--- title: "Blue Bottle Coffee: Coffee Roaster with Uji Matcha" description: "Blue Bottle Coffee partners with Rishouen Teahouse for first-harvest Uji matcha, traditionally shade-grown and stone-milled." image: "https://best-matcha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blue-Bottle-Coffee-Logo.svg" --- # Blue Bottle Coffee: Coffee Roaster with Uji Matcha > Blue Bottle Coffee partners with Rishouen Teahouse for first-harvest Uji matcha, traditionally shade-grown and stone-milled. Source: https://best-matcha.com/shop/blue-bottle-coffee Created: 2025-06-19T02:16:28+00:00 Modified: 2026-08-05T13:41:58+00:00 Author: Emilie Schol **Blue Bottle Coffee** brings the same meticulous attention to detail that built their specialty coffee reputation to the world of matcha. Founded in early 2000s Oakland by clarinetist-turned-coffee-pioneer James Freeman, the brand’s commitment to freshness and quality extends beyond their signature 48-hour roasting standard into every product they offer. ### First-Harvest Excellence from Uji, Japan **Blue Bottle’s Craft Matcha** sources exclusively from the first harvest in Uji, Japan—the historic heartland of premium Japanese tea cultivation. This *ceremonial-grade matcha* represents the youngest, most tender leaves from shade-grown tencha plants, carefully stone-milled to protect against heat degradation. The result delivers vibrant color, smooth texture, and balanced flavor that matcha enthusiasts recognize immediately. The brand’s sourcing team works directly with producers in Uji to ensure authenticity and consistency. Each tin contains powder that showcases the region’s distinctive terroir—notes that range from naturally sweet to subtly umami, without bitterness or astringency. ### Quality You Can Taste and Trust What sets **Blue Bottle Coffee** apart in the matcha marketplace is their uncompromising approach to preservation. The stone-milling process maintains the delicate compounds that give matcha its *signature bright green hue* and nutritional profile. Whether whisked into traditional tea, blended into lattes, or incorporated into culinary creations, this matcha performs consistently. The brand offers flexible subscription options—up to six tins per delivery with customizable frequency and free shipping—ensuring matcha lovers never run low on their essential ingredient. ### From Coffee Experts to Matcha Specialists Blue Bottle’s transition into matcha reflects their broader understanding of craft beverages. The same principles that guide their coffee selection apply here: - Direct relationships with growers who quality standards - Transparent sourcing from renowned production regions - Careful handling that preserves flavor and freshness - Education-focused approach that helps customers appreciate what they’re drinking Available both online and in their cafes across the United States and Japan, *Blue Bottle Craft Matcha* serves customers who value origin stories as much as taste profiles. For those exploring matcha options or seeking a reliable ceremonial-grade powder, Blue Bottle offers the credibility of an established specialty beverage company combined with authentic Japanese tea tradition. --- ## Site identity - Organization: Best Matcha (Emilie Schol) - Description: Best Matcha is a specialized marketplace and educational platform for comparing Japanese matcha brands, products, grades, prices, and preparation guidance. It connects tea enthusiasts with producers and provides source-conscious guides for making informed choices. - Website: https://best-matcha.com ```json [{"@type":"WebPage","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com#website"},"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US","datePublished":"2025-06-19T02:16:28+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-05T13:41:58+00:00","primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Blue-Bottle-Coffee-Logo.svg","width":251,"height":300,"caption":"Logo of the matcha brand Blue Bottle Coffee"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee#brand"},"hasPart":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What makes Blue Bottle Coffee's Craft Matcha different from other ceremonial grade matchas?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Blue Bottle Coffee's Craft Matcha is sourced exclusively through their partnership with Rishouen teahouse in Uji, Kyoto, led by second-generation tea master Koji Kagata. The matcha uses the specialized Tana Oishitaen production method, where tea plants are shaded with a one-layer vinyl cover supported by aluminum poles at 2 meters height for precise light control.\nThis ceremonial grade matcha is stone-milled from first flush tencha leaves and meets the standards for traditional Japanese chanoyu (tea ceremony). The result is a distinctly verdant, smooth, and vibrant flavor profile with enhanced umami from the meticulous shading process."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who is Koji Kagata and why does Blue Bottle Coffee partner with Rishouen?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Koji Kagata is the second-generation tea master who leads Rishouen teahouse, Blue Bottle Coffee's exclusive matcha partner. His tea knowledge spans five generations, inherited from his great-great-grandfather who was a tea farmer in Uji.\nBlue Bottle Coffee chose Rishouen because:\n\nLocated in Uji, Kyoto - the birthplace of Japanese tea\nSpecializes in selecting the finest tencha from Uji's best fields\nUses traditional stone-milling techniques\nMaintains the authentic standards required for chanoyu ceremony\n\nThis partnership ensures Blue Bottle's Craft Matcha meets their exacting quality standards while honoring traditional Japanese tea craftsmanship."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does Nestl\u00e9's ownership of Blue Bottle Coffee affect their Craft Matcha quality?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Since Nestl\u00e9 acquired a 68% stake in Blue Bottle Coffee for $425 million in 2017, the company has maintained its partnership with Rishouen and commitment to traditional matcha production methods. The Craft Matcha continues to use the same ceremonial-grade tencha leaves, stone-milling process, and Tana Oishitaen shading technique.\nWhile some specialty coffee purists expressed concerns about corporate ownership, Blue Bottle has preserved its core matcha sourcing practices and quality standards. The Nestl\u00e9 acquisition primarily enabled broader distribution and scaling of operations rather than changing the fundamental production approach for their premium matcha offerings."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the Tana Oishitaen method used for Blue Bottle Coffee's matcha production?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Tana Oishitaen method is the specialized shading technique Rishouen uses exclusively for Blue Bottle Coffee's Craft Matcha. This process involves draping tea plants with a one-layer vinyl cover on aluminum pole shelves positioned 2 meters above ground.\nThis precise elevation and covering system allows for:\n\nControlled light filtration - not complete darkness\nEnhanced chlorophyll production for vibrant green color\nIncreased L-theanine levels for umami richness\nOptimal sweetness development in the leaves\n\nThe method represents a modern innovation on traditional kabuse (shading) techniques, ensuring Blue Bottle's matcha achieves its signature verdant, smooth, and vibrant flavor profile."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I get Blue Bottle Coffee's Craft Matcha in their cafes or only online?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"You can experience Blue Bottle Coffee's Craft Matcha both ways. In their 78+ cafes across the US (primarily in California), you can order prepared matcha drinks including their seasonal Lavender Yuzu Matcha Latte and traditional Matcha Latte made with their ceremonial-grade powder.\nFor home preparation, the Craft Matcha powder is available for purchase online and in select cafe locations. This allows you to experience the same Uji-sourced, stone-milled matcha that Rishouen produces specifically for Blue Bottle's exacting standards, whether you prefer the convenience of a professionally prepared drink or the ritual of traditional matcha preparation at home."}}],"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee#webpage"},{"@type":"Brand","name":"Blue Bottle Coffee","slogan":"Oakland-born third-wave coffee pioneer with ceremonial matcha","description":"Blue Bottle Coffee partners with Rishouen Teahouse for first-harvest Uji matcha, traditionally shade-grown and stone-milled.","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Blue-Bottle-Coffee-Logo.svg","width":251,"height":300,"caption":"Logo of the matcha brand Blue Bottle Coffee"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Blue-Bottle-Coffee-Logo.svg","width":251,"height":300,"caption":"Logo of the matcha brand Blue Bottle Coffee"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/bluebottlecoffee.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bluebottlecoffee","https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/bluebottleroast","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bluebottle","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCyki4e6RG84BT_xzi4oYkRw","https:\/\/www.trustpilot.com\/review\/bluebottlecoffee.com","https:\/\/bluebottlecoffee.myshopify.com","https:\/\/blue-bottle-kr-prod.myshopify.com","https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps?cid=2779044588760623817"],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee#webpage"},"subjectOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee#products"},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":3.07,"ratingCount":15,"worstRating":"1","bestRating":"5"},"@id":"https:\/\/best-matcha.com\/shop\/blue-bottle-coffee#brand"}] ```