Matcha madness: Narrowing down Kansas City’s matcha lattes to five must-tries
Illustration by Teddy Rosen
When a trend is born, people tend to fall into one of four groups: Early Birds, the trendsetters who are ahead of the curve; Regulars, the masses who join once social media gets involved; Late Bloomers, those who trickle in toward the end; and Antis, those who know exactly what’s happening and want no part of it.
My matcha journey began with me being an anti.
No way would I ever, in a world blessed with espresso-based caramel lattes, bottled Coke, and ginger ale, spend my hard-earned money on what I thought of as liquid grass.
However, a mere six months later, I’ve reviewed matcha in over 25 shops, hosted two matcha social events at Outsiders Social Club, and have been given the (un)official title of Matcha Man. I’m not an expert in authentic matcha powder, but I do know my way around a well-balanced, pleasant, and interesting beverage.
While matcha, specifically matcha lattes, may have become trendy in U.S. coffee shops, its status as a staple in the drink world has lasted centuries. Some of us are just late to the green game. Matcha’s presence in global society has expanded beyond just the drink, with implications in culture, tradition, and even politics.
Alex Omorodion at a recent matcha social at Outsiders Social Club // Photo by Shea McGraw
On my own local journey with matcha lattes, I have explored many corners of the Kansas City metro. I judge these on three things: the balanced taste and texture of the matcha itself, how well the additional flavors and ingredients complement the drink overall, and whether the drink stands out to me creatively.
Without further ado, here are five spots that redefine what it means to go out and touch grass.
Overland Park Farmers Market/Pop-ups
As I pulled out my card to pay for my banana pudding matcha latte during my last visit, with a cheeky smile, the barista remarked, “Aren’t you the laptop guy?” This was a sharp reference to the visit before, when I had stood in line with a laptop in hand, juggling work responsibilities while trying to get my hands on their ultra-high-demand matcha — a testament to just how good HerCafe’s matcha cart is.
Beyond their high-caliber matcha and ingredients, HerCafe’s creativity and range truly stand out. Matcha toppers like cold foam, dried fruits, spices, shavings, and other ingredients make their recipes unique. HerCafe’s menu updates every five weeks, with their first iteration of a Fall menu already underway. This menu explores a variety of nutty and spiced flavor profiles. Baklava and salty sticky date matchas make their debut, while vanilla and maple matchas retain their place.
You can find HerCafe at Overland Park Farmers Market each Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., with additional pop-ups posted on their website and social media.
4010 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111
The banana caramel matcha latte at Chambre was the matcha that kickstarted my journey from an anti to an aficionado.
Banana has a tendency to overpower other ingredients in a drink, but Chambre’s banana caramel complements the matcha well. The caramel’s sweetness pairs well with the banana, while the earthiness of the matcha prevents the drink from becoming a banana float. Topped with cold foam and a dried banana slice, this drink checks every box for what I look for in a matcha.
Chambre’s seating area is far from the most ornate you will find in KC, but the ample natural lighting and neutral cream walls make it an easy place to study or work while enjoying your matcha.
1280 Liberty St, Kansas City, MO 64102
Looking back over the years, I can think of a few times when trying a food or drink completely changed my standards for what that food or drink could taste like.
The latest was the coconut matcha latte at Café Rex, located on the second floor of RexKC. This drink tasted like an Almond Joy in matcha form. The coconut matcha barometer has been set.
As a vintage store, RexKC feels at home in the fashion-forward and artsy character of the West Bottoms. Though Café Rex is a small part of the vintage store rather than a standalone coffee shop, don’t be fooled — it punches far above its weight. Whether you’re shopping for vintage clothes or not, the coconut matcha latte alone is enough to make a trip to RexKC worth your while.
310 W 8th St, Kansas City, MO 64105
Photo by Alex Omorodion
My first visit to Artifact was characterized by the barista acknowledging my order with, “Of course, king.” Talk about a great way to start the morning.
Artifact’s banana cream matcha latte was great enough to make me want to come back, and their honey bun matcha latte (traditionally served as an espresso-based latte) blew me away. What I was worried would be an overly sweet concoction turned out to be a lovely blend of deep cinnamon notes and rich matcha.
9916 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210
Over the last year, Overland Park has risen as a hub for Yemeni coffee shops in the metro. Within a five-mile radius of 119th and Metcalf, you can find a few, but I find myself returning to Turath.
Trying both their fig and maple matcha lattes gave me a great look at the care and expertise with which their drinks are crafted. Despite being out of the way of my daily commute, Turath has the quality and consistency that keeps me coming back, even if I have to carve out some extra time.
The matcha is enough to get me through the door, and the thoughtful interior design and convenient late hours (open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 p.m. every other day) are enough to get me to stay.
