Brewing guide

Building a matcha latte

Dissolve in water first, then add milk for a smooth, lump-free latte.

Start with a matcha base

Sift 2 grams of a latte or premium grade matcha into a small bowl and whisk with 40 to 50 milliliters of water at 70 to 75 degrees Celsius until smooth. Whisking matcha directly into milk tends to leave clumps because milk proteins coat the powder before it hydrates.

Adding the milk

Steam or warm 150 to 200 milliliters of milk to about 60 to 65 degrees Celsius and pour it over the matcha base. For iced lattes, fill the glass with ice, pour cold milk, and add the matcha base last so the layers stay visible until you stir.

Choosing milk

Whole dairy milk gives the roundest body. Oat milk is the most popular plant option because its starches and fats carry matcha's flavor without curdling. Lighter milks such as almond or rice can taste thin under matcha, and very acidic plant milks may separate when heated.

Terms used here

Latte grade
Mid-tier matcha balanced to read clearly through milk.
Usucha (薄茶)
Thin matcha preparation whisked to a frothy, drinkable consistency.
Umami (うまみ)
Savory, brothy taste driven by amino acids such as L-theanine and glutamate.

Put it in the journal

Log the bowl you just made

The brew journal keeps your ratios, grades, and notes on this device so the next bowl starts from what actually worked.