Easy 3 Step Matcha Latte Beginner Recipe

Matcha has become my secret weapon in the morning. I used to love a good cup of coffee (and still do on certain days) but hated the jittery rush and crash within a few hours. Instead, thanks to the help of L-Theanine, the caffeine in matcha is slowly released in your body so you feel alert and awake without the rush and crash you’d normally feel with coffee.

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Matcha Benefits

Beyond the feeling of natural energy, matcha has many other benefits. Since it is the fully ground green tea leaf, all the benefits you might have heard green tea has is the same as matcha, except multiplied. It has a ton of antioxidants and can help with your skin, internal organs (such as the liver, brain, and heart), and may help prevent disease and possibly even cancer (check out this Healthline article to learn more about all the health benefits). The best part about matcha is how easy it is to make as a tea or latte.

Although matcha has an array of health benefits, these can all be easily negated depending where you buy your matcha from. The matcha lattes and matcha frappes at Starbucks have added sugar, upwards of 30 grams for a grande matcha latte. It’s much more affordable, and healthier, to make your own matcha latte at home. Since matcha is concentrated and you are ingesting the full leaf, not discarding it in a teabag, you should make sure to buy quality matcha from a reliable company that checks for the presence of lead, pesticides, and other chemicals.

How to Make a Matcha Latte

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of matcha
• 3/4 cup of hot (not boiling) water
• 1/4 cup of milk (I prefer Oatly oat milk)
• Sweetener, if desired, such as honey, sugar, or simple syrup

1. Choose appropriate grade of matcha (culinary or ceremonial) and measure 1 teaspoon

There are different grades of matcha depending if you want to cook or bake with it or use it for a tea or latte. The main difference is the taste, with the ceremonial grade being much smoother, less “grass-like”, and less bitter. That being said, a high-quality culinary grade can still be used for lattes, but if you are drinking a straight tea I would recommend ceremonial grade. The most affordable, best quality culinary grade I’ve found is this tea from Yamashiro. Ceremonial grade matcha is made from the youngest, greenest leaves. The best ceremonial grade matcha I’ve found that is the most affordable is this Ceremonial Emerald grade from Midori Spring. Give it a try if it is in your budget!

2. Add a little water (around 2 tbsp), and stir or whisk

Measure 1 tsp of matcha and run through a sifter if you have one. I highly recommend this step since it breaks up any clumps and helps the matcha dissolve as much as possible. Add 2 tbsp of near-boiling water. Since the matcha is finely ground leaves and will not all dissolve, a whisk will help you fully suspend it in the liquid. It’s not necessary for beginners (in my opinion) but definitely helps you get the most taste and not have a lot of residue left on the bottom of the cup when you’re done. If you have a bamboo whisk, agitate the matcha by adding air to it using different patterns (circle, “Z”, etc.). If you don’t have a bamboo whisk, stir the matcha with a spoon to dissolve it as much as possible. It should produce a thick green, slightly frothy, liquid.

3. Add remaining water, around 1/4 cup of milk, and if desired a sweetener

Pour the remaining water (little less than 3/4 cup) and stir. If you are making a latte, add roughly 1/4 cup of milk or to your taste – if you have a frother use it on the milk before adding to enhance the creaminess. Oat milk is my preferred milk to use with matcha and adds a little sweetness. To taste, add a little sugar or honey if desired.

Enjoy! If you’re thinking you need more of a caffeine jolt from coffee, give my chocolate banana coffee smoothie recipe a try.

Are you a fan of matcha? Let me know your thoughts on this matcha latte.