How to Make a Matcha Latte at Home: A Simple Guide

Want to know how to make a matcha latte at home? It takes about five minutes and a few simple bits of kit. This guide covers what a matcha latte is, the ratio we'd start with, a step-by-step method for hot and iced versions, and the mistakes that make matcha lumpy or bitter. And if you'd rather someone else made it, we'll tell you where to find ours in Shoreditch.

What is a matcha latte?

Matcha is green tea leaf ground into a very fine powder. Instead of steeping leaves and throwing them away, you whisk the powder straight into water, so you drink the whole leaf. A matcha latte is that whisked matcha topped up with milk: smooth, gently grassy and a little sweet from the milk.

What you need

• Matcha powder
• A small sieve or tea strainer
• A bowl or wide mug
• A bamboo whisk (chasen) or a small electric frother
• A kettle
• Your choice of milk, and a sweetener if you like one

The ratio

For one drink of about 250ml, start with:

• 1 teaspoon of matcha (roughly 2g)
• 60ml of hot water at around 80°C
• 150–200ml of milk

Taste it, then adjust. More matcha makes it stronger and more grassy; more milk makes it softer.

How to make a matcha latte, step by step

1. Sift the matcha into your bowl or mug. Matcha clumps easily, and sifting is the easiest way to avoid lumps.
2. Make a paste. Add a splash of the hot water and stir until there are no dry bits.
3. Whisk. Pour in the rest of the water and whisk briskly in a zigzag (an M or W shape) for 20–30 seconds, until the surface is smooth and frothy.
4. Heat and froth the milk. Warm it in a pan or microwave, then froth it, or use a frother that heats.
5. Combine. Pour the matcha into your mug and top with the milk, or pour the milk first and the matcha on top for a layered look.
6. Sweeten to taste with honey, sugar or a syrup.

How to make it iced

Whisk the matcha with 60ml of cold or room-temperature water instead of hot. Fill a glass with ice, pour in 150–200ml of cold milk, then pour the matcha over the top. Stir before drinking. No whisk? Shake the matcha and water in a sealed jar for 20 seconds.

Which milk?

Any milk works, so choose by taste. Whole dairy milk gives a creamy, rounded drink. Oat milk froths well and many people like its slight sweetness with matcha. Almond, soya and coconut milk all work too, each with its own flavour.

Common mistakes

• Boiling water. It can make matcha taste bitter. Let the kettle cool a little.
• Skipping the sieve. Lumps rarely whisk out once they're wet.
• Too little whisking. Keep going until there's a fine froth.
• Old matcha. Keep the tin sealed and away from light and heat once it's open.

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Or try ours

If you're in Shoreditch, skip the washing up. We serve PerfectTed matcha: a Matcha Latte at £3.90, plus five flavoured matchas at £4.50: Strawberry, Strawberry Shortcake, Mango, Blueberry, White Chocolate. Every one can be served hot or iced, and oat, almond, coconut or soya milk is 30p extra.

Try it at Kybelle

• Matcha Latte, £3.90, hot or iced
• Strawberry Matcha, £4.50, hot or iced
• With Cilbir Eggs (£13.90) or Kybelle’s French Toast (£11.50)

See every drink on our matcha in Shoreditch page, or read the story of our PerfectTed range.

Find Kybelle

Kybelle Café & Brunch, 62 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3QR, about four minutes' walk from Old Street station. Breakfast, brunch and lunch are served all day, dogs are welcome and there's outdoor seating. Get directions on Google Maps.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am–4pm · Saturday and Sunday 9am–5pm. Walk-ins only — no booking needed, just turn up.

See the full menu · Directions & opening hours

Questions people ask

What is a matcha latte?

Matcha is powdered green tea. A matcha latte is matcha whisked with a little hot water, then topped with steamed or cold milk.

How much matcha do I need for one latte?

About one teaspoon, roughly 2g, is a good starting point for a 200–250ml drink. Use a little more for a stronger taste.

What temperature should the water be?

Hot but not boiling, around 80°C. Let a boiled kettle stand for a few minutes first.

Can I make a matcha latte without a bamboo whisk?

Yes. A small electric milk frother works well, or shake the matcha and water in a sealed jar until smooth.

Can I get an iced matcha at Kybelle?

Yes. All six of our PerfectTed matchas can be served hot or iced.

Is matcha green tea?

Yes. Matcha is green tea leaves ground into a fine powder, so you drink the whole leaf rather than an infusion.

Do I mix matcha with milk or water?

Both. Whisk the matcha with a little hot water first to make a smooth paste, then add your milk.

What does matcha taste like?

Fresh and grassy, with a slightly bitter edge and a mellow, savoury depth. Milk softens it, which is why a latte is a popular way in.