𝐃 𝐗 𝐌 𝐈 𝐍 𝐈 𝐐

I live in the margins of a major city, a choice that now feels less like compromise and more like quiet preference. I’m old enough to admit that the glamor of being in the heart of it all, the clamor, the lights, the perpetual nearness of strangers, no longer holds much appeal. Even when I lived in the Philippines, my home was in the suburban stretches of Makati, where the hum of the city softened at the edges. Perhaps I’ve always gravitated toward liminal spaces, where urban life meets residential quiet, where a street can host a secondhand bookstore, a laundromat, a bakery, and a row of houses with bougainvillea creeping over their fences.

Now, I live on the outer reaches of San Francisco, in a borderland shaped more by rhythm than spectacle. The closest major city is Oakland, followed by Berkeley, each distinct in tempo and temperament. From where I stand, this region is a trove of small, remarkable coffee shops—unpolished gems tucked into corners of neighborhood streets. There is nothing grand here, but there is texture… cute texture.

And thanks to the high cost of living, I get to enjoy these little coffee runs for $6 a cup of matcha. I believe $6 is the standard now.

Tucked behind a buried row of shops in Berkeley, just at the edge of the mall’s waning foot traffic, is Artís Coffee. It is easy to miss, and that is part of its charm. There is something satisfying about its placement: a little removed, slightly hidden, as if reserved for those who are truly looking. The oat milk matcha latte is remarkably creamy, but not drowned in sweetness or foam. The matcha itself leads the way, vivid, vegetal, a touch bitter. Just the way I like it.

Deeper in the industrial quiet of a warehouse row is CoRo, the Cooperative Roastery. It is modest from the outside, nearly indistinguishable from the workspaces flanking it, but the outdoor seating is always full and the space buzzes with quiet purpose. Inside, you can glimpse the roaster in its production room, quietly working. They serve drinks in delicate, handmade cups from MK Ceramics in Denmark, small and beautiful vessels that elevate the experience. Their oat milk matcha latte strikes a rare balance. The matcha is present and grounded, the milkSomeone on TikTok once said that matcha lattes are for the unemployed. As someone currently unemployed, I find that oddly comforting. Drinking what is apparently the beverage of my people has actually come with unexpected benefits. I can focus better. I feel energized in a steady, sustainable way, which makes it great as a pre-workout and even better for studying. Unlike coffee, it doesn’t send me sprinting to the bathroom, and it doesn’t spike my anxiety. With matcha, I can sit still and think clearly. Honestly, if this is an “unemployed person drink,” then I’m happy to drink it. It’s working for me. a soft echo.

Masterpiece Coffee is hidden in what feels like a former apartment courtyard, now repurposed into an odd but endearing shared space with a kitschy little shop. It sits in a back alley, with only outdoor seating scattered along a narrow walkway. The day I went, all the seats were taken and we ended up slipping next door instead. Still, I lingered for a moment longer than necessary, tempted by the fact that they serve only oat milk. There is something principled about that. I love it.

Café Leila, by contrast, is broad and open. There is an abundance of seating, both indoors and out, and a tea menu that promises variety. They had, regrettably, run out of most of their teas by the time I arrived. Still, I ordered the oat milk matcha latte. It was on the milkier side, gentle, perhaps too gentle, but comforting nonetheless.

Someone on TikTok once said that matcha lattes are for the unemployed. As someone currently unemployed, I find that oddly comforting. Drinking what is apparently the beverage of my people has actually come with unexpected benefits. I can focus better. I feel energized in a steady, sustainable way, which makes it great as a pre-workout and even better for studying. Unlike coffee, it doesn’t send me sprinting to the bathroom, and it doesn’t give me bouts of anxiety. With matcha, I can sit still, think clearly… lock in!