Skip to main content

How to make a matcha latte: Your complete guide

Matcha latte: Your complete guide

matcha latte
ROMAN ODINTSOV / Pexels

When you’re tired of the same old, same old latte, the matcha latte offers the perfect, indulgent alternative. This Japanese green drink not only looks super cool but tastes delicious. This classic drink is made from only a few simple ingredients: green matcha powder, milk or cream, and (sometimes) water. Even though they look fancy, making a matcha latte at home is much simpler than you’d think. Below, learn how to make a matcha latte in under five minutes and how to customize your drink to your specific taste preferences.

What is matcha?

iced matcha latte
Charlotte May / Pexels

Matcha is a green, finely ground powder made from Japanese green tea leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant. Using young green tea leaves and making them into powder, this powder is easily combined with water to create a delicious drink. Although matcha tea can be enjoyed alone, a matcha latte brings your enjoyment to the next level by combining matcha tea with a creamy froth. Many people love matcha simply for its delicious taste alone, but it also has a variety of health benefits — thanks to its high antioxidant content. The taste of matcha is often described as “earthy” or slightly bitter.

Recommended Videos

How to make a matcha latte

matcha powder
Matcha & CO / Unsplash

While you can certainly still treat yourself to a matcha latte on-the-go, you can also save money and make your own matcha lattes at home in just a few simple steps. You don’t need to be a Starbucks barista for this one or have any specialized kitchen equipment, either. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients

  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon matcha powder
  • 1/4 cup of coconut milk, warmed milk, or cream of choice (or plant-based alternative milk)
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • Sweetener, if desired (stevia, maple syrup, honey, etc.)

Method

  1. Before starting, mix up your matcha powder with a spoon to ensure there are no clumps.
  2. Measure out the desired amount of matcha powder and add it to a large mug. Add hot water and whisk briskly for about 30 seconds until a froth is formed. This can be done manually or you can use an electric frother if you have one handy.
  3. Take a sip and adjust accordingly to your taste preferences. Adding more water will create a softer taste. From here, you can also add the desired amount of sweetener to taste and add the warmed milk or cream.

Choosing a matcha powder

matcha powder
Phuong Nguyen / Unsplash

Part of making a delicious matcha latte is starting with a high-quality matcha powder. With so many brands on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. Premium matcha frequently comes from Japan, so be sure to check where your matcha is imported from. The climate and the soil in certain cities in Japan, such as Nishio or Uji, are conducive to quality matcha powder. As you shop, also pay attention to the color of the product. Authentic matcha powder has a very bright, vibrant green color.

Emily Caldwell
Emily is a freelance journalist with a focus on food, travel, health, and fitness content. She loves to travel to new…
Flying with beer? Here’s how to pack alcohol in your luggage
Learn how to do this right with this packing guide
Packing a suitcase

If you're anything like me and can’t resist picking up a few bottles of that amazing local wine or craft beer while you’re traveling, you’ve probably faced that moment of panic when it’s time to pack. Maybe you went a little overboard at a vineyard in Napa or filled half your suitcase with IPAs from a cool little brewery you stumbled upon. No judgment -- been there, done that. Honestly, local beer and wine make some of the best souvenirs (and gifts, if you don’t end up keeping them for yourself). Here's the big question, though. Can you bring alcohol on a plane?

The short answer is yes. Like with anything else in life, there are rules, and it's important to know them before you head to the airport, including how much and what you can bring. If you're flying with beer or wine, it's also essential to know how to pack the alcohol for the flight. There’s nothing worse than a bottle of red wine breaking in your suitcase and staining everything, or a broken beer bottle making your luggage smell like yeast right before a long-haul flight. With a few smart packing decisions, your beer or wine will be safely waiting for you at the baggage carousel, wherever your final destination may be.

Read more
How to make a frozen cappuccino: The perfect refreshing coffee drink
How to find (and make) this frothy, frozen coffee
frozen cappuccino

A frozen cappuccino is not a drink you'll come across often. If you do find it on a menu, order it. Last week, I first saw this drink on a restaurant menu in Florida, which featured a spiked frozen cappuccino made with rich chocolate and a splash of spiced rum. I immediately knew I needed to learn more about this interesting take on an iced cappuccino. A frozen cappuccino is the perfect refreshing coffee drink to sip on a hot day or as a fun alternative to a frozen espresso martini. Here are three different ways to make a frozen cappuccino at home.
Easy frozen cappuccino recipe

Unlike the popular Starbucks Frappuccino, a frozen cappuccino in its most basic form is a frozen twist on a regular iced cappuccino. Using a blender to crush the ice creates a smooth, frozen, and slushy texture for this drink, almost like a "coffee smoothie". What makes a cappuccino unique is its stronger espresso flavor, made with a balanced ingredient ratio of 1/3 steamed milk, 1/3 espresso, and 1/3 milk foam.

Read more
Homemade coffee creamer recipe: Plus, how to customize it to your personal taste
Avoid the additives found in many coffee creamers
Coffee with cream

When I first heard of a "homemade coffee creamer recipe," I immediately pictured a multi-step process requiring dozens of ingredients. As much as I love cooking, my hectic everyday work week doesn't allow me time to experiment with complicated recipes.

Yet, I know that many store-bought creamers today contain many additives, such as lots of sugar or high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, and emulsifiers. Therefore, it's easy to see the appeal of trying a homemade coffee creamer. To my surprise, making coffee creamer at home is uncomplicated. It's way easier than it sounds. Many recipes, such as this homemade coffee creamer, require only four natural ingredients.
Homemade coffee creamer recipe

Read more