Kijitora may have popped up right at the ideal time as the city’s matcha obsession rose, contributing to its success. But Kijitora is not about the hype. There are countless cafes around Brooklyn that power the population with iced matcha lattes, but Kijitora serves good matcha, the kind that is whisked to order and up to snuff for even the most discerning tea snobs. And even though many flock here for the low hanging fruit (read: iced strawberry matcha and mango matchas), the quality is clear in every menu item. The “regular” coffee on the menu is a pourover. If you ask for milk, it is steamed first. Their take on an espresso spritz is a cold brew tonic with pear. And they do a slow drip mizudashi cold brew that does indeed taste better than regular cold brew.

The original location of the cafe is tucked away on a relatively quiet block of North 6th Street, connected to Coat of Arms, a mens clothing boutique that feels straight out of Tokyo. Small and mostly for takeaway, there’s plenty to look at while you wait, with cute cat-themed merch and art along the walls. The second location actually took over what was formerly a sister cafe to As You Like, also a Japanese cafe. With a slightly larger footprint, this location has some seating and offers more food items (baked goods, onigiris, and a grilled cheese sandwich).