The Meticulous 12 Matcha

One day after class, I decided to give myself a sweet treat and finally try 12 Matcha after living across the street from it for three months. For the entire semester, I had seen long lines wrap around the corner, sometimes even when it was pouring rain outside.This was my chance to finally figure out what all the hype was about. 

Courtesy of Alessa Alluin

It was 10:45 a.m. when I first got in line. It wasn’t too cold, and it wasn’t rainy, so it was a moderately long line. There was a woman at the top of the stairs who was in charge of regulating the people who went in, like a bouncer for a club or a ride operator at a theme park. Eventually, she led me into 12 Matcha after about seven minutes. 

At 12 Matcha, they have a one-size-fits-all cup that resembles most other cafes’ medium cups. Though that does not mean their drinks are all the same price. Depending on what you order, a latte will cost less than seven dollars, excluding tax, which is not much more than other local cafes. In addition to matcha beverages, 12 Matcha serves ice cream, Basque cheesecake, and limited pastry options, although their menu may have changed.

Courtesy of Alessa Alluin

When you place the order for your matcha, you get a specific person to make your matcha for you. They have individual stations, and I talked with my matcha maker about how they are able to prepare matcha. He informed me that the matcha makers at 12 Matcha must spend two weeks of training where they learn the best methods for preparing matcha. Their stations also have big water tanks with big branches inside them that may look a little freaky, but they have a purpose. The water tanks hold room temperature water to declump the matcha, because if the water temperature is too hot, it burns the matcha powder. The purpose of the branches, I am still unaware of. This explanation given to me by my matcha maker made the experience more personal. 12 Matcha is not a grab-and-go type of place, it’s somewhere you dedicate time to enjoy. 

Courtesy of Alessa Alluin

After careful consideration, I ended up ordering a classic matcha latte and the matcha Basque cheesecake. I had been wanting to try a Basque cheesecake since it started gaining popularity on my food feed online. I took my items to go, since I was sick, but they have sit-down options as well, with a nice space to sit for people to enjoy their food and/or drink, study, or chit-chat with friends. It has nice lighting and looks like something straight out of Architectural Digest. There’s also a downstairs space and a tasting room that I swear I’ve seen in some celebrity’s kitchen when they get interviewed by Vogue with its neat surfaces and minimalist style.

Courtesy of Alessa Alluin

The matcha latte was just a regular matcha latte, it was good, a solid 7/10, but I cannot say it was anything exceptional. It did taste earthier than other matcha I’ve tried, which may be some people’s forte, but it certainly isn’t mine. The matcha Basque cheesecake had a similar earthy taste to it and was not very sweet. That might be how Basque cheesecakes are supposed to be made, or maybe I just have a sweet tooth; either way, it was without that sugary flavor I usually love. Overall, it was pretty good, but I felt like 12 Matcha was more of a place to experience rather than a cafe you make your go-to. Having people make your matcha right in front of you felt more like a hibachi grill. It was the kind of place where you don’t care as much how the food tastes, you’re there for the show.