Matcha Lab takes the single-subject café to its logical extreme: no espresso machine, no drip, just green tea in all its forms. Located on Saint-Dominique near McGill, the space is sharp-edged and minimal, more lab bench than lounge. The drinks—ranging from banana milk matcha to tart omija—shift between Korean and Japanese influences, while the pastry case leans deep into the theme: matcha donuts, matcha milk bread, matcha pudding, matcha cookies. If it can take tea powder, they’ve probably tried it.

Some kinks in the opening week reminded customers that even tea has a learning curve (a broken thermometer threw off the brew), but the response was transparent and immediate: fix it, own it, and offer free drinks while you’re at it. For those obsessed with the ritual—or just curious what else matcha can be—this place doesn’t dabble. It commits.