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12 Matcha

4.5 (264 reviews)
Closed 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

12 Matcha Photos

Business Info

12 MATCHA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - 12 Matcha

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Reviews With Photos

Danielle H.

I feel mixed about this place! It's very popular so expect a very very very long line! We stood for a while and the sun was beating down on us but I thought it was so nice they provided everyone with umbrellas to shield us from the suns rays, that we would return once we went inside. The reason why the line is long is that they literally make your matcha in front of you and explain the process. This is also not a cheap experience. For something so "high end" I would expect for everything to be on point. After the long wait and being called to the front for our matcha to be made the guy who is going to make our matcha was literally all up in his nose. I had to ask him to please wash his hands before making our drink. He then told me he already did and then I said yes but you have just been touching your nose so please wash them again. Now to be fair he was very kind and did go wash his hands. However the fun process of watching them make your matcha and talking with them about it was just beet awkward. Also the seating situation inside isn't great. However the matcha was a deep green which is a plus and it was delicious! The concept was cool and I could see us coming back but hopefully we would have a better cleaner experience.

Natalie O.

Came here because I heard this is the best matcha place.......but I was lied to. Don't get me wrong, the inside looks really pretty and the overall vibe is aesthetic. Luckily, during the time I went, I only waited around 20 minutes BUT i know this line can get REALLY long. Once we entered, everyone was welcoming and nice. I really like how they make the matcha right infront of you. When I took a sip......it just tasted like boring matcha. I feel I have made better matcha myself. I definitely don't think the matcha here is worth it...especially for the line and the price. To me, it feels like you're paying for the aesthetic rather than actual good matcha. You're not missing out on anything if you don't come here. If you see a huge line, I say just pass along and go elsewhere.

Matcha latte (stirred)
Haroon Z.

Probably the best matcha latte I've ever had in the states, maybe some Japan ones were comparable or better. Just really tasty, I took a sip of the matcha without any milk and it was really nice and not too bitter already. Must try for matcha lovers if you're in nyc. Also hojicha brownie was yummy. Line wasn't too bad around 11:30 am on a Thursday but the line was really crazy around 2 pm Friday so only got to try this place once. It's really cool getting to see the process of them making it in front of you, great ambiance.

Sue L.

So many people on social media raved about this cafe, so I bookmarked it before coming to NY. We decided to stop by after doing some shopping on a Thursday afternoon and there was already a line forming outside. It was scorching hot but glad they provided umbrellas. We waited about 10 minutes before someone let us inside. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was quite the experience. After ordering the matcha latte, I went to a station where the employee made the drink. It looked like she was doing a science experiment. The matcha was high quality and not too sweet, but I did wish that it was colder, especially since it was so hot outside. The seating downstairs is very intimidate and relaxing. I took my drink downstairs and was able to cool down on the sofa. Glad that I was able to stop by and check out this cool cafe.

Interior
Abigail J.

Visited this place when I was in NYC and it was the best matcha that I tried the whole trip. Food: Incredible. This is probably the Matcha place that I use as a base when trying other Matcha places because their matcha was just so perfect and delicious. I also got some of their pastries, but the one that stood out to me was their hojicha brownie. It was so delectable! Service: AMAZING! From the person who was bringing us inside, to the server who took our order, to the server who was making our matcha. They were also informative and they were so kind to us. It just made the experience even better. Ambience: INSANE! I love how everything looked. I love the design of everything and it was so cool that they had a downstairs section where it was also a seating area. So spacious inside as well! Overall, this is the spot that I will be thinking of every single time I try a new matcha spot!

Ariel D.

12 Matcha was the most beautiful "almost." The ritual is immaculate. We joined the line of umbrellas outside, eventually placed our orders inside, then watched our assigned barista whisk the microfoam to perfection. MATCHA LATTE: 4/5. Earthy, and a touch too bitter in a way didn't feel balanced to me. The tea quality is high, but not as high as my go-to back home. MATCHA ICE CREAM: 3/5. Savory and gritty, which was a little confusing to me. But I recognize and own that I am a filthy non-purist. HOJICHA ICE CREAM: 4/5. Nutty, I do wish the flavor were deeper. HOJICHA BASQUE CHEESECAKE: 3/5. Tangy, very different than the ice cream. It split the group as a hit / miss. Not proud of it, but woman enough to admit it: I'm probably the problem. I feel like 12 Matcha is for people who have their life together. I am not those people.

Jerry H.

Pretty good tasting matcha. The workers give a healthy helping and put on a show when making your drink. The flavor was strong and not milky

Nhi T.

Went with a friend on a Sunday and luckily, the line wasn't too bad. Waited about 30 minutes to get into the cafe and once I walked in I understood the hype. The interior was super chic. I loved the simple and modern decor and the glass water tanks with what looked like branches in them. There was plenty of seating with tables on the first floor and the basement. The basement also had a tasting room which was cool to see. The service was fast and I liked how they paced their lines so that customers could have a good experience inside. They would let a small group of people in at a time and once you were inside the service was quick. We got two matcha lattes that were lightly sweet and a slice of the hojicha basque cheesecake. The matcha lattes were some of the best I've ever tried. They were the perfect level of sweetness and you can really taste and appreciate the quality of the matcha they use. (9.5/10) They also call your name up to whisk the matcha right in front of you before they pour it over the milk. My barista was super friendly and ready to answer any questions I had about the process. It was a pleasant experience, and they also serve your items to you on a nice tray and will even bring it directly to your table if needed. The hojicha basque cheesecake was also amazing. The cake was creamy, slightly sweet, and the hojicha flavor was strong. (9/10) I was really impressed by it because basque cheesecake is usually a hit or miss for me. I would highly recommend it and it paired well with our lattes. The service was super attentive, picking up empty cups and straw wrappers almost immediately. The prices are also very reasonable and much cheaper than I though it would be in New York. The quality of the lattes and the cheesecake really sells it for me and I will definitely be back when I am in the city!

Matcha latte
Miranda M.

I saw this spot online and had to stop by. I went a little after they opened and there were only 2 people in line. I like that there are only two drink options. Once your drink is about to be made, they call you up and you can watch them whisk and pour your drink. I found this nice to learn about process, but can see how this would elongate any lines when it gets busy. I ordered the matcha latte with almond milk for here. They have an option to lightly sweeten. The pricing is incredibly fair at only $7. The matcha was a deep green, a bit nutty, and well balanced with the milk. I'd be intrigued to try to the hot Americano matcha when the weather is cooler. I will definitely be back and highly recommend going early!

Emileen Y.

Late to review but tried this place out with a friend back in March when we were visiting from out of town. We had known there would probably be a wait but we decided to check it out anyway. The line didn't look too bad and we got in to wait around 3:30 pm. Tip: bring an umbrella for the sun (or rain)! We ended up waiting for about an hour which was more than we expected but at some point we decided to commit to the wait and it was worth it. You get to watch them make your drink and it was all made with intention and with high quality ingredients. The staff were so helpful and the interior was also beautiful. There's seating both upstairs and downstairs as well. I would definitely come back if I was ever in the area!

Jenn L.

12 Matcha is 100% worth the hype. I went on a Thursday and there was still a line, but it wasn't nearly as bad as what I've heard weekends are like. Definitely try to come during the week, but expect a wait either way. One thing I loved was that they gave umbrellas to people waiting in line since it was so hot outside. Such a thoughtful touch. And the matcha? Easily the best matcha I've ever had in my life. Smooth, rich, and incredibly high quality. I'll definitely be back whenever I visit nyc again!!

store front
Kelly L.

Definitely recommend coming early because there will be a line out the door. The menu was very short, but I got a Matcha latte with oat milk. The barista will call your name and you get to watch how they make the Matcha and experience the whole process. They also sell basque cheesecake and some pastries. I got extra sweetness for my latte and soo glad I did because the matcha taste is strong. If you don't like strong matcha taste, you probably wouldn't like this place but I enjoyed it very much!

matcha latte
Kurt T.

There was a line when I showed up on a hot summer day, but they were handing out umbrellas to people waiting outside, which was a genuinely thoughtful touch. Little things like that go a long way. Walking in, the water filtration system immediately catches your eye. It is front and center and it tells you right away that they take this seriously. They carry two matcha varieties for retail, but all the drinks are made with one of them, which makes sense when quality is the priority. I kept it simple and got a sweetened matcha latte. As someone who drinks a lot of matcha, I can say this is one of the best I have ever had. Rich, smooth, and well balanced. No grassy bitterness, nothing off. Just a really dialed in cup. The space itself is nice too. Some seating upstairs and a downstairs area as well. Worth the wait, worth the trip.

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1 year ago

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

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9 months ago

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4 months ago

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9 months ago

Delicious matcha & food. I also loved the service, being involved in the process. Small but mighty!

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1 year ago

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10 months ago

Hands-down amazing Matcha I can't say enough about this place. Don't sleep on the horjicha! It may be even better than the Matcha

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11 months ago

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1 year ago

It was decent. I don't think I would come back. It's better than average though. 12 matcha

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7 months ago

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Page 7 of 7

12 Matcha Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - 12 Matcha

Is the matcha gluten free?

Hi y'all! Is this place vegan friendly ? I heard they have oat milk. I'm curious about the ice cream and cheese cake also TIA?

Hi Jess, thank you for reaching out— yes, we provide oat and almond milk. You can also try the matcha americano with just water + our proprietary matcha blend. Our ice cream and cheesecake are not VF— we are working hard to expand our menu offerings… 

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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This gelateria I…read morecan't believe it took me so long to discover it. Located in New York, small quiet spot, you can't wait inside, it a take out thing, I don't care! Their gelato is delicious and so rich! I was so happy!

Tiny, clean desert place. No bathrooms for customers…read more Staff are accommodating. Don't be afraid to try to sample the gelatos. Sample them all until you choose the flavor you like. There are different types of cold treats: gelatos and more slushie like consistency frozen confections that are served in a cup. My vegan friend appreciated that he could choose from multiple vegan flavors, not just be limited to the one and only offering, which is what most places usually have. Melon flavor was incredible. Tasted like frozen melon was crushed with ice and chopped into an ice/smoothie blend. Super refreshing. Very sweet, though. All flavors are very sweet, so a small portion can be shared and you will feel satisfied. I personally enjoyed their in-house special flavor of gelato: honey cream with crushed almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts. That was bombastic! Love how nutty the consistency was. I love nuts, so this almost reminded me of a chunky peanut butter situation: just more fine grained and smooth, with gelato being the base. Highly recommend trying this flavor! Focacia was okay. A bit too dry and bland for my liking, but still decent. My favorite item was the pistachio bombolone which is officially now my favorite dessert. This was magnificent! The yeasty dough was so light and airy--perfectly light and balanced. The filling of pistachio cream was very delicate and not sweet at all, which was such a nice surprise. I do not like saccharine dessert. The fresh raspberry jam was a perfect balance to the pistachio cream. I never like jams in my desserts, but this was a perfect complement. Woooow, what a treat! Can't wait to return for it and to try more of their other flavors--hazelnut & chocolate, coconut, white chocolate, tiramisu. You could taste the superb quality of the ingredients. Highly recommend.

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Gelato Flavors
Gelato Flavors
Vegan/Non dairy options: Bergamotto (orange) and Fondente (dark chocolate)
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Sundaes and Cones

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4.3
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0.4 mi
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This ice cream shop has been around forever - 2000's maybe & is just slightly off the busy area of…read moreSt. Mark's but deserves the attention! Don't remember what I had the previous 20+ years I went there after a group dinner. This time I was influenced & specifically took a bus over for their corn ice cream. It's STILL the summer of corn. Prices are now average - good for a scoop $7.50 & the portion is good compared to other craft ice cream shops in LES. The corn flavor was good. Medium flavor with that corn sweetness. The quality of the ice cream was excellent, medium creamy & very smooth with the teeniest bit of corn blended. Sampled the hazelnut which was great also - like a thick gelato. Would like to try the lychee next time. They have probably 20 different flavors, displayed well. The staff is patient & very nice. The space is very big for a business in the East Village with mostly a waiting area. 4-5 seats are up front & they set up a few plastic chairs on the side. On a 90°F day, the shop was filled with customers & groups. A stantion at the door with directions for 2 lines would help manage things better.

I'm kind of obsessed with this place. Not every flavor is good but the flavors that are good are…read moreVERY good. I think they make one of the best ginger ice cream out there. There's a good bit of ginger flavor as there's even a bit of spice in the ice cream. In addition, they put a lot of candied ginger in as well so each bite you get to taste the flavors. Also, the portion sizes are significantly bigger than at other ice cream shops - I can get one scoop and not crave more ice cream which doesn't always happen as a self-proclaimed ice cream addict. Overall, I'm excited to try more flavors. They recently came out with corn which I think is so interesting!

Photos
Scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a cup with a cone. Ice cream freshness ftw
Scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a cup with a cone. Ice cream freshness ftw
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Exterior
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