If you asked me what my favorite drink is, I would tell you a matcha latte, hands down. I’m not a coffee drinker so if I’m ever at a cafe, I’m ordering a matcha latte 90% of the time. The other 10% of the time I’m ordering a chai latte. One day I texted my husband from work and told him I think I’m addicted to matcha lattes. His response: “At least it’s not crack!”

What is Matcha?

Matcha originated in Japan and is a powdered green tea. It is grown in the shade which increases its chlorophyll content, giving it a bright green color. Conversely, standard issue green tea is grown in the sun and allowed to oxidize. Instead of powder, it comes in the form of dried tea leaves.

Since matcha is ground from the whole tea leaf, it contains more nutrients than regular green tea. This includes vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and caffeine. Matcha can be used to make hot drinks, iced drinks, smoothies, and baked goods. My personal favorite is the matcha latte, of course, followed by matcha ice cream. Mmmmm.

With typical tea, you steep it; that is, you let the tea leaves sit in water for a designated period of time to extract the flavor, before removing the leaves and enjoying the cuppa. With matcha, there is no steeping; instead, you whisk it in hot water.

You can order a matcha latte at most local coffee shops. They taste really good but they are often sweetened and pricey. Sometimes I don’t want to pay $6 for a hot drink, or I simply don’t want to leave my house on a cozy weekend morning. Since I’m a bit of a tea fanatic and put together an at-home cafe space, I often make matcha lattes at home.

How to Make a Matcha Latte

In Japan they have tea ceremonies to prepare and present matcha. During these ceremonies, they use traditional vessels and tools to prepare and consume the tea. It is not necessary to use these products to make your own matcha drink, but it adds to the authenticity. No ceremony required. I purchased my tea and most equipment from companies who source straight from the makers in Japan.

Supplies Needed

• Matcha Powder – I buy mine from Kettl in Brooklyn, who sources the tea directly from growers and producers in Japan. The Hukuju Matcha is perfect for lattes as it is strong enough to not be overpowered by the milk. At the time of publishing, it’s $0.55 per gram ($2.20/serving) and comes in minimum 100g, so if you are new to matcha, you might want to buy a less expensive/smaller option to give it a go first. Even the more expensive one is still less than what you’d pay at a cafe per serving!
• Matcha Whisk (Chasen) – Even if you don’t want to get the rest of the “traditional” equipment, I can’t recommend a matcha whisk enough. You can get a reasonably priced one from Amazon that even comes with a scoop (chashaku). If you feel like splurging, you can get one that is handmade in Japan without the use of machines or chemicals.
• Scoop (Chashaku) – No matter what, you’re going to need to measure out matcha powder for your drink. Using a chashaku is traditional, but not necessary. This is often sold in matcha starter sets or, like the chasen, can be purchased from artisans who make them by hand from locally grown bamboo in their Japanese village.
• Matcha Bowl (Chawan) – I used to prepare my matcha in large cups, but it’s so much better in a chawan! There are so many beautifully-designed chawans that are made in Japan and reflect ancient pottery traditions. Again, if you’re just starting out, you can always start with a less expensive chawan from Amazon.
• Sifter – While the matcha comes in powdered form, you want to make sure to sift it and remove any clumps. Sifting it properly makes a huge difference to the overall result. Each sip is smooth through the end.
• Milk of Your Choice – According to the National Library of Medicine, using dairy milk can alter the nutrient content of tea, and since I don’t want to do that, I always order it or make it with non-dairy milk, either almond or oat. Be sure not to use overly sweet or flavored options. If you are not concerned about the nutrient content, using the dairy milk of your choice is also a viable option.
• Milk Frother/Steamer – You can make matcha without milk, but if you are making a latte, you’ll want to steam or froth the milk a little bit. I use this hand-frother from Bodum which works really well. Even though I use almond milk which is not known for frothing well, since I have manual control over it, it froths sufficiently for my needs (it doesn’t need to be too frothy for this anyway).
• Kitchen Scale – Handy to have to accurately measure out your matcha powder, water, and milk. I use this simple one that allows me to measure in oz, grams, mL, etc.
• Measuring Cup – For ensuring you have the accurate amount of water and milk for your recipe.
• Electric Kettle – If you want your water temperature to be precise, I highly recommend using an electric kettle that allows you to select the desired temperature. These are great because they will also keep your water at that temperature, often for about 30 minutes, so you can heat it and forget it while you prepare your matcha. It is more efficient than a traditional stove-stop kettle so I’m all about it!

Detailed Steps

1. Measure Out the Matcha Powder – Many matcha powders have latte directions on them, so I would recommend following the package directions in terms of the matcha:water:milk ratio. Depending on how you like it, you can modify from there (maybe more matcha to water if it’s not a strong enough matcha powder). For the matcha I use, the recipe calls for 4 grams of matcha powder.

2. Sift the Matcha – Pour your measured matcha into the sifter over the bowl/chawan. You can either rub a chashaku back and forth over the matcha or gently tap the sifter on the bowl to sift it. While you are sifting, heat your water to about 175 degrees F.

3. Whisk in Hot Water – Once your matcha is fully sifted, pour a small amount of hot water into the bowl and whisk vigorously until a light foam forms on the top. Be sure to whisk in a zig zag pattern, making light contact with the bottom of the bowl. Again, follow your matcha powder’s recipe for the exact amount of water needed. Mine calls for 50 mL (1.7 oz) of water.

4. Steam the Milk – Steam/froth your measured milk. My matcha calls for 220 mL of milk, but even a little less works just as well for me. I pour the milk into my frother, heat it in the microwave for a minute, and then manually froth it for a minute. Since I use almond milk, it doesn’t get overly frothy, but lightens enough to be able to create some latte art if I were talented enough.

5. Mix in the Milk – Pour the milk into your whisked matcha. Sip, savor, and enjoy.

Printable Recipe

Matcha Latte

• Servings: 1
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

Create a cafe style matcha latte from the comfort of your home!

This matcha latte recipe is based on using Hukuju Matcha purchased from Kettl. This matcha is strong enough to not be overpowered by the addition of milk. Less strong matcha powder may require a higher matcha:milk ratio. The amounts of matcha powder, water, and milk can always be modified to suit your tastes.

Supplies Needed

• Matcha Powder
• Matcha Whisk (Chasen)
• Scoop (Chashaku) or Measuring Spoon
• Matcha Bowl (Chawan) or large cup
• Sifter
• Milk of your choice (recommend unflavored non-dairy)
• Milk Frother / Steamer (or heat in microwave)
• Kitchen Scale
• Measuring Cup
• Electric Kettle

Directions

1. Measure out 4g of matcha powder using a kitchen scale.
2. Sift the matcha powder into the bowl/cup.
3. Heat water to 175 degrees F and pour 50 mL into the bowl with the matcha.
4. Vigorously whisk the matcha powder and water with a chasen (matcha whisk) using a zig-zag motion. Whisk for approximately 20 seconds or until there is a light foam on top.
5. Steam 220 mL of nut milk and pour directly into the matcha bowl.
6. Sit back, savor, and enjoy your delicious homemade latte!

Do you enjoy matcha lattes or have recipe recommendations? Let us know in the comments below or in our Facebook group! The Purple Door Group on Facebook is your doorway to a vibrant and supportive community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about creativity, home decor, DIY projects, food/drink, crafts, and all things lifestyle.