12 Matcha

We’ve visited twice before, but both times they were closed—so we still haven’t had the chance to try their Matcha. This time, we were lucky! The staff kindly let us in to check out the space. We came on their first-ever Monday opening, but unfortunately, a water leak prevented them from serving drinks. Even so, we could tell how dedicated they are to their craft. They use charcoal water to help reduce acidity, which is especially thoughtful since some Matcha can naturally lean more acidic. It’s a smart way to create a well-balanced, smooth cup. We didn’t get to try it this time either, but we’re definitely coming back. The space is beautiful, the team is kind, and the atmosphere is perfect for enjoying Matcha.

Work near by so I went to try this place. I had to wait in line for 20 minutes the first time. Nicely decor, I ordered the Matcha tea, 1 scoop of Matcha ice cream and one piece of the Matcha Basque Cheesecake. The Matcha ice cream was really good, ate it while I waited for my tea. The Tea what an artwork, and it was delicious. The Matcha Basque Cheesecake I ate it at work and it was really good, that after work I went to get another piece. my second time I ordered the Hojicha ice cream and it was refreshing. and bought two pieces of the cheesecake. I wonder if they sell an entire cheesecake. what an experience.

Was able to check out 12 matcha during their soft opening! Waited in line for a bit, but was absolutely worth it. I ordered a hot matcha latte and the basque cheesecake, both excellent! Matcha was well prepared and had a good balance of bitter, earthiness and slightly savory. I really enjoyed watching the matcha get made (very traditional preparation method) and appreciated the care the staff took into making each beverage. I do wish the cafe was a bit more transparent on the origins and quality of the matcha. The preparation was great, but knowing more about the matcha would better connect consumers to the beverage and experience. The cafe itself is very aesthetically pleasing and could easily spend an afternoon there reading. Check it out if you have some free time!

One of the most authentic and if not the best matcha place I have been to in the U.S. Here, drinks are crafted to order in traditional Japanese fashion - by treating them with respect and making it from scratch right in front of you. Don't let the queue discourage you from trying it - it's for the presentation aspect and definitely worth the line. The interior decor is also very aesthetic and well suited for a light hearted though not too lively chat with a friend, to catch up over things. I also very much enjoyed the cheesecake - it's an exquisite blend of matcha and cream cheese which is also worth trying.

A strong but smooth matcha — the taste is lovely and nuanced if you skip the sweetener and oat milk (Califia Farms). Unfortunately we had an incident that dampened the overall experience: our barista measured out the matcha ratio for a latte but then ended up pouring a fifth of it on the counter. For the wait (~45 on a weekday) and expected level of service, a replacement of the drink should have been offered but was not :’(

This may be the best matcha I have ever had. Not sure if the quality is actually the best, but the experience here made it the best. You start by placing your order and eventually when its your turn one of the baristas calls you over to the front as they prepare your drinks right in front of you. From whisking the matcha to finally pouring it over, this performance was stunning. The flavor also matched the performance as everything we tasted from the drinks, to the ice cream, to the basque cheesecake were absolutely perfect. Though the wait on weekends can be long, it was definitely one of the best matchas ever. I cannot understand why some people complain about the wait, when you are aware of what they offer. With this level of service the wait is inevitable.

An amazing IG find! 12 Matcha is THE spot for REAL matcha aficionado’s that love full, robust, rich taste of matcha. Their menu is simple yet everything they make is made to perfection! At 12 Matcha, they call your name for you to come up to the counter to watch your specific order being made. Watching the care and precision they put into each order creates a wonderful sensory experience. The ambiance is zen chic: the perfect setting to causally sip the perfect matcha!!

Incredibly busy spot, expect about 45-60 mins wait at peak time. However, the matcha is very good and I can see why there's hype for this spot. The space is beautiful (2 floors) and the atmosphere is quite serene inside despite there being a long line outside. Would recommend the iced matcha drink with oat milk and unsweetened. The cake wasn't too memorable to me, but the ice cream was, especially the hojia flavor. The service was excellent though. We were given umbrellas and cold water outside while waiting in the sun on a hot summer day, which was very considerate. Overall, really enjoyed the experience here.

I'm a huge matcha fan and honestly I have to say, the matcha is very delicious & strong. I got a matcha latte with oatmilk and on the less sweet side. It is mildly astringent but the matcha shines through without being too bitter. After you order, they call your name and have you watch them whisk & pour your matcha, so it's a nice experience. The service is very nice, we were waiting for 30-45 mins and they gave us umbrellas for shade. I don't think I'd wait that long again for it, but it is one of my fave matchas in the city!

A lovely location! A minimal design with natural wood. Very SoHo. The baristas will call over your name and you can watch them whisk the matcha. I like the matcha americano because it was light. You can also adjust the sweetener.

I waited about 30 minutes in line outside 12 Matcha, but they provided sun umbrellas which was very considerate. There's more seating downstairs and they offer complimentary water which I greatly appreciated. Overall, the experience was good! They make the matcha in front of you which is really cool to watch. Only thing is, I didn't love my drink. Even though it was sweetened, I barely tasted any sweetness. If you enjoy authentic and slightly bitter matcha, this place is for you. But personally and for sweet tooths, I would probably try somewhere else next time

Unfortunately, worth the wait and general irritation. If you are a matcha aficionado, this place may set the standard for you. As far as a matcha cafe in the US, I haven't had better. Even at opening, we wait about a half hour to get in to order (I don't wait for any BS in a line but this may be the exception). You understand why once you get in, the experience is slow, methodical and personal. Only a few matcha stations and each person makes it in front of you. The scent when that hot water hits the matcha powder as they begin to whisk..is euphoric to me. Just lovely. The best matcha latte you can get in NY period. The matcha ice cream as well as the basque cheesecake are sensational. One of my favorite places. Recommend.

Came on a weekday around 11am, and there was no wait! I ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk and all 3 flavors of ice cream. The matcha latte was good, but the star of the show was the ice cream! All 3 flavors were rich and creamy, I'd come back just for that.

Good matcha flavor. The matcha would be a 9/10 for me. My husband thought it tasted a bit watered down. The matcha basque cheesecake was packed with matcha and really good! Hojicha ice cream was creamy and tasted like Hojicha. However would not wait 1 hour in line for this.

I see why there is such a long wait outside. They let people go in groups, I waited 30 minutes. You order at the counter and they make your matcha right in front of you. That is the part that takes time and causes the wait. I ordered a matcha latte & 1 scoop of Hojicha ice cream. The matcha latte had vibrant green color and the earthy flavor. The Hojicha ice cream is delicious and comes in a pre cooled cup. I'm glad I tried out the experience, but I don't know that I would wait 30 minutes again.

Really high quality matcha! We came midday on a cold, rainy weekday and waited ~20 minutes. The small drink menu (either a matcha americano or latte) speaks to this shop's attention to detail. The drinks come unsweetened, which I personally prefer, but you should know to add sweetener if the astringent taste isn't for you. They also sell really large, fluffy croissants, a few other pastries, and ice cream. This place is definitely a full experience and therefore has a long wait, which can be annoying if you just want a good cup of matcha. After ordering, someone will call your name to have you watch them prepare your drink. They use a lot of matcha and whisk it *very* thoroughly, which makes the drinks very smooth and flavorful, but also majorly slows the line down. However, it's worth the stop if you're with friends or looking to kill some time.

Been missing a good vibey matcha spot that reminds me of Asia! was suuuper buzzed because they put a good amount of matcha in each drink -- thought the drink was amazing and lived up to the hype! Interior is cute and they have charging outlets. They def took lots of care in making the drinks. It's absolutely a bit of a wait -- but you don't feel rushed when you're seated! But high quality matcha for sure

First time waiting in line for matcha but it was well worth the wait -super cute interior (they do have a bathroom); love the matcha station set up where they make it in front of you I got the matcha americano and cheesecake: -matcha americano was just ok (bc it's mixed with water , it comes out a bit bland) -but the matcha cheesecake tho best I've ever had, mixed perfectly with good level of matcha and cheese - I tried their ice cream as well and they were some of the most flavorful matcha and hojicha ice cream I've ever had -highly recommend

Not sure if it's worth the almost 45 mins wait, but glad I tried it, not I can stop thinking about it. Service is top notch. They have a manager on floor to help you find a table or wipe tables down or bring you a glass of water. The one on one is special but one time is enough for me :) it's enjoyable but not sure if it's worth the wait.

I waited around 45 minutes in total for this place, and honestly didn't think it was really worth it. The line was actually a lot shorter than I thought it would be, but it still took a long time for them to make the drinks since they do each one in front of you. I got a matcha latte with oat milk, and also sampled some of the matcha ice cream. I will say the ice cream was really good - such a strong earthy matcha flavor and great texture. After ordering, they call you up by name and show you how they make the matcha. Despite being earlier in line, some others behind me were called up first which I was confused by. When I finally got my drink, it almost felt a little watery and flavorless - I expected more from such a pricey drink and unique experience. All in all, I definitely wouldn't wait again for this but I would still get the ice cream if there wasn't a line.

This may be the best matcha I have ever had. Not sure if the quality is actually the best, but the experience here made it the best. You start by placing your order and eventually when its your turn one of the baristas calls you over to the front as they prepare your drinks right in front of you. From whisking the matcha to finally pouring it over, this performance was stunning. The flavor also matched the performance as everything we tasted from the drinks, to the ice cream, to the basque cheesecake were absolutely perfect. Though the wait on weekends can be long, it was definitely one of the best matchas ever. I cannot understand why some people complain about the wait, when you are aware of what they offer. With this level of service the wait is inevitable.

30-60 min wait, but the matcha latte here is really good. Matcha cheesecake was good too, not sure if I'd get that again but would def come back for the latte

I went on a random Thursday afternoon and I waited in line for about 15 minutes. The setup of the counter was awkward. The register is the first thing you approach at the beginning of the line so you don't get a chance to see what desserts they have to offer before you order. I ordered the matcha latte and my friend ordered the matcha cheesecake. The matcha quality is spot on. It has that earthiness of matcha but it also had a natural sweetness of fresh green tea. Is it the best latte though...? The cheesecake had really strong matcha flavor which is great but it was over baked and dry for basque type cheesecake. I wish they would sell the matcha powder

The cheesecake alone is worth the wait (max 1 hour under ideal conditions haha). That being said the line is quite orderly and people enter in batches. You order and then wait for them to call you over so they can watch you make your drink. The matcha latte is really good and smooth without being too overpowering. The hojicha icecream is such a novelty and good as well! The cafe itself is beautiful - people do settle in with their laptops but def try to look for a seat. I'd def come back if it seemed like a 20 min wait or less since I live in the area but there's probably going to be a wait!

My friend took me here during our last trip to NY! There was a really long line and at first, I was like it better be worth the wait lol It was a little hot and the wait was about 30 minutes. They are really organized with the wait. After finally entering the building, I immediately understood why it was taking so long. You order at the register then you wait to be called to watch the employees make your drinks. They make each drink manually by hand, they use alkalized charcoal water, and they measure the matcha powder and water for consistency. At a glance, it seemed a little watery but the flavor was really good!

I'm here to tell you that even though it is beautiful, it is not worth the 40 minute line. Came on a Wednesday at 11am and waited a solid 40 minutes until it was my turn to order. Not complaining about that, because this is New York, but I was a little disappointed with the matcha!! The color is beautiful, no denying, but the matcha is a bit watered down. I mean it's good but not THAT good. I'm more content with the matcha I make at home, so for that I am definitely saving myself the trip. The interior of the place is nice, and certainly aesthetic, so I understand coming to try and see how serious they take their preparation. But I don't think it's a place to regularly come back to. My friend the hojicha ice cream though!

They make an excellent and authentic Matcha Latte here! Expect to wait regardless what day you come. I was here on a Wednesday early afternoon and thought it'd be a shorter wait on a weekday. It was shorter than a weekend, but I still waited 30 minutes before I finally ordered. I sampled their ice cream as well which is good! There's also lots of space to sit inside and a bathroom.

My favorite matcha spot in NYC so far. Place is always packed and you'll likely wait 30-45 min to get your fix. That being said, the experience is incredible. Each matcha is made to order, right in front of you and the venue is top notch too (stainless steel tables, great service, beautifully carved wooden tables and chairs, etc.). I'm pretty picky when it comes to waiting in lines and generally try to avoid the spots that are hyped, but would return for the experience and matcha. Ended up trying the matcha latte, americano, cheesecake, and ice cream. They were all hits. If you're willing to wait, you're in for a treat.

Food/drinks: Thought I was going to be disappointed, but omg it was too good. The foam and the amount of matcha was perfect Atmosphere: insane it's like a museum for matcha & there's 2 floors Service: very good, lots of people helping before you even get inside Price: normal for NYC

The queue to enter moves slowly as drinks are individually made to order. There are 3 employees working the counter preparing drinks. Staff will call out your name and invite you to the counter to observe your drink being made. Best way to avoid the long wait time is to arrive around opening. The matcha latte was fantastic, I would definitely come back for it. The hojicha ice cream had a gritty mouth feel at the end and I wasn't a fan. Their matcha basque cheesecake is delicious, great flavor and just the right amount of sweetness.

I'm lucky to work nearby because I get to snag the matcha whenever there isn't a huge line. Even before open, there is a line to get in. Because of the high demand, they have someone outside to monitor the line and make sure the queueing process is smooth and orderly. By the time you get into the shop, you are hit with the smell of, as my coworker described, the smell of Tokyo, Japan. It must mean 12 Matcha is authentic as it gets. After you order at the counter, you wait for one of the baristas to call your name and you can watch as they prepare your matcha in front of you. The experience is serene and many of the baristas are friendly and make conversation so you don't awkwardly stare at them for the whole 5-10 minute ordeal. Before writing this review, I've had multiple pastries and the matcha both sweetened and unsweetened so here are my takes. Even at 20g of sugar for the sweetened matcha, it doesn't taste that sweet and actually enhances the earthy/umami flavor of the matcha. While I love an unsweetened matcha on occasion, the sweetened matcha at 12 matcha is the move. Definitely get the basque cheesecake which is an umami bomb of a dessert. Skip the croissant because there are better ones in the area, but the financier (comes with two) is a nice treat if you're not in the mood for cheesecake. My coworker and I have already decided that our next move is to try their ice cream. And also, if you compare 12 Matcha to the other matcha options in the city, you're getting a real bang for your buck for the quality. Don't settle for matcha places that make you pay the extra dollar for oat milk, or matcha at coffee shops, wait the extra 15 minutes and try a matcha from 12 Matcha.

Damn, the wait was super long! Even on a weekday, I had to wait about 2 hours! The hype is still going strong. But I have to admit, it's quite good. When I inquired about the matcha, they did confirm that it's from a matcha farm from Uji, Japan (so you know it's the real good stuff). They also pride themselves in having found the best process for making a perfect drink. They use a specific Japan wood infused water which you can see inside. They also measure every gram of water to match powder ratio - almost have it down to a science. You can order an iced or hot matcha drink. You can also opt for an added sweetener, but honestly wasn't too strong in sweetness. The richness of the matcha powder was apparent, so it will appease the true matcha fans. The thing I was most surprised about was their ice cream. My friends and I decided to try their tri-flavor ice cream which comes with panna, hojicha & matcha flavors and I was truly impressed! Their ice cream itself is super creamy - unlike anything I've tasted before. On top of that, each flavor was so delicious. Most of all, I was super blown away by the hojicha flavor. It was super rich and had the perfect amount of sweetness. This is now become my favorite hojicha ice cream. If I had a tea or powdered form of this to make everyday, I would be a happy camper. I would totally recommend that you don't skip out on their ice cream (as well as trying their matcha drinks of course).

Worth the wait, absolutely amazing. Best matcha ever, so aesthetically pleasing to the eye and palate. You must try all of their ice cream flavors as they are that good. Wish they had a location in Miami. Loved the experience.

Wow- this spot is so stunningly gorgeous. The staff was so sweet and you get to see your matcha being made in front of you. You can tell they take their time to make this experience as best as possible. The matcha is sourced from farms in Japan and they tell you how they spent a lot of time trying to perfect the matcha based off water to milk ratio. They cracked the code! Everything is super dainty and special. I just wish there was a little bit larger of a size (or a bigger glass ) I just got the iced matcha with oat milk and then the madeleine cookies which were a fancy version of regular Madeline's. I do wish 3 came with your order instead of 2 because they are super small. I held myself back from getting the matcha cheesecake but I'll absolutely be back!

Months after 12 Matcha went viral on TikTok, the lines have finally started to dwindle. I went in on a Wednesday and the line was not too long. We waited about 25 minutes before we were finally able to get inside. I really like how tall the ceilings are here and how well the interior is decorated, the tall windows draped by the bamboo blinds, it's a mix of modern and traditional. We ordered the bisque cheesecake, a scoop of the Matcha ice cream, and two Matcha lattes. After we ordered, we went down the assembly line, until we stopped at the employee that would whisk our Matcha in front of us. He was painfully slow..I understand that each Matcha is meant to be made with intention, but it felt unnecessarily slow. We probably stood there for about seven minutes before our Matcha was finally done. As I stood there, I understood why we waited 25 minutes outside despite only having about 10 to 15 people in line in front of us. As we watched him whisk our Matcha I couldn't help but noticed my ice cubes melting and water pooling at the top of the milk... I was excited to finally get our Matcha, the food was served shortly after as it did not take much prep time for those to be served. We were able to find a seat, sit down, and finally enjoy our food. I thought the Matcha quality was pretty good. It was on the grassier side, less umami, and extremely fragrant. I do think that you can definitely achieve the same flavor with less Matcha powder so it kind of felt like a waste of matcha, especially with the amount of milk that they give you, it looks like they gave about 90ml when you can probably give about 200-250ml of milk for this amount of matcha, im assuming 6g, without diluting the flavor. I definitely don't think that you need this much matcha powder but I definitely understand the appeal. The ice cream lacked the matcha punch to it so I thought it was a bit underwhelming, but I really liked the ice cream in combination with the cheesecake. The cheesecake had an extremely strong cheesecake flavor, and the texture was kind of like a paste(?) when you let it melt in your mouth. Overall, everything was pretty good I just wish the service was faster. I definitely understand the experience that 12 Matcha is going for here, but I feel like it is very poorly executed. The employees work painfully slow, I can't help, but feel that the workflow here is extremely inefficient. When we ordered, there were two employees taking our order, but really it was just the one employee and the other just standing there. We noticed three employees at the ice and water stand, two of them just watching the third fill up cups with ice, them not doing anything themselves.. and another employee who seems to not know what to do with herself off to the corner. There are only three employees that are actually whisking the Matcha, which I feel like is the bulk of the work that needs to be done here. You can definitely reorganize the workflow to make things go faster for customers. TLDR; super cool interior, pretty good Matcha but probably don't need this much Matcha powder to achieve the flavor, very inefficient workflow, slow employees.

I got here 5 minutes before they opened on a Saturday during their soft opening and waited 40 minutes to get my drink. The line has been consistently around the block during their soft opening. They limit the number of people that can go inside at a time, which keeps the inside peaceful, despite the line outside. They use 6g of matcha! This is the most I've seen in a cafe in New York. They use alkalized charcoal water. Personally I think this is a bit much, as usual matcha lattes are probably closer to 3-4g and I think there was a bit too much caffeine for me. But the matcha flavor is great (smooth and creamy, no astringency) and the price can't be beat ($7 for a latte with oat milk). I'd come back if the wait was max 15 minutes, but I don't think I'd wait close to an hour again. There's ample space (two floors), wifi, and a bathroom downstairs, so I'll definitely be back when the lines are shorter :)

Matcha specialty shop with matcha, lattes and ice cream. Their matcha lattes can be made either sugarless or with sweetener, but even that option is well balanced. Their lattes are around $8, and use an impressive 6g of matcha in each drink. After ordering, you're able to go to your own stand and watch them make your drink for you. Recommend both their lattes and their ice cream. The line isn't long if you come when they open, and we had no trouble getting a seat once we received our drinks.

Genuinely probably one of the best matcha cafes in america. This is how matcha should be crafted and served. Staff was great. wait was a bit long but the experience was worth it. The ambiance felt like it was meticulously crafted. Each piece of decor and furniture specifically picked to culminate a warm modern and friendly feeling when spending time here. Try everything. it's all good. you won't be disappointed.

absolutely INCREDIBLE matcha!! as someone who has perfected making matcha at home, it's sooo hard to find a place i like with high quality matcha, just the right amount of sweetener, and worth it for how much you pay. This place easily checked all the boxes and is such a wonderful experience start to finish. Expect to wait in a line but it's so worth it. 6g of matcha per serving and it's literally the PERFECT amt of sweetener to bring out the matcha flavor and cancel out the bitterness. Not to mention the ice cream, cheesecake, and pain au chocolat are divine!!!!! 10/10 from me

I'm visiting NY and I am a matcha enthusiast. 12 Matcha is the best one I've tried out of all the places I've been to. Service/Ambiance: The service is friendly and relatively quick. The only thing is that it's blown up on social media so the wait time is insane. I would recommend coming on a weekday to beat the crowds. The interior of the shop is simple and minimalistic. The decor is tasteful with pops of green, I love it. There are 2 floors and if you're ordering more than a drink, someone will help you bring it to your seat. I'd snag a table by the windows. Drink Consensus: This is a solid matcha latte. I love the intensity of the matcha and the level of sweetness it has. The sugar is not overbearing and compliments the matcha well. I finished my drink in 2 seconds because it was that good. My foodie friend that I made in line also agreed that it was now in her top 2 of matchas in the city. Ice cream was a bit sweet for my taste but the intensity of the matcha was perfect. I didn't get the chance to try the cheesecake because it was sold out but I will be back for that. Overall, I'd highly recommend coming to 12 Matcha.

Matcha spot with attention to detail. The matcha is mixed in front of you! I got light sweetness and wish I had asked for more sugar, as the matcha was slightly bitter.

We came around 9:30 and didn't wait more than 15 minutes! Prices were super reasonable and there was a surprising amount of nice and vibey seating inside. The staff even brought us water to the downstairs area which really put the experience over the top. Matcha and cheesecake were yummy as expected Will definitely come again!

Came here on a visit to NY. My friend and I waited maybe 30 minutes at around 9am. I enjoyed the experience since they hand-whisk the matcha in front of you after you order. They mentioned they use 6g and noticed they also used charcoal-filtered water. It was a solid matcha with oat milk. I also enjoyed the ice cream! The matcha flavor was very strong and tasty, the Hojicha felt a little gritty but still had the toasty flavor, and the panna was my favorite with a nice thick, creamy and slightly salty flavor. The inside is beautiful and cozy. Luckily we got seats right next to the window and so it was a completely relaxing experience.

I went on a Wednesday around 9:20 AM and got my order and sat down around 10:08 AM. I ordered the Matcha Latte (sweetened it with honey) and ordered the ice cream (2 scoops: matcha and panna). For the QUALITY of their matcha, beautiful interior, and fancy apparatus, the PRICES at this place is unmatched. $7 for a latte and $8 for 2 scoops of icecream? I consider this cheap for Manhattan. Overall, this place lives up to the hype. It deserves 5 stars. The matcha was DELICIOUS and the icecream was top notch too. The vibe of the cafe is also beautiful and service was great. But would I wait over 1 hr in line? No.

Such a cool spot! Loved watching the employees make the matcha it almost felt like a performance. The color of the matcha was beautiful. I really wish they had agave though!

Amazing matcha lattes! We stopped by around 10:30AM on the Saturday morning before Memorial Day and only had to wait in line for 15 minutes or so. Really enjoyed being able to watch and talk to the employee making our lattes, and the light sweetness and the strong matcha flavor were perfectly balanced. I wouldn't wait much longer than we did, but I do recommend this as a stop for any matcha lovers in the area!

Amazing quality matcha beverages and hospitality here! :) we waited in line for about 90 minutes on a warm weekend afternoon, and the staff kept coming out with water and ice cream samples, thanking everyone for their patience. Once we entered, I noticed how classy and nice the interior was (double floors with stairs accessing the basement). We got to meet the owner who was so friendly and knowledgeable about matcha. The matcha latte itself, although expensive, tasted so smooth, clean, and had the perfect sweetness to it. They have other selections like ice cream and small pastries to try as well. Overall, highly recommend and would probably come back when there's no wait.

Still a 1 hour wait as of end of May.. Just realized there's a long queue because the drink making process is more of an experience for the customer, with each server attending to one customer/ group at a time. The space is rather large and the long queue gives time for the people inside to enjoy their drinks/ dessert. I got the matcha latte lightly sweetened (still too sweet), the 3 scoops of ice cream (panna is too light, but goes well if you pair it with matcha, not to be eaten alone). hojicha is very strong and rather nice, but only for a few bites. matcha is strong (but not bitter) and tastes good but it was TOO GRAINY. best thing here is the matcha cheesecake - everything was perfect. tasted even better with ice cream. while it was a nice experience, it's definitely not a place I'd queue up for again.

Heaven for matcha lovers! I took everything to go as it felt very packed inside. They have seating on 2 floors. I tried the croissant, chocolate croissant, matcha and hojicha ice cream, unsweetened hot matcha tea and matcha cheesecake. Matcha cheesecake is better and dense with matcha which I liked but other people might not. Matcha tea was really delicious and so was the ice cream. Everything is dense with matcha so if you don't fully love matcha, things might taste intense for you. I waited about an hour and I think that's roughly how long the wait is. If you love matcha, this is an awesome place to check out!

I went on a rainy Friday morning and there was about a 30 minute wait. I personally think that it's not worth waiting any longer. However, the matcha here is the best matcha I've had in NYC. It's interesting that you watch them make it for you. This cafe is very content creation friendly.

Been seeing this place on TikTok and finally got to try it. The wait was around 15-20 minutes and another 25 minutes to get our order. It was a hot day and they passed out water while we were on line. So was it worth the wait? We got the matcha lattes, matcha basque cheesecake, hojicha ice cream and financiers. The quality of the matcha was really good. Our favorite was definitely the cheesecake (5/5)! Would come back just for that and the matcha lattes. The hojicha ice cream and was also pretty good, very strong and nutty flavor. A great place to sit and chat with friends.

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

Soooo my friend waited in line while I got a matcha at Kettle around the corner. Genius play imo cause there wasn't a line at kettl. Anyways, 12 matcha was a whole experience. Inside is gorgeous has seating in main room and downstairs. The front has pastries in clear glass and very cool stations to see them make your matcha. Very much like what I experienced in Japan! Matcha quality is amazing, they use 6 grams!!! And two different temperature controlled waters! So cool, our barista was answering our questions too. 10/10 would recommend. Wasn't more than a 30 min wait. But line was longer when we left haha.

I've wanted to visit because I love matcha and have been seeing this place all over social media. Walked in on a Saturday afternoon and joined the line on a hot day. Waited about 45minutes lined up outside and then about 15 minutes inside for our beverages. The service is great, they provided us with nice umbrellas to protect us from the sun as we waited. One of the staff also came by with cups of cold water for those waiting in line. 5/5 stars for service! For the refreshments, it's a limited menu. I had just come from lunch so was full but just wanted to have a nice cold matcha drink. I opted for the matcha americano and my friend opted for matcha latte both iced. You order at the counter once you're inside and wait for the matcha barista to call your name. Ariana was our matcha barista, once they're ready, they call your name so you can watch your drink being made. She was knowledgeable and patient in answering all our questions and curiosities. I usually don't sweeten my drink but she suggested light sugar (about 15% sweetness) which was quite tasty. It was a unique and fun (not taking about the lines lol) experience to see the matcha making process happen right in front of you.

12 Matcha has been trending on social media for quite a while, so my friends and I decided to stop by and see what the hype was about. We went on a Tuesday morning and the line was not too long (some days, it wraps around the corner of the block but we waited for 15-20 minutes). The inside was absolutely gorgeous - an earthy minimal theme with lots of plants and plenty of seating gave the interior a calm, peaceful vibe. I'm not sure if there was wifi but I saw several people working with laptops out. The quality of this matcha was just... the best I've had in the city. It was so rich and earthy, and the iced matcha lattes were sweetened to perfection. The experience of being able to watch your drink being made in front of you and being able to converse with the barista, ask questions, and observe their technique made this whole visit so personable and unique. Even the croissant was delicious, and you would think that it would taste the same as every other chocolate croissant from any other cafe! You can truly taste the quality of the food and drinks served at 12 Matcha and it very easily is my new favorite matcha cafe in the city!

Really nice space. Matcha was ok. They said they use 6g of matcha. It's slightly better than most places in the states. Come for the experience

Saw this place all over social media and I was super excited to try it out! I waited around 30 minutes outside before getting in to order. Waited around 10 minutes to order. Got my drink 20 minutes later. The ambiance was really nice and unique. There was a lot of people inside but because the line was separated and people were let in slowly, it didn't feel overwhelming. Experience-wise, I thought it was super cool being able to see the matcha made in front of me. Although, it did feel very slow and slightly awkward just watching the barista whisk away. I appreciated the care that went into making it. I ordered the Matcha Latte for $7. Good price! When I took my first sip after mixing it though, I was so thrown off because it tasted slightly salty. It could be the type of matcha powder used that I'm just not used to but the drink itself was not enjoyable. After reading a couple of reviews here, it seems like there was the option to adjust sweetness. I didn't see any sweetener added to my drink and I wasn't asked if I wanted to adjust sweetness either. Perhaps if I added sweetener I would've enjoyed it more but I don't want to wait an hour to try it again.