Location: 2400 14th St. NW

Readers’ pick: Rose Ave Bakery

Between the rows of produce in Columbia Heights’ Streets Market and Cafe is a vibrant coffee bar that’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. 

As you step into the market, you’ll see fresh fruit crates stacked high, frozen goods neatly lined up, grab-and-go sandwiches and vibrant bouquets of flowers lining the front wall. But when you finally make your way to the back corner, you’ll spot the small coffee bar quietly set apart from the market’s main bustle.

Little Hat Coffee is home to some of the District’s highest rated matcha across social media, crafted with care behind a sleek marble countertop adorned with four cozy wooden barstools. The café offers a variety of different green tea drinks to explore, ranging from an intriguing Oaxaca matcha to a bright and citrusy yuzu matcha lemonade.

I opted for the tried-and-true classic iced matcha latte with vanilla sweetener and whole milk ($7.15). The latte was a bit higher priced than I tend to opt for, so my expectations for the drink’s quality rose. I couldn’t help but marvel as the barista poured the vibrant green matcha powder into a shallow bowl, adding a splash of hot water before using a bamboo chasen to froth it into a velvety mixture. The traditional Japanese whisking process was mesmerizing, and it only made the anticipation of the first sip that much stronger.

The barista scooped ice into the cup, added milk and topped it off with the light, frothy matcha. The vibrant green foam settled on the creamy milk, creating a marbled effect before they mixed the drink together and handed it to me.

The initial burst of sweetness from the vanilla mingled with the rich, earthy matcha flavor, quenching my high expectations. The creaminess of the milk softened the intensity of the tea, while the vanilla added a pinch of warmth to the cold, refreshing drink. Each sip felt cool and smooth, with the ice adding an extra layer of chill, making it perfect for a warm, spring day. 

A good matcha must be slightly acrid but not too overpowering in order to wow myself, an amateur matcha connoisseur. I’m happy to report that Little Hat Coffee got the drink just right. For any matcha enthusiast — or anyone who’s looking to break from coffee — this is a go-to that’s unmatcha-ble.