I tried to avoid the matcha trend for as long as I could, seriously. But there was a low point this summer when, from every corner of the internet, I was basically being screamed at: “Matcha! Matcha! Matcha!” I hate to admit it, but TikTok made me believe I love matcha, or at least want to love it. As anyone who drinks a lot of coffee has probably noticed, coffee gives you anxiety. Most of the world’s coffee is also apparently mouldy these days. It doesn’t really have many benefits, except tasting that darn good. The lower-in-caffeine, bright green Japanese tea seemed at least worth a try.
“Icelanders are very wary and don’t really have a palate for bitter flavours in general,” a colleague told me. “But like any trend, they want to get behind it while making significant changes.”
Matcha-curious, I set out to find the town’s best (most decent) matcha.
Kaffi Ó-le
Hafnarstræti 11, 101 Reykjavík
Kaffi Ó-le is Grapevine’s next-door neighbour and a frequent hangout/interview spot. They have the shortest working hours (closing at 15:00 during summer), but honestly, probably the best work-life balance for their employees — and, most importantly, great coffee. I’ve been told by many that Kaffi Ó-le also has the best matcha in town, so, of course, I had to try it.
The global matcha shortage affected their imports, and it took me a few return trips to actually get a cup. Unlike what I first thought, they don’t use ceremonial matcha, but a powdered variety — though definitely a higher-quality one. At 1.100 ISK (about 8 EUR) a cup, it’s a bit on the pricey side. They usually offer sprout milk with their matcha lattes, which, along with coconut milk, is my favourite. Oat milk doesn’t foam, so trying to whisk it is about as pointless as expecting a cheap drink in Reykjavík.
I think public opinion lives up to the hype — the Iced Matcha Latte is refreshing and creamy, with a grassy yet smooth flavour, though our photographer, who usually opts for coffee as black as a winter night in Ísafjörður, asked, “Why does it taste like fish?”
Update: This article was published in print on September 12. Since then, it has been announced that Kaffi Ó-le has been closed.
Photo by Art Bicnick
Hygge
Seljavegur 2 & Barónsstígur 6, 101 Reykjavík
Hygge has been known for its baked goods and coffee, but what most people don’t know is that they serve solid matcha too — though, like many things in this town, it depends a lot on the barista and whether today is a þetta reddast kind of day. When the second location finally opened in the neighbourhood after months of permit shenanigans, I wasted no time checking it out. The interior hasn’t changed much since Nebraska closed, but the current layout of the seating area and counter makes the space feel open and cosy.
When I asked for an Iced Matcha Latte, the person at the counter quickly went, “Green or blue?” I panicked inside: I just wanted a cold drink and had no idea what blue matcha even was. I went for a classic green matcha with coconut milk, and it was delightful — the balance of matcha, milk, and ice was perfect, and the coconut milk added a smooth, subtle sweetness. They’ve also been advertising summer drinks like “Iced Green Matcha with Fresh Lemonade and Strawberry Syrup,” which sound refreshing but a little weird — not sure I’ll dare try one.
P.S. I Googled and learned that blue matcha is actually caffeine-free. Note taken.
Trung Nguyen E – Coffee Iceland
Hallgerðargata 23, 105 Reykjavík
Going to a different area code just for a drink isn’t usually something I’m sold on right away. But I’ve heard so many good things about this Vietnamese café — and its Google reviews look solid — that I’ve been curious for a while. It also happens to be just steps away from Gallery Port’s new location. (Yes, I know it’s been over a year (or two already?!) but I’m still not over the fact that they moved from that perfect little Laugavegur nook, only to be replaced by yet another puffin shop.)
Gallery and matcha — or the other way around — sounds like a perfect afternoon plan.
One thing that really caught my eye is how diverse the menu is. I counted at least five different matcha drinks, including something borderline exotic like a Blueberry Matcha Macchiato. They’ve also got traditional Vietnamese coffees like egg coffee and salt coffee, which I’ll definitely be back to try.
The matchas, both hot and cold, really hit the spot. The matcha cookies, though, felt extremely dry and stale. Hopefully a bad day?
Miscellaneous
Multiple locations
Biang Reykjavík opened its doors less than a month ago, but word about their matchas has been spreading fast. I haven’t tried it yet, but there are a few things that pique my interest: they use ceremonial-grade matcha; they promise to get hojicha, a roasted green tea variety lower in caffeine, soon; and they offer exotic combos I haven’t seen in Iceland before — like mango, cherry, or peach matcha.
Plantan and Kaktus Espressobar are decent matcha spots, with the latter even serving it with pea milk. Further away from downtown, Pallett in Hafnarfjörður is a recommendation I’d easily extend beyond matcha — this is hands-down the best cup of coffee I’ve had in Iceland. When it comes to matcha, they can make it as strong as you like, and are generally some of the nicest people in this uneasy business. When I was double-checking whether they currently have matcha on offer, the owner replied: “Hey! We do sometimes have it off-menu, but it’s run out at the moment. I’m out of the country for a few days, but I’ll stock up when I get back 🥰” I’ll forgive them their sporadic opening hours since this level of attention and care for quality in everything they do has my stamp of approval. Even further out of town, if you’re ever in Vík, do check out Skool Beans — they don’t do anything halfway either, and they have quality matcha lattes along with a lot of other interesting teas not found elsewhere in Iceland.
To avoid disappointment, stay away from matcha at places like Te & Kaffi, Starbucks, and Joe & The Juice.
We do not consider this an exhaustive list of the town’s best matchas. If you think your matcha deserves attention, send us a line at grapevine@grapevine.is
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