{"id":214404,"date":"2026-03-21T14:51:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T14:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/214404\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T14:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T14:51:10","slug":"houston-coffee-gems-matcha-lovers-this-ones-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/214404\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston coffee gems (Matcha lovers, this one\u2019s for you)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Houston, culture isn\u2019t just something you see or hear \u2014 it\u2019s something you taste. In this episode of \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/a>, host Chris Shepherd explores that through the city\u2019s coffee scene, where every shop tells a story far deeper than what\u2019s in your cup. From expertly dialed-in espresso to creations rooted in cultural heritage, Houston\u2019s coffee culture reflects the people and traditions that shape the city itself.<\/p>\n

Blacksmith: Where Craft Meets Community<\/p>\n

For Chris, the first stop in any discussion of Houston coffee is Blacksmith<\/a>. Tucked into Montrose, Blacksmith is a cornerstone of Houston\u2019s modern coffee movement. Led by one of the city\u2019s most respected baristas, David Buehrer, the shop blends technical precision with an approachable neighborhood vibe. It\u2019s the kind of place where regulars line up early, trusting that whatever lands in their cup has been dialed in to perfection.<\/p>\n

Blacksmith (Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

Blacksmith\u2019s competition cappuccino is a must \u2014 balanced, velvety, and a reflection of Buehrer\u2019s deep experience in the specialty coffee world. Pair it with one of their legendary biscuits, which gained early acclaim thanks to an original collab from Chris\u2019s Underbelly team. <\/p>\n

But what makes Blacksmith special isn\u2019t just the quality \u2014 it\u2019s the culture of curiosity and progress that flows through the space. Ask Buehrer where he goes when he\u2019s not at the shop, and you\u2019ll get a glimpse into Houston\u2019s next layer of coffee culture.<\/p>\n

Kohiko: A Lesson in Omotenashi in Sugar Land<\/p>\n

At Buehrer\u2019s recommendation, Chris heads to Kohiko<\/a> to learn more about matcha and Japanese-inspired coffee culture. The coffee and tea house in Sugar Land is run by siblings Nicolas and Krystal Tanaka. Walking into Kohiko feels different immediately \u2014 slower, intentional, and deeply personal.<\/p>\n

As Nicolas explains, the shop is rooted in omotenashi, the Japanese philosophy of wholehearted, selfless hospitality. Here, service isn\u2019t transactional\u2014it\u2019s thoughtful, almost intuitive. Every detail, from sourcing, presentation to flavor balance is designed to make guests feel cared for. Chris is no exception, as the team here embraces his curiosity and questions about matcha. <\/p>\n

Kohiko (Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

That philosophy extends into the menu. Each signature drink tells a story, often tied to the Tanaka family\u2019s heritage. The Moshi Moshi for example, draws inspiration from their grandmother\u2019s banana bread, translating nostalgia into a layered, comforting drink. The Okinawa latte highlights flavors common to the region \u2014 black sesame and brown sugar \u2014 resulting in something earthy, slightly sweet, and entirely transportive.<\/p>\n

At Kohiko, coffee becomes more than a beverage. It\u2019s a cultural bridge, connecting Houston to Japan through memory, flavor, and hospitality.<\/p>\n

J.A.M Viet Kitchen & Bar: Tradition in Every Sip<\/p>\n

Not every great coffee experience happens in a traditional coffee shop. A stop for Vietnamese street food leads Chris to a welcome discovery – egg coffee at J.A.M Viet Kitchen & Bar.<\/a> <\/p>\n

J.A.M Viet Kitchen & Bar (J.A.M Viet Kitchen & Bar)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a drink Chris learned to love during his time in Vietnam and discovering it in his hometown is a welcome surprise. Made by whipping egg yolks with sugar and layering it over strong Vietnamese coffee, the drink is rich, creamy, and almost dessert-like. It\u2019s a style that originated in Vietnam decades ago, born out of necessity and creativity, and it continues to carry that sense of ingenuity today.<\/p>\n

At J.A.M, the egg coffee isn\u2019t just authentic\u2014it\u2019s a reminder that something so familiar as coffee has evolved differently around the world, shaped by local ingredients and traditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cEat Like a Local with Chris Shepherd\u201d<\/a> is your guide to the best food in Houston. Watch new episodes Saturdays at 10 a.m. on KPRC 2.<\/p>\n

Season 3 of \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/p>\n

Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In Houston, culture isn\u2019t just something you see or hear \u2014 it\u2019s something you taste. In this episode…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":214405,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9044,3330,9043,49,56,58,57,354],"class_list":["post-214404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-chris-shepherd","tag-coffee","tag-eat-like-a-local","tag-food","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news","tag-restaurants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}