A milk frother or saucepan (plus some elbow grease if whisking by hand)
Your favorite mug or a tall glass
Ingredients
1 tsp high-quality matcha powder (ceremonial for smoother flavor, culinary for budget-friendly blends)
6–8 oz milk of choice (I’m partial to oat or coconut for extra creaminess)
2–3 tbsp hot water (around 175°F or 80°C—don’t go boiling or it’ll taste bitter)
Optional: sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, vanilla extract, or stevia
Instructions
Step 1) Sift & Whisk the Matcha: Sift your matcha into the bowl using a fine mesh strainer. It takes 10 seconds but saves you from gritty lumps later on. Then pour in the hot water and whisk briskly in a zig-zag or “M” shape until it turns smooth and frothy.
Step 2) Heat and Froth the Milk: Warm your milk gently on the stove or in the microwave just enough for steam to start rising, but not to form bubbles. Then froth it. A hand frother is the easiest route, but I’ve shaken hot milk in a mason jar (towel wrapped around it!) and it worked in a pinch.
Step 3) Combine and Enjoy: Pour the matcha into your mug first. Slowly add the frothed milk to keep that lovely layer effect. Next, sweeten if needed. I usually go with a splash of vanilla and a drizzle of maple syrup for an extra touch.
Video
Notes
Pro Tip
If your matcha still tastes off, try switching your water. I didn’t realize how much tap water affected the flavor until I started using filtered water; it made a huge difference.