Sawada Matcha

PSA: Sawada has a second location, IN THE LOOP!

It’s true and I literally went the first week it opened. Here’s how it went down; I was scrolling mindlessly through Instagram when I saw that Sawada posted a photo of a green espresso machine, the caption “Our New shop, Sawada Matcha, is now open” 226 W Kinzie! I died right then and there, fairy certain if you were anywhere near me you would have heard a yelp of joy! Even though we are in the midst of moving this coming week and weekend I already set aside time on Sunday morning to make a trip. I told Danny he had to clear his calendar as well, there was no way I would allow for him to miss.

This was not a hard sell, since they serve his favorite donuts and he, possibly by force, has become just as much a coffee addict and snob as me these days. I love it <3 We are two espresso beans in a  bag.

SUNDAY MORNING – we woke early, most thanks to Duncan and his little pee pee dance, walked him, loaded the car full of boxes and things to take to the new apartment and hit the road. Of course Sawada first, cont expect anyone to work with no driving force! Sawada’s new location is right across the street from the Merchandise Mart, technically speaking in River North. Around the corner actually from Doughnut Vault! (another PSA for those that are coffee and donut fans). 

I have to say this part of River North is so interesting and odd, is Kinzie to me and a cut road, used for commerters mostly to cut form the Loop/ River North out to the highways, but now all these restaurants and apartment high rises are starting to populate the area and its becoming more populated. Though literally anywhere you go in the Loop on a Sunday will always be dead. Maybe a few tourists will be out but the Loop just dies on the weekend so we were able to snag parking right out front of Sawada Matcha no problem.

It’s literally just a small store front with coffee and some seating and a counter along the window. Not the place to go if your looking to hangout for a while. Perfect for the Loop area though because it’s meant for people to run in, grab coffee and be on their way. Luckily this is exactly what we were looking to do this morning too.

Before getting to Sawada Matcha I pretty much knew what I was getting, I love their Military latte which is basically matcha tea with steamed milk and a double espresso shot poured over that, but this location had another interesting option called the Black Camo! Curve ball! Naturally we had to inquire what this new beverage was all about and what went into it. The very friendly barista explained that it was like the military latte except that it was houbichi tea with steamed milk and a double shot of espresso poured over it.

In asking what houbichi tea is he explained it as more earthy and chocolate tasting. My first thought was to laugh a little only cause it was hard for me to imagine earthy flavors mixed with chocolate. We ordered one black camo and one military latte in order to do a taste test! DUH 

Is there a coffee shop that can beat Sawada on latte art and presentation? I seriously think not, look at how beautiful these are! Ahh wishing I still had it in my hard right now. Yum.

After doing a side by side sip of both lattes I can totally reason with the earthy chocolate description of the camo latte, you taste the earthy flavor from the tea and the rich espresso flavor is what brings in the chocolate aftertaste, I think it was absolutely wonderful and I actually liked it more than the military latte. The military latte in direct comparison is much milkier and a creamy flavor, the espresso is more covered by the strength of the matcha tea. Danny finished the military latte while knocked back the camo latta. They were both so delicious! I would go out of my way to commute past this coffee shop during the week for a pick me up latte. 

After the delicious coffee stop we ran to the new apartment to drop off everything we had loaded into the car before heading home to regroup on our moving efforts. I by this time finished the camo latte and was truly contemplating going back for more! It’s that good.  

Once home though I had to do my houbichi tea research and get a better understanding of what this amazing tea is! So basically in a nutshell houbichi tea is a green tea that is harvested in Japan and roasted over charcoal, giving it that dark camo appearance when compared to matcha green tea. But the huge difference, during the roasting process the tea leaf loses caffeine strength and is much lower in caffeine levels than matcha or even just a plain green tea. So this could have been why after drinking one I  felt I still had it in me to drink another. Not enough caffeine for this fanatic!

A perfect for a commute drop in since the space is so small you might very well get claustrophobic trying to hangout inside, I don’t wonder how busy it does get and if it attacks lines like the doughnut vault around the corner? I’ll need to investigate on a week day for fun and post back for you all!

65 thoughts on “Sawada Matcha”

  1. I am in fact happy to glance at this weblog posts which consists of lots of useful information, thanks
    for providing these information.

  2. Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clarity on your publish is simply excellent and that i
    can assume you are knowledgeable in this subject. Fine together with your permission allow me
    to take hold of your RSS feed to stay up to date with approaching post.
    Thank you a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.

  3. I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for wonderful information I was looking for this information for my mission.

  4. Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
    In any case I’ll be subscribing on your rss feed and I’m hoping
    you write again very soon!

  5. I’m now not certain the place you are getting your info, however great topic.
    I must spend a while studying much more or working out more.
    Thank you for wonderful info I was searching for this information for
    my mission.

  6. Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot.
    I’m hoping to give one thing back and aid others such as you aided me.

  7. What i don’t understood is if truth be told how you are not really much more smartly-liked
    than you might be now. You’re so intelligent. You understand
    thus considerably in terms of this matter, produced
    me personally consider it from a lot of numerous angles.
    Its like women and men don’t seem to be interested until
    it is something to do with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent.
    Always deal with it up!

  8. Good day! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You
    have done a extraordinary job!

  9. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger,
    and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice procedures and we are looking to trade solutions with others, please shoot me an email if
    interested.

  10. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your
    point. You obviously know what youre talking about,
    why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be
    giving us something enlightening to read?

  11. Usually I don’t read article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to take a
    look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite
    nice post.

  12. Nice blog right here! Additionally your web site quite a bit up very fast!
    What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink on your host?
    I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  13. I was recommended this web site through my cousin. I’m not positive whether this post is written by way of him
    as no one else know such exact about my trouble. You’re
    incredible! Thanks!

  14. Having read this I believed it was very enlightening.
    I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this informative article together.

    I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading
    and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

  15. Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out
    your website on my iphone during lunch break.
    I really like the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my phone
    .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good
    site!

  16. I do consider all the ideas you’ve presented to your
    post. They are really convincing and can certainly work.

    Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for novices.

    Could you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time?
    Thanks for the post.

  17. Hello there! This post could not be written any better! Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate!

    He continually kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this article to him.
    Fairly certain he’s going to have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!

  18. Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your site and
    take the feeds additionally? I am happy to search out
    so many useful info here within the publish, we’d like work out more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing.
    . . . . .

  19. Can I simply say what a comfort to uncover a person that truly knows what they’re
    talking about on the net. You certainly understand how
    to bring a problem to light and make it important. More people have to check this
    out and understand this side of your story. I was
    surprised you’re not more popular since you most certainly possess
    the gift.

  20. Greate pieces. Keep writing such kind of information on your blog.
    Im really impressed by it.
    Hi there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends.
    I am sure they will be benefited from this site.

  21. I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this information for my mission.

  22. Hey, I think your site might be having browser compatibility
    issues. When I look at your blog in Opera, it looks fine
    but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other
    then that, amazing blog!

  23. I do not even know how I ended up right here, however I
    thought this publish was good. I do not know who you’re but definitely you are going to
    a famous blogger for those who are not already. Cheers!

  24. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked
    submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr…

    well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say superb blog!

  25. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you
    happen to be a great author. I will make certain to bookmark your blog
    and will often come back at some point. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great
    writing, have a nice evening!

  26. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you’re
    a great author. I will make sure to bookmark your
    blog and will come back someday. I want to encourage one to continue your great posts, have a nice weekend!

  27. I do not even know how I stopped up right here, but I thought this
    submit used to be great. I don’t recognise who you’re however certainly you’re going to a
    famous blogger for those who aren’t already. Cheers!

  28. whoah this weblog is magnificent i really like studying your articles.
    Keep up the great work! You realize, lots of individuals
    are hunting round for this info, you can aid them
    greatly.

  29. Hi, i believe that i saw you visited my website thus i got here to go back the
    favor?.I am attempting to in finding things to improve my
    website!I guess its adequate to make use of a few of your ideas!!

  30. Thanks for some other informative website. The place else could I am getting that kind of info written in such a perfect means?
    I have a project that I am just now running on, and I’ve been at the look out
    for such information.

  31. I’ll right away snatch your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service.
    Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me understand so
    that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  32. Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
    I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
    Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.

  33. Hello would you mind letting me know which
    hosting company you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different
    browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a
    honest price? Thank you, I appreciate it!

  34. I’ve been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles
    or blog posts on this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last
    stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i’m happy
    to exhibit that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed.
    I such a lot undoubtedly will make certain to do not put out of your mind this site and give
    it a look regularly.

  35. Having read this I thought it was extremely informative.
    I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put thus content together.
    I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and leavng comments.
    But so what, it was still worth it!

    Feel free to visit my homepage; TheIndianTimes

  36. Pingback: 1grimace

Coffee feedback