The Best Hojicha in San Francisco (2026, Ranked)
Nobody had ranked hojicha in San Francisco in one place, so I did. This is the running list of the best hojicha in the city, tasted one cup at a time and given a letter grade from S to F. Updated as I visit new spots.
For the current rankings with grades, neighborhoods, and review videos, see the full leaderboard.
How I rank hojicha
Every spot is judged on the same things:
- Roast: the toasty, nutty character. Too light and it tastes like nothing; too dark and it turns ashy.
- Balance: for lattes, the ratio of tea to milk. The hojicha should lead.
- Sweetness: I mark down anything that hides the tea behind syrup.
- Consistency: does it hold up across visits?
No spot pays to be here, and there are no sponsorships.
The current top spots
The ranked list lives on the homepage, so it’s always current. Check there for the top spot.
What counts as “hojicha” here
Three things, even though they share one leaderboard:
- Hojicha latte: the most common, and the easiest to get wrong.
- Straight hojicha: brewed tea, no milk. The purest test of leaf quality.
- Hojicha soft serve / desserts: a growing category in SF.
New to hojicha?
If you’re just getting into it, start with what hojicha actually is and how it differs from matcha. Then learn how to order it and work your way down the leaderboard.