Best matcha in Manila
Matcha in Manila has moved from a coffee-shop afterthought to its own category. The best cafés in Manila use ceremonial-grade matcha from named Japanese growers (Uji, Nishio, Kagoshima), whisk it properly with a chasen, and serve it in three formats: straight, iced latte, and hot latte. Roasters maps the cafés in Manila doing it right. Roasters currently counts 65 cafés in Manila, #1 in the Philippines.
Preparation matters as much as the powder. A properly made matcha is sifted (to avoid clumps), whisked with a chasen in a W-shape (not stirred), and served in a wide bowl or over ice with milk. The best matcha lattes in Manila balance the matcha with whole milk, oat, or barista-grade alternatives — never overpowered by sugar or syrup.
Manila among “Matcha” cities
Themed guides open once a city passes 30 specialty cafés; Manila clears that bar 2.2 times over.
62 cities with this guide list more specialty cafés than Manila, and 81 list fewer or the same.
Manila is the only city in the Philippines with a “Matcha” guide so far.
Manila accounts for 66% of the specialty cafés listed in the Philippines and ranks #8 among 251 cities in Asia.
Manila is covered by 8 themed guides in total; the others are WiFi & laptops, Brunch, Open late, Quiet cafés, Espresso, Filter coffee and Cold brew.
Find matcha cafés
in Manila.
All 65 cafés in Manila, on one map, with community reviews. Free on iOS and Android.
About matcha in Manila
What is ceremonial-grade matcha?
Ceremonial-grade matcha is the highest quality of matcha — made from first-harvest tea leaves, stone-ground into a vivid green powder, intended for traditional tea preparation. It's smoother, sweeter, and brighter than culinary-grade matcha, which is duller and meant for cooking and blending.
Which cities rank next to Manila for matcha?
Out of 144 cities with this guide, Brussels (65 cafés) ranks just above and Philadelphia, PA (63) just below.
Which other cities in the Philippines have a “Matcha” guide?
None yet: Manila is the only city in the Philippines with this guide.
How many specialty cafés does Roasters list in Manila?
65 cafés and roasters, which puts Manila at #63 of the 144 cities with a “Matcha” guide.
