Matcharia Cafe- 100% GF in Kalamazoo

Matchria in Kalamazoo, MI is like finding a gluten free unicorn. Everything at this Matcha cafe is 100% gluten free. That includes their amazing gluten free waffle. Learn more about this small business in this interview with the owner.

Who Owns Matcharia Cafe?

Yazmine and Tyler Root own Matcharia Cafe. They first opened their doors in December of 2024. It was previously called Matchacita, but underwent a name change in September of 2025.

What led you to open a dedicated gluten free Matcha cafe?

Yazmine Root always wanted to open a cafe. Kind of like the “open a cafe when I retire and live in a small apartment above it” type of dream. However she never really thought to do so in Kalamazoo. This is because the cafe industry is saturated in Kalamazoo.

A couple of years ago we went down to Arizona for a couple of months to help her sister as open a cafe in Arizona. Her sister had very little restaurant experience. However, Yazmine has TONS of cafe/restaurant/food industry related experience. Therefore, her sister asked Yazmine to come down to help start it up.

The Inspiration in Opening A Gluten Free Cafe

That was when we were introduced to Matcha AND gluten free baked goods. The amount of restaurants / cafes in the South West part of the United States that adheres to different allergies and/or lifestyles was intense.

We decided that if the opportunity came up we would bring it to the midwest. Tyler did some research and realized that in the Kalamazoo area there are no dedicated gluten free bakeries or restaurants. We wanted to change that.

What kind of foods are on your menu? What’s most popular?

We offer a variety of baked goods and smaller food options such as, toasts, chia pudding, waffles, etc. I would say that the most popular is the avocado toast and the waffle.

Is your menu also free from any other allergens?

On top of being dedicated gluten free we are also dedicated dairy free. We have no dairy products in the store. This allows us to be MOSTLY vegan.

Where do you source your matcha and tea from?

We get our matcha from a couple of farms in Japan. While we really would like to source it from one location the matcha business right now is a little volatile because of the increasing popularity in Western culture.

We source our matcha directly from two farms in Shizouka, Japan and from one farm in Uji, Japan. Yazmine has done a lot of research and testing of different farms and matcha types. The farms that we get them from offer a very similar flavor profile with a nice smooth umami flavor that is not too grassy nor earthy. They are great introductory matchas.

Do you partner with any MI businesses for your ingredients?

We work with a couple local farms for some of our ingredients. A lot of produce comes from Michigan farms. Our maple syrup and honey come from Jack and Jill Maple Hill farms located in Paw Paw, Michigan.

In addition, our microgreens come from local growers -Sandy and Brett in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We also sell Kalamazoo Coffee Co. ground coffee.

What kind of oil do you use for cooking and baking

For baking, we exclusively use coconut oil for baking. We never use butter (dairy) nor plant-based butter. There are a couple things that we use olive oil in also, but that is mostly for cooking and drizzling purposes, not baking.

Do you use gluten free wheat starch in your menu items?

No, we do not use wheat starch

What menu items contain oats/ oat flour? 

The chia pudding uses Purely Elizabeth Granola which contains oats and currently our banana bread uses oat flour. The baked goods rotate every so often so if there is an oat sensitivity always feel free to ask! Yazmine updates the employees on ingredients or keeps the recipe book by them in case there is ever a questions.

Do you have gluten free vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes! Unless noted, the baked goods will always be gluten-free & vegan. The toasts can be made vegan by simply switching out the bread. It is fairly easy for us to be gluten-free & vegan because we are already dairy-free. The only exception is eggs, honey, and the option of adding a protein to your toast.

Do you have patio seating? Are dogs allowed outside?

Yes, we have patio seating directly outside of our business, on the sidewalk. Friendly dogs are allowed to join you outside.

Do you offer any weekly deals?

No weekly deals. We try to keep our prices very competitive already. Sometimes we will offer a coupon, but for very specific situations.

Any tips for customers for parking at Matcharia?

There is some street side parking, which is also free before 10 am. Otherwise, there is a parking ramp (Epic Center Parking – 136 E. South Street) just a block away from us! It is free for the first 90 minutes! See This website for more Kalamazoo Parking locations.

What add’l things would you like my followers to know about your business?

We just want to say how much we appreciate all of our customers. 🙂

Places to Visit in Kalamazoo

If you’re visiting Matcharia, plan to stop at these other locations for a full day field trip. If you’re anything like me, stopping at a local health food store to find new gluten free items is always a plus!

• Air Zoo in Portage
• Kalamazoo Valley Museum (always free to visit!)
• Kalamazoo Growlers Baseball
• Sawall Health Foods (They sell Kind Crumbs Gluten Free Baked goods)
• This is a Bookstore & Bookbug (The Bookbug is strictly children’s books)

Other Gluten Free Dining Options In and Near Kalamazoo

f you have a sweet tooth like I do, you HAVE to stop at Kalamazoo Cookie Co. All cookies are 100% gluten free. If you’re looking for a gluten free dinner in Kalamazoo, check out my list of suggestions below.

• Anna’s House (separate prep space. Closes at 3 pm)
• Condado Tacos
• One Well Brewing (dedicated fryer) (found on Find Me GF)
• Principle Food and Drink (found on Find Me GF) (Right behind Matcharia)
• LFG Gaming Bar (dedicated fryer)
• Turbo Chicken (dedicated fryer, shared kitchen)
• Jersey Mike’s
• Mitts 2 Pitts in Battle Creek (dedicated fryer)

Matcharia Address, Hours and Contact Info

120 W South St

Kalamazoo, MI 49007

(269) 251-7343

Hours: Tues – Fri 7:30 – 4 pm / Sat & Sun 8 am – 3 pm CLOSED MON

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Macharia is one of many Michigan gluten free dining options I recommend on my blog. Looking for options in bigger cities? Check out my suggestions for Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. Plus, check out my Michigan gluten free baker list!

Originally Published Sept 2026