How to Make Matcha (Hot and Iced): A Simple Guide

Matcha looks like a barista skill, but a good bowl takes about two minutes and no training at all. Here's how to make a smooth, naturally sweet matcha at home, three ways: a traditional hot bowl, a warm matcha latte, and an iced matcha latte for brighter mornings.

If you want the background first (what matcha actually is, and the grades), start with our guide to matcha. Otherwise, let's make a cup.

What you'll need

• Matcha (a ceremonial grade like our Ceremonial Matcha for drinking straight, or our ready-blended Matcha Latte for an easy creamy cup).
• A whisk (a traditional bamboo whisk, or a small electric milk frother).
• A small sieve (stops lumps).
• Hot water, not boiling (around 70 to 80°C).
• Milk of your choice, if you're making a latte.

How to make a traditional matcha (hot)

1. Sift 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha into a bowl or wide cup.
2. Add a splash of hot water (around 70 to 80°C, not boiling). If the kettle's just boiled, let it sit for two minutes first.
3. Whisk briskly in a zig-zag until the surface is smooth and frothy.
4. Top up with more hot water to taste.

That's the whole ritual. A small, calm cup to start the day.

How to make a matcha latte (hot)

1. Make the matcha paste as above (sift, a little hot water, whisk smooth).
2. Warm your milk and froth it.
3. Pour the milk over the matcha, holding back the foam, then spoon the foam on top.
4. Sweeten only if you like, though good matcha is naturally sweet enough for most.

Short on time? Our Matcha Latte blend is made for exactly this, so you just add hot milk and go.

How to make an iced matcha latte

1. Whisk 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha with a small splash of cool or room-temperature water until smooth (this stops clumps).
2. Fill a glass with ice and pour over your cold milk.
3. Pour the matcha over the top for the classic two-tone look, then stir before drinking.

Add a little maple syrup or vanilla if you like it sweeter.

Getting it smooth, never bitter

Three things make the difference between a silky matcha and a sharp one:

• Water temperature. Boiling water scalds matcha and makes it bitter. Let it cool for a couple of minutes first.
• Sifting. Thirty seconds with a sieve removes the lumps that no amount of whisking will.
• The matcha itself. A fresh, vibrant-green ceremonial grade is naturally smooth. Dull, yellowish powder tends to taste harsh however carefully you make it.

How much matcha should I use?

As a rough guide:

• A traditional bowl (usucha): 1 to 2 teaspoons (around 1 to 2g) to 60 to 80ml of water.
• A latte: the same amount of matcha, then top with 150 to 200ml of milk.
• Iced: 1 to 2 teaspoons, a splash of water to make a paste, then ice and milk.

Start on the lower side and adjust up once you know how strong you like it. One 50g tube is roughly 25 to 30 drinks.

Can you make matcha without a whisk?

Yes. A small handheld electric frother works brilliantly and is the easiest option for most people. In a pinch, a jam jar with a tight lid does the job too: add the sifted matcha and water, seal, and shake hard for ten seconds. A fork alone tends to leave lumps, so sifting first matters even more if that's all you have.

Which matcha to use

• For a traditional bowl or a proper matcha latte, use a ceremonial grade like our Ceremonial Matcha, a single-ingredient, first-harvest Japanese matcha, stone-ground to a vibrant green. One 50g tube makes roughly 25 to 30 cups.
• For the easiest creamy latte, our Matcha Latte blend is ready to go with hot milk.

Not sure which to buy? Our ceremonial vs culinary matcha guide explains the grades.

Matcha-making FAQ

What's the correct way to make matcha?

Sift the powder, add hot (not boiling) water, and whisk in a zig-zag until smooth and frothy. Cooler water and sifting are the two things most people miss.

Do you put matcha in milk or water?

Both work. A traditional bowl is matcha whisked with hot water. A latte is matcha whisked smooth, then topped with warm or cold milk.

How do I make a matcha drink at home?

Whisk 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha with a little hot water until smooth, then top with more water for a bowl, or milk for a latte. For iced, whisk with a splash of cool water first, then pour over ice and milk.

Is there coffee in an iced matcha latte?

No. Matcha is green tea, not coffee. It contains its own caffeine, so an iced matcha latte is caffeinated, just from tea rather than coffee beans.