TAAGLAA: Matte Black L.A.

STORY JAYDEN TRAN

PHOTOS MICHELLE SHADMON

In the scatter of work life embedded in Los Angeles, coffee shops are a staple to individuals throughout the city.To differentiate from one another, stores create specialties and develop a specific identity to their consumers. LA’s Matte Black embodies these efforts. The cafe opened their doors to a new month-long collaboration with the video game Persona 5 to celebrate the expansion of the game onto new platforms on October 21.

Persona 5 came out in 2016 after heavy anticipation from the gaming community, quickly garnering acclaim for its addressment of social issues while balancing an aspect of fictional storytelling. Tackling these nuanced perspectives led to a nomination for Game of the Year in 2017. A deluxe edition of the game with an array of new content was released in 2019.

The expansion of the game from console this year has led to an increase in publicity. This enhancement of platform availability and a rise in advertising has led to several events for the game, including the Matte Black LA pop-up store.

The announcement for the collaboration was released in early October following videos of the cafe’s newly designed exterior, bearing symbols and branding reminiscent of the video game.

Matte Black has become experienced in hosting events since opening in August of 2021. The cafe has hosted several pop-up stores at their brick and mortar, including a collaboration with Disney’s Mickey Mouse. The store typically hosts these collaborations seasonally, and this Fall highlights their partnership with Persona 5 and Atlus Entertainment.

The journey of Elsie, Michelle, Kahlen, and I began with a begrudgingly early morning. In order to truly experience the rush of early morning coffee, we agreed to meetup at 10:00 a.m at the South Pasadena metro station. Despite several late arrivals, we were able to board the metro after twenty minutes of Elsie waiting. Though, as Kahlen’s excuse, they had stepped in a pile of dog poop on the way there.

We exited the gold line metro as we let go of the standing bars. The four of us got lost on our way to the red line as we rushed through Union Station. I felt like a mother duck leading their ducklings as I led our group towards the red line entrance. After the journey through the train and a mile long walk from the Pershing Square station, we finally arrived at the doors of Matte Black. Painted bright red with black accents mimicking the game, the cafe stood out in comparison to the smoke shop and burger joint that surrounded it.

We walked into the coffee store, awed by the pop-art reminiscent visuals. The black dotted wallpaper clashed the print-outs of the game characters and the signature catchphrase of the game: “Take your heart!” Though the decor was eccentric, the ambiance of the cafe was welcoming and engaging. The owner and a few baristas worked behind the bar as customers chatted with one another.

Of Matte Black’s vast menu, we ordered a combined total of four drinks: the white chocolate lavender cold brew, french toast latte, matcha strawberry, and the P5 Royal latte. The first three drinks were staples on the menu of Matte Black, and the last was one of the two special collaboration releases at the cafe.

Kahlen’s white chocolate lavender cold brew was sharp yet sweet, with a hint of flowery aromatics. The coffee was not very strong and was concealed by the flavoring, something I personally enjoyed.

The french toast latte Michelle ordered was creamy with a subdued taste. The cinnamon, which was sprinkled on the top of the drink, added an additional dimension of flavor. This slightly spicy taste contrasted the sweetness from the sugar to help create a more balanced latte.

Elsie’s matcha strawberry latte was unlike any I have had before. The strawberry puree was smooth and sweet, with a tart aftertaste from the authentic matcha. It was reassuring to watch the baristas hand grind the matcha from behind the bar after having seen Elsie spend $7 for a drink typically made with cheaper matcha at your everyday coffee shop.

Lastly, my P5 Royal specialty latte had an unexpected yet enjoyable flavor profile. Created with apples and beets, the drink was bright red to match the branding and style of the video game with a strong, fruity palate.

Enjoying the environment inside, the four of us revitalized ourselves after a tiring week through the coffee and the time we shared. We soon learned it was the opening day for the collaboration event when the owner began handing out free macarons for the customers of the store and thanking us for attending. We quickly ate the chocolate-flavored gifts together with gratitude to the owner.

As we walked out of the cafe, drinks in hand, we shared our plans to come back to Matte Black in the near future. Excited to visit again for another collaboration event, the four of us agreed that the time we shared at Matte Black was a well deserved break in the middle of timed writes and college applications.