Kettl Tea - Greenpoint — Restaurant in New York

Kettl has truly earned its place as a pioneer in bringing high-quality Japanese green tea to the U.S. As someone who’s been passionate about matcha and sencha for years, I genuinely appreciate the effort they’ve put into not only sourcing premium teas like matcha, sencha, and gyokuro, but also in educating the American public on the depth and nuance of these traditions. I’ve taken two classes at their Brooklyn location—one on matcha, one on green tea—and both were absolutely excellent. A huge shoutout to their tea educator, Armando, who is an exceptional teacher. He has a rare ability to break down complex information in a way that’s both accessible and inspiring—an absolute gem in the world of specialty tea.

That said, I do have a few critiques. First, the price point of many of their teas and teaware is staggeringly high. While I respect the quality, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow at $500 matcha bowls or $1,000 tea ware. It risks alienating a broader community of tea lovers and gives the space a somewhat exclusive, almost snobbish air. Beautiful craftsmanship shouldn’t come at the cost of accessibility.

Second, the café experience itself is a bit lacking. The seating is limited and not particularly inviting, and there’s minimal room for drink customization. I completely understand the purist approach when it comes to showcasing the tea, but once it becomes a latte, there should be an option to add a touch of sweetness—honey, maple syrup, anything—to make it more approachable for a wider audience.

Lastly, and this is minor, but during the class we were served a cookie that was noticeably underbaked and tasted more like raw dough than a finished treat. A small detail, but worth mentioning.

All in all, I respect Kettl tremendously for what it represents in the tea world. With a few tweaks in accessibility and hospitality, it could truly be an even more welcoming bridge between Japan’s tea culture and American...

I live around the corner from here and have gone in a few times. there are ALWAYS dogs laying around the shop while their owners sit and drink tea, especially on the weekends. so i brought in my dog on a slow weekday and ordered a tea to stay. my dog sat down on the floor next to me. the two baristas who took my order saw my dog with me, when i placed the order to stay, and said nothing. about 10 minutes later, the small woman, with glasses, working there brought my tea in a ceramic mug to the table for me and said nothing. about 15 minutes later, the small woman with glasses told me to leave because my dog was with me. WHY the entire staff there waited 25 minutes before saying anything to me, WHY the staff let me order to stay and tip with drinking in-house in mind, and WHY i have NEVER seen any other patron in the establishment be asked to leave because of the presence of their dog is beyond me. I have no problem tying my dog up outside to go into an establishment and order something to-go. I DO, however, have a problem being spoken and conspired about by the staff for over 25 minutes before someone finally decides to discriminate against a brown customer before being asked to leave. either dogs are or are not allowed in this establishment. There is no in between. If I ever see a dog in that establishment in the future, be sure to know that I will make a scene and ensure that every other customer is treated in the same way that I was - tiny Pomeranian in a monogrammed louis vioutton bag or not . Get your rules straight and put a sign up. STOP DISCRIMINATING...

Stylish Japanese café with a strong tea and latte game.

A friend of mine swore this is his favorite Japanese café in the city, so I came by on a weekday morning to see for myself. The dining space had warm wood décor and a calm vibe that seemed perfect for reading or working, but at 9:30 a.m., the space was surprisingly empty.

Anyways, for matcha they offered three varieties, and while they recommended that I try hot to taste the real difference, I opted to have it as an iced matcha latte. After a short discussion with the barista, I went with soy milk in Shirakawa Matcha latte to bring out the umami/salty notes, and it was a good call. Started a bit grassy, but once it settled, it was rich, round, and savory—just as described.

I also got the Sobacha latte and the Hojicha late and both were great. Really liked that they didn’t rely on sugar or honey to smooth out the bitterness. The hojicha, made with pistachio milk, was nutty, mellow, and full-bodied despite having zero sweetness. Sobacha latte was the most monotonic of the three, but exactly what I needed on a 100°F day. Light, nutty, and mild—very reminiscent of quinoa shake that I used to love in Korea, but with a more roasted finish.

Weekday food options were limited to pound cakes and cookies. The sake azuki pound cake, served cold, was soft with just enough sweetness to pair well with the drinks. The matcha...