base beautifully.
5. Thank You Coffee (Anaheim)
Located inside a cool creative space, this spot is all about unique flavor profiles and high-quality ingredients.
- The Must-Try:Pandan Blue Milk with Matcha
- It’s a stunning tri-color drink. The nutty, vanilla-like notes of pandan mixed with matcha create a tropical vibe that is out of this world.
6. Airoma Cafe (Garden Grove)
If you like your drinks with a bit of a Southeast Asian twist, Airoma is your spot. They are masters of the “Pandan” leaf.
- The Must-Try:Pandan Matcha
- This is their signature. The floral aroma of the pandan makes the matcha taste incredibly smooth and exotic.
7. Da Vien Coffee (Garden Grove / Westminster)
Famous for their Vietnamese-style “egg coffee,” they apply that same creamy magic to their matcha.
- The Must-Try:Matcha with Banana Pudding
- It’s basically a dessert in a cup. It’s rich, thick, and topped with actual pudding vibes. Definitely for those with a sweet tooth!
8. Cortado Coffee (Garden Grove)
A cozy, minimalist spot that focuses on the craft. Their cream-top drinks are often considered some of the best in the county.
- The Must-Try:Matcha Einspanner
- While similar to MemoryLook, Cortado’s version is often praised for a slightly more intense matcha flavor and a super dense, rich cream.
9. Brew Story (Huntington Beach)
This is a local favorite for a chill afternoon. They’ve perfected the “creme” series.
- The Must-Try:Banana Creme Matcha Latte
- The banana cream here is legendary—it’s light, fluffy, and tastes like real bananas rather than syrup.
10. Urth Caffé (Laguna Beach / Orange)
You can’t talk about OC cafes without mentioning Urth. It’s an OG classic with a focus on organic ingredients.
- The Must-Try:Organic Matcha Green Tea Latte (Ceremonial Grade)
- If you’re a purist, go here. They use high-quality ceremonial matcha that is whisked to perfection. It’s simple, classic, and always hits the spot.
Pro-Tip: If you want to make these drinks even creamier, try swapping the regular milk for Oat Milk. The nutty flavor of oat milk is basically matcha’s best friend!
Which one of these sounds like your kind of vibe? Or are you planning a full-on “Matcha Crawl” this weekend?