The Ultimate Matcha Hunt: Finding the Best Iced Matcha in Newbury
Ever since discovering matcha, it has become a daily necessity for me. I have developed a strong and long-lasting obsession that has taken me to many different matcha spots in my attempt to find the best one!
Being home for the summer has given me the perfect opportunity to trial the local high street and see what it has to offer — and, most importantly, whether I can truly find the best matcha on the local market.
Now, there is a very specific criteria I look for when it comes to my matcha. One of the most obvious, and first, signs of a good matcha is the colour. We don't want any pale green matcha over here! I'm looking for a beautiful, dark green colour with a little bit of froth on top.
As a student, I'm also always going to be aware of the price. Whilst we all know matcha is definitely on the more expensive side of caffeine, there is a line between a reasonable price and a not-so-reasonable one.
As a lover of non-dairy milk in my matcha, I also pay close attention to the range of milks available. My favourites are oat and coconut, but I love being able to switch things up and try something different from time to time. Extra points are definitely awarded when there is no additional charge for changing your milk, because some of those little price increases can be astronomical!
I love a plain matcha, but sometimes I'm in the mood to switch things up, so I also love looking out for cafés serving more inventive flavours. However, I do have a few gripes when it comes to flavoured matchas. My biggest issue is when they're either far too sweet or when the flavour completely overpowers the matcha. I want the flavour to come through, but I also want that strong matcha hit — because why would I order a matcha if I can't actually taste the matcha?
I have the same gripe with a watery matcha. There is honestly nothing I hate more than a watered-down matcha!
So, with all of that in mind, I've been making my way around Newbury to put some of the local cafés to the test...
Milk & Bean
When I was back in Newbury for the summer, with my matcha obsession going strong, this was one of the first places I tried.
Milk & Bean serves hand-whisked matcha, with a choice between homemade blueberry and strawberry syrups, as well as rotating seasonal flavours. So, if you're after a fun and slightly different matcha, this is definitely one to check out!
🫐 Iced Blueberry Matcha
Their flavoured iced matchas are £4.00, with an extra 30p for a change of milk. A plain matcha is £3.80, which is 20p more than the hot option.
When I originally visited Milk & Bean, I ordered an iced blueberry matcha and was really impressed. The balance between the matcha and blueberry was spot on, without one completely overpowering the other. I also really liked the colour and consistency — it had that lovely dark green colour I'm looking for, rather than looking watered down.
🍌 Iced Banana Bread Matcha
On my most recent visit, I decided to try their iced banana bread matcha. This was the same price, but unfortunately came in a noticeably smaller cup than my original matcha. I also found the banana flavour slightly overwhelming compared with the matcha, which meant I didn't get quite the strong matcha hit I was looking for.
Overall, I think Milk & Bean is reasonably priced for a small independent café, particularly based on the size of the original matcha I tried. However, with the newer, smaller sizes, I think the price starts to creep towards being slightly expensive.
My rating: 7/10 🍵
A really good option if you're looking for a fun flavoured matcha, and the blueberry one is definitely one I'd happily have again!
Mio Fiore
The vibes in this café, whilst it's small, are immaculate. The staff are really lovely, and they have a long list of alternative syrups to try, as well as seasonal specials, which makes it a really fun spot if you're looking to switch up your usual matcha order.
I've tried both a raspberry matcha — a flavour I feel like you don't see very often — and a plain matcha from here. They're also earning bonus points from me for the hand-whisked matchas!
However, considering the price, you are definitely paying for these additions. A plain iced matcha is £4.25, with an additional 50p for alternative milks and another 50p for syrups. So, whilst there are plenty of options to customise your drink, the price can quickly add up.
Overall, this is definitely a spot I'd choose if I'm looking for good vibes, lovely staff and fun flavours. It's perhaps not the cheapest option on the list, but the range of flavours and hand-whisked matcha make it a fun place to visit.
My rating: 7.5/10 🍵
Brew Blood
Whilst this option is smaller and offers less variety when it comes to flavours, it definitely makes up for it with the flavour of the matcha itself. The matcha is really light and smooth without being too bitter, making it a great option if you prefer a more mellow matcha.
Coming in at around £4.30, it's also one of the more affordable options I've tried, making it an ideal spot for a more regular matcha run without breaking the bank!
They also offer some really unique seasonal specials, which is a nice bonus and allows you to try something a little different when you fancy it.
My rating: 8/10 🍵- Great vibes, affordability and a lovely smooth matcha!
Rufus's independent coffee house
I was shocked when I found out that Rufus's offered a matcha, so of course I had to give it a go! However, the result was a little underwhelming. At £4.60 for a plain matcha with alternative milk, I found it a little overpriced. The colour didn’t bode particularly well for the result, which, although hand-whisked, was slightly watery and quite weak. I’d be intrigued to give it another go, but I wouldn’t be racing back for my matcha fix!
My rating: 5/10 🍵
Gails
GAIL’s starts our venture into the chain coffee shop options on the high street. Now, as a notoriously overpriced option, its matcha is on the more expensive side, with my plum iced matcha costing £5.50. However, I do love that they offer soya milk as a free alternative option, and it definitely put me onto it as a great milk choice for matcha!
Whilst they offer a regular matcha with the option of either agave syrup or muscovado sugar as a sweetener, I always opt for their seasonal special — the plum iced matcha. This is one thing I really love about GAIL’s: the uniqueness of their seasonal specials, as well as the strength of their matcha compared to some other mainstream coffee shop options!
My rating: 7.5/10 🍵
Also, as a very fussy person when it comes to cups, they get extra points for theirs! The straw doesn’t get stuck, go damp or end up breaking as some other options do!
Cornish Bakery
Sadly, this was a classic case of a weak matcha with an overpowering sweetness. The matcha itself didn't have the strong flavour I'm looking for, and unfortunately, the sweetness took over rather than complementing it.
The drink was also on the smaller side, especially considering the higher price point of around £4.00. The colour was a little too pale for my liking, too — definitely not hitting my dark green matcha criteria!
They do have a small selection of syrups available if you're looking to switch things up, as well as an additional cold foam that can be added to your drink. This is something I don't see offered at many other places, so I definitely think it's a fun addition for anyone who likes a more indulgent matcha.
My rating: 5/10 🍵
Marks and Spencers
This has surprisingly become one of my favourite spots to pick up a matcha! Using PerfectTed matcha and fruit purées for flavour, I feel like they strike the perfect balance between sweetness and flavour without losing that strong matcha taste I’m looking for.
Their matchas range from £3.80–£4.00, with no extra charge for alternative milks, which is a huge bonus in my books! Syrups add 50p, and they also have some really fun seasonal flavours to choose from.
My favourite so far has definitely been the iced mango matcha. The mango flavour comes through without completely overpowering the matcha, making it exactly the kind of flavoured matcha I love.
For the price, flavour and variety, this has definitely become one of my go-to spots — and one I wasn't expecting to rate so highly!
My rating: 8/10 🍵
Costa
Many of my first matchas since coming home were from Costa, largely thanks to my slight obsession with their cherry and coconut iced matcha!
However, as I've got more into matcha and started trying lots of different options, I've found this to be a really weak matcha with an overly sweet flavour profile. The flavour options are also fairly basic compared with some of the other spots I've tried, so there isn't quite as much to get excited about.
With prices ranging from around £4.00–£5.00, I think there are definitely some much better options out there if you're looking for a proper matcha fix.
My rating: 4.5/ 10 🍵
Pret
Last but not least, we have Pret!
Now, for a mainstream coffee shop, I was actually really surprised by the strength of their matcha. The dark green colour definitely caught my attention straight away, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the matcha balanced with the flavour.
When I visited, I went for the blueberry matcha, which pleasantly surprised me! The blueberry flavour came through without completely overpowering the matcha, and I still got that strong matcha hit I’m always looking for.
At £4.95 for a flavoured matcha with an alternative milk included, I actually think this is a pretty reasonable price.
For a mainstream coffee chain, Pret has definitely exceeded my expectations and would be a solid option if you're looking for a convenient matcha that still packs a decent punch!
My rating: 7/10 🍵
So a little bit of a different post from me, let me know if you found it useful and if theirs anywhere I have missed or need to retry. Keep up with my Instagram @rubysgfkitchen to stay up to date with me!
Ruby x
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