Matcha as a Ritual: Best in the Bay Area and Washington DC

If you're seeing this its time to switch from coffee to matcha. Your hormones will thank you.

I made the official decision to cut coffee out of my life about three years ago. I was spending way too much on lattes, my anxiety was out of control, and my hormones were dysregulated and confused. Coffee was my gateway drug—and though I was never consuming more than one to two cups a day—it became a ritual for me to buy or make coffee, and I found myself unable to live without it. At times, I was fiending for it, like I wouldn’t survive without it.

If this sounds like you, the easiest way to curb the coffee cravings and get back into alignment with the true rhythms and needs of your body is to make the tender switch from coffee to tea.

I’ll be posting more strategies and recipes I’ve used to replace coffee, but when I was first starting out, it was matcha and chai tea that truly saved me.

Instead of relying on coffee, I developed a relationship with the ritual and practice of making and consuming matcha. Matcha is definitely more mainstream now, but when I started this journey, people were super confused and often said matcha tasted more like grass than something that could ever replace coffee. I get it, but the relationship I developed with matcha was so much healthier than the one I had with coffee. It led me to a deep appreciation for high-quality matcha and the materials needed to create the perfect cup.

Why the Matcha Ritual Matters

Matcha didn’t just replace coffee for me—it became a ritual of reconnection. A pause. A moment of being with myself in the morning.
Where coffee once drove my nervous system into overdrive, matcha supported it. It offered steady energy without the crash, and with it came an invitation to listen more deeply to my body.

Now, I don’t reach for caffeine out of survival—I choose plants that support my system instead of overstimulating it. The chlorophyll, L-theanine, and antioxidant power of matcha is unmatched for creating that clear, alert, yet grounded feeling that’s perfect for mornings or midday alignment.

So without further ado, here are my favorite matcha places in the Bay Area and Washington, DC.

Bay Area:

Tadaima

Hands down the best matcha I have had in SF since moving there for the first time in 2021. This matcha is sourced from Japan and is ceremonial grade and is absolutely delicious. It is worth every pretty penny and is truly just such high quality matcha, it barely needs anything added to it. I order the iced matcha latte with almond milk and 1/4 sweetener and it is everything.

Third Culture Bakery

This was found towards the latter end of my California living due to its close proximity to my favorite breakfast spot in Berkeley, Standard Fare. If you don’t know, now you know. This spot is truly so authentic and is not only know for it’s amazing matcha, but also it’s mochi donuts. I am not a fan of donuts (too much sugar for my hormones), but the Matcha is AMAZING. I get the iced ceremonial latte with 1/4 honey. Sooo good.

Matcha Cafe Maiko

Now, this is the OG matcha place that started my addiction, and I have since had to curb it. It’s pretty good, and the matcha grade is super earthy and tasty. They are all around the city and on the East Coast, so Cafe Maiko is a very accessible first stop, and they are super consistent.

Washington DC

Baked and Wired/ A Baked Joint

I am absolutely obsessed with this place for all things baked goods and drinks. They have these insanely good, large cupcakes that are made so beautifully, but most people don’t actually know they have the best matcha in the city. It may be the milk they use, but every time I go to DC, I make it a priority to get this matcha iced or hot. They are both amazing.

Writing this guide made me want a Matcha, honestly. And I know I know, this isn’t my usual writing material. But, hopefully this serves you anyways :) In future posts, I’ll share more of my favorite coffee alternatives and recipes for herbal blends that support your adrenals, soothe anxiety, and help reset your hormones gently over time.