Matcha Latte

Learn how to make a matcha latte with this easy, 3-ingredient matcha latte recipe! It's creamy, cozy, and filled with antioxidants - perfect for cool days.

Coconut Matcha Latte

Ever since our first trip to Japan, I’ve been obsessed with matcha. Matcha ice cream, matcha doughnuts, matcha smoothies… I love them all, but my favorite way to enjoy matcha is in a creamy matcha latte. The slightly bitter matcha flavor mixes with (in this case) coconut milk to create a perfect creamy flavor balance. Often times, coffee shop matcha lattes are too sweet, which is why I prefer to make my matcha latte at home!

What is matcha?

Matcha powder is made from ground green tea leaves. Unlike when you drink steeped green tea, you consume the entire tea leaf in a matcha latte. As a result, matcha has approximately 10x more nutrients than regular green tea! (If you’re interested in more matcha benefits, click here). We, of course, love it because it tastes good.

Matcha powder has a slightly bitter, earthy taste that I love to use in sweet recipes like smoothies, ice cream, milkshakes, frosting, and even doughnuts!

Coconut Matcha Latte

How to Make a Matcha Latte

This matcha latte recipe is super easy. It’s just three ingredients (and a tiny bit of sweetener, if you want), and you don’t need any fancy barista skills or equipment. If you’re going to make a lotta lattes you might want to invest in an official (and very cute) matcha whisk, but a small kitchen whisk or milk frother will foam it up just the same. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Start by sifting your matcha powder. It clumps easily, and the clumps can be difficult to whisk away, so this step will help make your matcha latte smooth, creamy & lump-free.
  2. Add the matcha to a mug, and pour in hot, recently boiled water over it. Whisk vigorously until the matcha green tea powder is fully dispersed. You want to move your whisk in an up-and-down or side-to-side motion, not the usual circular pattern, in order to get your matcha to foam.
  3. Pour the warmed coconut milk over the foamy water (almond milk is good too!) and whisk again to froth the milk.
  4. Taste your latte and decide how much sweetener you want to add, if any. I like mine with a drop of maple syrup.

That’s it! Enjoy.

How to make a matcha latte

What Is the Best Matcha Powder?

Buying matcha for the first time can be confusing – there are so many brands, and they vary widely in quality. I’ve tested out all of the top matcha powders as tea with water, in lattes, and in baking recipes. I like the Golde Pure Matcha Ceremonial Grade best in my lattes! It doesn’t have any added sugar, and its bold flavor still cuts through the milk in a latte.

Get the Golde Pure Matcha Ceremonial Grade on Amazon for $29, or check out some of the other matcha powders I tested to find the best one for you!

If you love this matcha latte…

Try my favorite turmeric latte, hot chocolate, or cold brew latte next!

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Matcha Latte

rate this recipe:
4.96 from 21 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Serves 1
This 3-ingredient matcha latte is packed with antioxidants and delicious flavor. A cozy, healthy drink for cool days. Vegan!

Ingredients

  • ½ to 1 teaspoon matcha powder
  • ¼ cup hot water
  • ¼ cup coconut milk, warmed
  • Maple syrup, honey, stevia, or sweetener of choice, optional

Instructions

  • Sift your matcha so it is lump-free.
  • Spoon the matcha into a large mug. Add the hot water and whisk briskly, in an up and down motion, until frothy - about 30 seconds or so. Add the coconut milk and whisk until well combined.
  • Taste and add additional water, coconut milk, and/or sweetener to your liking.

Notes

I used light coconut milk, but you could use full-fat coconut milk if you prefer a richer latte.

 

 

76 comments

4.96 from 21 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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  1. I love Matcha, and I really like that you used coconut milk too! Looks so good!

  2. Wow are you kidding me? Matcha + coconut = the best combination EVER! Thanks for the idea!!!

  3. Christian
    01.06.2015

    I didn’t care for this recipe, too just alright. My brand of matcha was too bitter I guess…

  4. Regina from mollymell.blogspot.com
    12.15.2014

    Good morning Jeanine.

    I’ve been getting your posts on my mailbox for a while now, and it’s always a happy moment for me reading your recipes and impressed by your beautiful photos. Definitely we are always learning, I’ve never heard of matcha tea, and now I a intrigued, specially after reading the matcha white hot chocolate & this coconut latte.
    Thank you for that.

    • jeanine
      12.15.2014

      aww, thanks Regina – we absolutely love matcha since having it (everywhere!) in Japan – I hope you give it a try, let me know what you think 🙂

  5. sharon from mauigirlcooks.wordpress.com
    12.12.2014

    I love coconut milk & matcha, so this must be delicious!

    • jeanine
      12.11.2014

      Thanks Christine 🙂

  6. Mari from kaleandcake.com
    10.13.2014

    Love the photos! … And the recipie too. Pin-pin-pin!

  7. April
    09.04.2014

    This sounds and looks amazing! Do you sugguest coconut milk from carton or the creamier tinned one? xx

    • jeanine
      09.04.2014

      Hi April, you can use either one depending on how light or rich you want yours – I used light coconut milk from the can and mixed it with water, but you can use coconut milk from the carton and not add any water (since it’s much lower in fat). I’ve also used almond milk…

  8. Patricia
    04.25.2014

    Hi! This looks great! I have a couple of questions about it:
    1. How much caffeine are we talking about per serving? How does it compare to coffee? I recently gave up coffee, but do drink green tea almost everyday to get a boost right after lunch. Can’t handle much caffeine after 2 or 3pm…won’t sleep well.
    2. How many calories (approx.) per serving

    Thanks!!! looking forward to having this treat real soon 🙂

    • jeanine
      04.28.2014

      It has less caffeine than coffee, but if you have trouble sleeping (as I do), I usually stop by 3pm.

      I’m not exactly sure about the calories – you can google for a calorie calculator and type in the ingredients. Also feel free to use less coconut milk/more water to make it lighter.

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  10. This is what I miss most about our trip to Japan! I bought myself some matcha powder over the holidays and have been whisking up lattes ever since. Definitely going to try your coconut milk version.

  11. It’s truly a great and useful piece of info. I am glad
    that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please
    stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  12. Katherine from kathsroom.blogspot.com
    03.25.2014

    Oh I absolutely love matcha!
    I have it all the time; the Japanese tea ceremony I find absolutely fascinating.
    I usually drink it straight, but I have added almond milk or coconut milk in the past; and have preferred the coconut milk. But recently, I have been bringing my matcha to work (I work in a cafe) and I’ve been steaming it with almond milk! Not hot water. And wow, it’s so good that way! I don’t even have to bring my whisk with me, the steamer from the espresso machine does all that work:)
    It feels blasphemous to the Japanese tradition, but I like it and that’s what counts!

    • jeanine
      03.25.2014

      Ha! I love it – so blasphemous :). I bet it’s deliciously frothy though!

  13. Zoey
    03.23.2014

    This looks like a delicious combo! Question: so far I have had a little trouble getting my matcha to completely blend without getting a mouthful of lumps. I only use a teaspoon and I sift it first and then use a matcha whisk to combine with the milk but in the end I always have to strain it. Any thoughts? Thanks so much for the recipe!

    • Katherine from kathsroom.blogspot.com
      03.25.2014

      It could be possible that you are adding too much matcha? Or perhaps you are not using a high enough grade? I buy mine at teavana, and store it in the fridge. It doesn’t have a very long shelf life (if you want it to be at its best quality) and oxidizes/gets stale if it’s not stored correctly. I hope this helps! http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/green-teas/p/matcha-japanese-green-tea

    • jeanine
      03.25.2014

      Hi Zoey – try whisking it with just a little bit of water at first, once you have sort of a paste, then add more water (or coconut milk). It might help it break up those lumps better. Other than that, I’d say make sure you’re whisking it in short fast up and down strokes and for around 30 seconds. If that doesn’t work, I’d try another matcha – the Aiya brand is really good (and I’m not just saying that b/c they sent it to me, it’s as good as the types I’ve brought back from Japan).

  14. I usually drink matcha straight (if you want to call it that!) for my afternoon pick-me-up as it gives such a great steady energy! But, the coconut milk is a perfect addition and will make it feel like a real “treat with benefits” – health benefits that is. Super! Thanks!

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  16. Ashley from edibleperspective.com
    03.17.2014

    Oooooh how I love matcha!!! That green color gets me every time. I made matcha doughnuts for the book and they literally taste like a matcha latte. 🙂 I really need that whisk.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.