Not every good cafe moment requires coffee. For the matcha drinkers, chai people, and anyone who just wants a proper cup of tea, Bay Ridge has more options than you might think. The neighborhood's cafe scene has been growing, and with it, the tea menus have gotten more serious.
The challenge with tea at most cafes is that it is an afterthought. A box of generic tea bags next to the coffee station, maybe a matcha that tastes more like sweetened milk than actual green tea. Finding a place that treats tea with the same care as espresso is rarer than it should be. In Bay Ridge, Pier 69 Market at 10 Bay Ridge Ave is one of the spots that gets it right.
Rishi Tea: What It Is and Why It Matters
Pier 69 Market serves Rishi Tea, a certified organic tea company based in Milwaukee that has been operating since 1997. Rishi is not a mass-market brand. They work through direct-trade relationships with tea gardens in Japan, China, India, and Sri Lanka, sourcing leaves that are processed traditionally and shipped with minimal delay.
According to Rishi's published sourcing documentation, their direct-trade model means they visit farms personally, negotiate directly with growers, and pay above-market prices for quality leaves. The result is tea that tastes noticeably different from the commodity-grade product most cafes serve. The Earl Grey Green has actual bergamot oil, not artificial flavoring. The Wild Thai Black carries genuine tropical notes from highland Thai tea gardens.
The difference between good tea and bad tea is the same as the difference between good coffee and bad coffee. Most people just have not tasted the good version yet.
The Tea Menu at Pier 69 Market
The Rishi tea selection at Pier 69 Market covers enough ground that both casual tea drinkers and serious enthusiasts will find something worth ordering. Here is what is available:
Hot Matcha Supreme
This is Rishi's flagship matcha preparation. The matcha is ceremonial-grade, meaning it comes from shade-grown Japanese green tea leaves that are stone-ground into a fine powder. When whisked with steamed milk, it produces a latte that is rich, slightly vegetal, and naturally sweet without added sugar.
The key difference between Rishi's matcha and the matcha you get at most chain cafes is the ingredient list. Rishi's is pure matcha powder. Many cafes use matcha mixes that contain sugar, milk powder, and artificial flavoring as the first three ingredients. At Pier 69 Market, the matcha is real.
Vanilla Chai Latte
Rishi's chai uses whole spices -- cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves -- steeped with black tea and vanilla. It is spicier and more complex than the syrup-based chai lattes that most coffee chains pour from a bottle. The vanilla rounds out the spice without making it sweet. Served hot with steamed milk, this is the drink for people who want something warming and aromatic.
Earl Grey Green
A blend of Chinese green tea with Italian bergamot citrus oil. Earl Grey is traditionally made with black tea, but the green tea version is lighter and more delicate. The bergamot is natural, not synthetic, which gives it a genuine citrus fragrance rather than the perfume-like quality of artificial bergamot.
Wild Thai Black
A single-origin black tea from highland tea gardens in northern Thailand. It has a smooth body with notes of malt and a subtle tropical sweetness. This is a good option for coffee drinkers who want something with similar depth and richness but without the caffeine intensity of espresso.
Chamomile Medley
For the caffeine-free option, Rishi's chamomile blend uses whole chamomile flowers rather than the dust-like chamomile in most tea bags. The result is a genuinely floral, calming cup. This is the evening choice, or the choice for anyone who wants to sit in the cafe with something soothing while their companion orders a cortado.
Matcha Versus Coffee: The Practical Differences
A growing number of people are switching from coffee to matcha, or at least alternating between them. The reasons are practical more than trendy. According to research published in the journal Nutrients, matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid that modulates the way caffeine is absorbed. The result is a steadier, longer-lasting energy without the sharp spike and crash that some people experience with coffee.
A standard matcha latte contains roughly 70 mg of caffeine compared to about 150 mg in a double espresso. For people who find coffee jittery but still need a morning lift, matcha sits in a useful middle ground. It also pairs well with food -- the vegetal flavor complements acai bowls and avocado toast in a way that coffee sometimes overwhelms.
That said, Pier 69 Market serves both La Colombe coffee and Rishi tea, so you do not have to choose a side. The same counter, the same quality standards, just different drinks.
When to Go
Pier 69 Market is open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 9 PM and weekends from 7 AM to 9 PM. Tea is available all day, but the matcha and chai lattes are especially popular in the morning and mid-afternoon. The cafe sits near the Bay Ridge waterfront, so a late-afternoon matcha paired with a walk along Shore Road or through Owl's Head Park is a particular kind of calm that this neighborhood does well.
For pickup orders, use GetSauce online ordering. For questions about the tea menu or catering tea service for events, call (718) 777-6969.
Good tea is worth finding. In Bay Ridge, you do not have to look far.
Try a Matcha Latte at Pier 69
Rishi ceremonial-grade matcha, chai lattes, and premium loose-leaf tea at 10 Bay Ridge Ave, Brooklyn.
