Aspects of Asian culture have become popularized and trendy, cycling through society and social media every year. With K-pop music, anime shows and matcha lattes covering Instagram feeds and TikTok For You Pages, consumers are exposed to trying new things more than ever. Matcha lattes have especially taken hold of the internet through “performative males” and fascinations with Japanese culture (despite the drink originating from China).
With that being said, where should people go to enjoy these delicious, trendy drinks? I visited three popular spots around Columbus and here is my opinion on them.
Firstly, Enchantea, an intricately decorated cafe, sits in the center of Olentangy plaza in northern Upper Arlington. It is located at 809 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH and will give you an entirely different experience from any other cafe you will ever visit. The delicately decorated boba shop is covered in flowers, ambient lighting and walls lined with shelves of their high quality tea leaves. They also have a wall of decorative, but also incredibly informational descriptions of their most popular drinks which helps anyone new to the shop navigate their options conveniently.
I ordered their regular matcha latte with extra sugar and it came out to be $6.95 without any extra charges for the sweetness level. The open countertop set up provides transparent access to watching the satisfying beverage making process, and the latte was ready within minutes.
The latte was delicious and the perfect treat to sip on throughout the afternoon. The vibrant green color and earthy taste can speak to how high quality their matcha powder is. The medium sized drink is a wonderful, light latte that I will definitely be going back for when I am in the mood for a refreshing treat.
The only criticism that I have about it is that I personally prefer my matcha lattes on the sweeter side. However, even with the extra sweetener, it could have had more as the underlying grassiness and bitterness came through more than what I usually prefer. It tasted like how I would expect a regular latte with the standard amount of sugar to taste which was still delicious, however, I just expected more.
Enchantea also blends large amounts of matcha to emulsify the powder, making large batches of matcha concentrate at once. This varies from the traditional process which uses a chasen—the specialized whisk used to make matcha—to make individual lattes. Many cafes take this shortcut to save time, and overall, in my opinion, this makes no difference to the taste of the matcha while only taking the tradition out of the process.
Enchantea’s menu provides a very wide variety of matcha flavors, featuring fruity lattes like strawberry or white peach, and others like tiramisu and pistachio. Overall, this would be a great option for anyone that does not like things that are too sweet, but would love to explore with different flavors.
Looking across Columbus, just down the street from OSU campus, Matcha Me sits at 2348 N. High St., Columbus, OH. The charming little shop sits in a campus hotspot for college kids to stop in and grab a quick fun drink. The cafe is minimally decorated with white walls and a few potted plants spread around the quaint room. I stepped into the naturally lit space which was bustling on a Thursday afternoon and ordered their regular matcha latte with extra syrup to add sweetness. I opted for their larger size and the total came out to be $8.50 as they charged extra for the syrup and the upsize.
Unlike Enchantea, Matcha Me does whisk each individual serving of matcha with a bowl and chasen. As a result of this as well as the cafe’s long line, I waited for about 10-15 minutes for my drink. I did not mind as I was able to watch the barista whisk the matcha and pour it over the cup to make a very social media worthy sight.
The latte was good, but was not anything special. It was definitely a tasty drink and still a great option for a sweet treat, but it was less creamy and rich compared to the other latte I tried. The matcha was still delicious and a fresh bright green color, but taking into account the price of the drink, I believe the other latte is more worth it.
They have a smaller menu, but still work with some interesting flavors like lavender, white chocolate and lemonade matcha lattes which I may have to go back and try. Matcha Me is a great option if you would like to capture some aesthetically pleasing photos or videos or want to try matcha for the first time.
Lastly, just 10 minutes south of Matcha Me, Ravello’s Coffee sits in the heart of Italian Village at 883 1/2 N 4th St., Columbus, OH. The coffee shop is a complete switch from the minimalistic style of the previous cafe and exudes a down-to-earth and vintage vibe. There are tons of plants in the brick building with lots of natural lighting to match, and the interior is extremely decorated and colorful. There are also lots of seating options, and compared to the other two cafes, it is a perfect spot to study and work for consumers of all ages. They also have outside seating which was perfect for the Friday morning when I visited the packed cafe.
I ordered a matcha latte which actually comes unsweetened, but I still ordered it extra sweet with simple syrup. The total ended up being $6.00 without any extra charge for the syrup which was a very fair price for how delicious this latte was. Ravello’s is usually on the pricier end with their specially crafted, seasonal menu, but their regular matcha latte is a great price for the quality and taste.
Ravello’s also prefers to use a chasen and individually craft each beverage which I appreciate. The latte was ready after only a few minutes and was incredible. The latte had the creaminess and fullness that the Matcha Me latte was missing and the sweetness was just right. They only offer one size for their drinks, but I would definitely get a larger size if I could. The matcha was rich, and considering the price, and the authentic ambience of the establishment, I would highly recommend Ravello’s Coffee.
There are many more delicious matcha spots in Columbus, but if you are looking for an aesthetic cafe in northern Upper Arlington with trustworthy quality, Enchantea is for you. If you are near campus and need a quick and sweet pick-me-up, Matcha Me is my recommendation. Finally, if you are looking for a cafe with a flawless matcha experience with relaxing energy, I can only recommend Ravello’s Coffee. Either way, visiting any of these shops will be a great choice and allow you to follow trends while experiencing pieces of Asian culture.
