Hot or Iced Matcha Latte Recipe

Enjoy a hot or iced Matcha Latte at home with this easy recipe! Creamy, refreshing, and a great energy boost, this homemade matcha latte recipe is better and cheaper than the coffee shop!

This post is sponsored by American Dairy Association Mideast. As always, all opinions are my own.

Better than Starbucks Matcha Latte

Ever since I learned how to make tea lattes, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at a homemade matcha latte. I love the flavor of matcha green tea. It’s less acidic than coffee and has a pleasant, mellow earthiness which I find both calming and refreshing.

Matcha is known for improving focus and energy without the dreaded crash, and it’s also chock full of antioxidants. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a great matcha latte at coffee shops, where they’re often made with pre-packaged powders and sweetened to oblivion.

After being disappointed by my $5 coffee shop matcha again, I decided it was time to learn to make them myself. Luckily, with just a little care and 10 minutes of time, you can make deliciously refreshing, creamy matcha lattes at home! Best of all, they clock in at half the sugar and 1/3 of the price of a Starbucks matcha latte!

Today, I’m going to give you all the tips and tricks for making hot OR iced matcha lattes at home! Whether you’re looking for a cozy drink to curl up with in the morning or an icy mid-afternoon pick me up, these matcha lattes deliver!

Ingredients in Matcha Lattes

Both hot and iced matcha drinks are made with four basic elements:

• High Quality Matcha Powder (More on sourcing matcha below!)
• Water
• Milk– I like to use dairy milk for matcha lattes. It’s creamy, froths very well, and is a great source of protein, calcium, and Vitamin D. The protein in dairy keeps me feeling satisfied longer, provides energy, and helps muscles recover. Pairing milk with matcha makes a powerhouse beverage that’s great for fueling your day or enjoying as a pre- or post-workout refresher.
  • You can use any fat content of milk for matcha lattes. I prefer 2% or whole milk for hot lattes (SO CREAMY!) and skim or 1% for iced lattes, since I’m usually craving something lighter and more refreshing when I’m making an iced matcha.
  • If you’re lactose intolerant, Lactaid or other lactose-free milks also work great in this recipe! They have the all the same nutrients as regular milk, but without the lactose. Learn more about lactose intolerance here.
• Sweetener– Just a teaspoon or two of sweetener is all you need to brighten the flavors in the matcha. I usually use liquid sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or vanilla simple syrup, but granulated or brown sugar also works.

Special Equipment for Making Green Tea Lattes

These tools are not required, but are very helpful for making matcha lattes.

• Matcha bamboo whisk– These whisks are purpose built to gently but efficiently break up any clumps and create a nice foamy matcha.
• Milk frother– I use the frother that’s built in to my Ninja Coffee Maker, but you can also use a hand held frother or an electric steamer/frother which both heats and froths the milk at one time!
• Mini sifter– Any fine mesh sieve will work just fine for this recipe, but these mini ones are great for a small amount of matcha and are also useful for dusting powdered sugar or cinnamon on desserts like Canestrelli Cookies or Blueberry Crepes.

How to Make a Hot Matcha Latte

1. Heat water to a low simmer.
2. Sift 1 teaspoon of matcha powder into a shallow bowl. Pour 3 Tablespoons of simmering water over the matcha, then move your matcha whisk back and forth in an M pattern to combine the powder with the water. The mixture should be slightly bubbly and foamy.
3. Heat 1 cup of milk to a simmer. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons of the sweetener of your choice.
4. Froth the milk until doubled in size. Pour into a mug, then pour the matcha on top, gently stirring the mixture together. Serve.

How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte

1. Sift 1 teaspoon matcha into a shallow bowl. Add ¼ cup warm water. Move your matcha whisk back and forth in an M pattern to combine the powder with the water.
2. Sweeten 1 cup cold milk with the sweetener of your choice.
3. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add sweetened milk.
4. Pour the matcha mixture over top, then use a straw to stir together.

Variations on Matcha Lattes

• For a gorgeous summertime tea, sweeten your milk with 2 teaspoons of this lavender simple syrup. It makes an incredible Iced Lavender Matcha Tea!
• For a vegan version, try substituting the milk with coconut milk. I especially enjoy coconut milk matcha lattes iced. It’s incredibly refreshing!
• This Strawberry Matcha Latte is a dead ringer for the Boba Guys’ favorite.

FAQS and Tips

How do I know which matcha to buy?

There is an absolutely overwhelming range of matcha products on the market, and it can be tough to know what to look for when you’re shopping. Here are a few things that can help you pick a high quality matcha.

• Made in Japan– The highest quality matcha comes from one of three regions in Japan, where it has been cultivated for over 900 years.
• Bright green color– Higher quality matcha has an incredibly saturated green color.
• Priced in the $20-$30 range for 1.5-2 ounces. I know, it sounds expensive, right? But for reference, you can make 15 matcha lattes with one bag of this Encha matcha (my current favorite) which costs $20. That’s about a $1.50 per latte (including the cost of milk)–still vastly cheaper than Starbucks! Cheaper matchas tend to be dull in color and bitter tasting.

Do I have to use a special matcha whisk?

No! You can use a regular whisk instead, or, for the iced lattes, combine the sifted matcha and water in a sealed container and shake vigorously to combine.

Do you need to sift matcha?

Sifting matcha gets rid of clumps and ensures the smoothest latte. I highly recommend it. That said, have I gotten lazy or rushed and skipped this step? Yes. Was it the end of the world? Definitely not.

Are matcha lattes sweetened?

If you want to create the layered iced matcha look seen in the pictures, you’ll need to use sweetener. The sugar in the milk is what causes it to sink to the bottom. I also prefer the taste of sweetened lattes, and usually add slightly more sweetener to iced beverages than hot (this is personal preference). However, if you prefer unsweetened matcha and the layering isn’t important to you, feel free to omit it.

Does matcha latte have caffeine?

Matcha green tea is caffeinated. You may find your body reacts differently to the caffeine in matcha than to that in coffee, offering an energy boost without a crash.

More Coffee Shop Drinks You Might Enjoy

If you love tea lattes, try this Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate! It makes an amazing hot or iced chai!

You may also enjoy this Bailey’s Irish Coffee or Vanilla Iced Coffee with Coconut Milk.

Want more ways to use matcha? Try it in this Matcha Lemonade or Matcha Honey Hot Chocolate.