9 hours ago
Are you a fan of Matcha? I may have found the best café for it in Colchester
Are you a fan of Matcha? I may have found the best café for it in Colchester
I'VE never understood the hype around matcha. There, I said it.
Every so often, I give it another try — convinced by glowing Instagram posts and gushing recommendations — only to be met with yet another overly bitter, grassy disappointment.
But scrolling past yet another story of someone sipping a bright green iced latte on a sunny terrace finally pushed me to make one last attempt.
This time, I headed to Ella's Ca Phe House on Sir Isaac's Walk — and I'm glad I did.
Ella's ca phe house (Image: Newsquest Reporter) A well-known Vietnamese café and restaurant in the heart of Colchester, Ella's has already earned a loyal following for its coffee — so I figured, if anyone can change my mind about matcha, it's them.
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I ordered their Strawberry Matcha Latte (£6.50) and, to my surprise, it was fantastic.
Strawberry matcha (Image: Newsquest Reporter) Light, creamy, not overly sweet, and without that overpowering grassy flavour I usually dread.
The strawberry and matcha actually complemented each other — a rare feat, in my experience.
While sipping on my very first enjoyable matcha, I scanned the menu and decided to try something more: their Pork Banh Mi (£9.50).
A traditional Vietnamese sandwich, it arrived crisp, fresh, and absolutely packed with flavour — tender pork, crunchy pickled veg, and a kick of spice nestled in a perfectly baked baguette.
Banh mi sandwich (Image: Newsquest Reporter) It was easily one of the best things I've eaten in town this month.
The venue itself is just as vibrant as the flavours.
The décor is colourful and full of personality, with a warm and welcoming vibe. The staff are lovely — friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they serve.
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The gorgeous interiors (Image: Newsquest Reporter) It's no wonder the place is always buzzing.
With summer here, I have no doubt Ella's will continue to be a go-to hotspot in Colchester.
From refreshing drinks to flavour-packed bites, it's a café that delivers — even for the matcha sceptics among us.
So if you, like me, have never been sold on the green stuff, give it one more go at Ella's. You might just be converted.
