Blank Street. Originated in Brooklyn, New York in 2020. It’s plastered across your social media platforms, praised for its creativity, efficiency, and rapid domination of an incredibly saturated marketcoffee and tea, keeping up New York’s reputation of the city that never sleeps. Due to its high tech espresso machines, Blank Street baristas can concoct a latte with the flick of a finger. From the springtime Daydream Matcha to its inventive Mike’s Hot Honey Latte, the genius behind Blank Street is the marketing itself. Take a treat with a complimentary strawberry shortcake upon first purchase of the incredible Strawberry Shortcake Latte. Further, with brand deals such as that with Kendall Jenner and Emma Chamberlain, who wouldn’t want to go to this amazing cafe?
Acquiring more than one million new customers in 2023, Blank Street markets itself as a fresh alternative to corporate machines like Starbucks or Dunkin. Despite popular opinion, my Blank Street experience fell painfully flat in comparison to expectations. Amidst the rampage of matcha themed drinks, the Daydream Matcha and White Chocolate Matcha were indistinguishable, both lacking the earthy, subtly sweet quality of a good matcha. The expected chocolatey goodness and rich texture fell short by miles. Frankly, it ran parallel to warm, soggy Cocoapuffs cereal milk. They really put the ‘Blank’ in Blank Street Coffee. And the price bordered upon $9, astronomical for the average beverage. So, when I saw the debut of the Strawberry Shortcake Matcha by Blank Street, I refused to try it. To save nine bucks in my piggybank, travel costs, and my tastebuds, I decided to recreate it. The Strawberry Shortcake Matcha copycat is a silky smooth matcha crafted with ceremonial matcha complemented by a strawberry milk base and topped with french vanilla syrup. Add freshly chopped and crushed strawberries or drink it as it is–either way the flavors will sing and dance on your tongue and leave you wanting to make it again and again! Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ceremonial grade matcha (for optimal taste) 2 tablespoons hot water (1:2 ratio) Strawberry milk (or strawberry milk powder) 1 tablespoon French Vanilla Syrup (Monin) Full Cup of Ice Fill a cup full of ice Wet a (preferably) wooden whisk with warm water and add the matcha to a ceramic bowl Add the hot water to the bowl, whisk the matcha and water together to reach a thick, blended consistency Add the matcha mixture to the cup of ice Fill the cup with strawberry milk Add the French vanilla syrup All done! A Strawberry Shortcake Matcha for half the cost and time!