Name: Copycat Starbucks Matcha Latte
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ceremonial grade matcha powder; 1-2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste); 2 ounces hot water (around 175°F or 80°C); 10 ounces milk (2%, whole, almond, oat, etc., for hot: steamed; for iced: cold); Ice (for iced matcha latte)

Want a taste that smooth, green Starbucks Matcha Latte but don’t want to leave home? You’re in luck! This copycat Starbucks Matcha Latte Recipe lets you make your own creamy, earthy drink with just a few simple ingredients.

Whether you like it hot on a cold day or iced in the summer, this recipe post will walk you through every step. It’s perfect for matcha lovers or anyone wanting to try something new, and you can tweak it to your taste. Let’s get started on your homemade Starbucks-style Matcha Latte!

Table of Contents

How To Make Starbucks Matcha Latte Recipe

Making a copycat Starbucks Matcha Latte at home is easy and quick. It starts with mixing matcha powder with hot water, then adding milk, steamed for hot or cold with ice for iced. Follow these steps to enjoy a café-quality drink right in your kitchen.

Ingredients

For one 12 oz serving, gather these:

1 teaspoon ceremonial grade matcha powder
1-2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
2 ounces hot water (around 175°F or 80°C)
10 ounces milk (2%, whole, almond, oat, etc., for hot: steamed; for iced: cold)
Ice (for iced version)

Instructions

Here’s how to make your Matcha Latte, hot or iced:

Mix the Matcha Base:

Put 1 teaspoon matcha powder and 1-2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl or cup. Sift the matcha first to avoid lumps.
Add 2 ounces of hot water (not boiling, about 175°F or 80°C). Whisk hard until the mix is smooth and frothy. Use a bamboo whisk, small metal whisk, or fork.

For Hot Matcha Latte:

Heat 10 ounces of milk in a pan over medium heat until it steams, or microwave it until hot.
If you have a milk frother, froth the milk to make foam. If not, whisk it fast by hand or shake it in a jar with a lid.
Pour the hot milk into the matcha mix, holding back foam with a spoon if you want to add it on top.
Spoon the foam over the drink.

For Iced Matcha Latte:

Fill a glass with ice cubes.
Pour the matcha mix over the ice.
Add 10 ounces of cold milk and stir well.
For a smoother drink, shake the matcha mix, milk, and ice in a shaker or jar before pouring.

Tips For Perfect Starbucks Matcha Latte

To make your Matcha Latte as good as Starbucks, try these tips:

Pick high-quality ceremonial grade matcha powder for the best taste. It’s smooth and less bitter. Culinary grade works too but might taste stronger.
Sift the matcha powder before mixing to keep it lump-free and smooth.
Use water at 175°F (80°C) to mix with matcha. Too hot, and it gets bitter; too cool, and it won’t dissolve well. Let boiling water sit for a minute if you don’t have a thermometer.
For hot lattes, heat milk until it steams but doesn’t boil. Aim for 150-160°F (65-70°C) if you can measure it.
Froth milk without a machine by whisking fast or shaking in a jar. For cold milk in iced lattes, you can shake it for foam if you want.
Start with 1 tablespoon sugar and add more if needed. Some milks, like oat, are sweeter, so you might need less.
For iced lattes, make sure matcha dissolves in hot water first to avoid clumps when adding cold milk and ice.

Servings and Pairings

This Starbucks Matcha Latte Recipe makes one serving, similar in size to a Starbucks Tall or Grande depending on the exact amounts used.

Matcha lattes pair well with a variety of foods. Their unique earthy and slightly sweet flavor profile complements both sweet and light savory items. Consider these pairings:

Pastries and Baked Goods

Croissants: The buttery, flaky layers of a croissant contrast nicely with the creamy latte. Plain, almond, or chocolate croissants all work well.
Scones: Simple scones, perhaps with a hint of vanilla or citrus, provide a lovely texture alongside the smooth drink. Serve with clotted cream and jam for a traditional touch.
Muffins: Blueberry, lemon poppy seed, or even plain bran muffins offer a satisfying breakfast or snack pairing. The muffin’s sweetness or tartness balances the matcha’s earthiness.
Shortbread Cookies: The simple, buttery flavor of shortbread doesn’t overpower the matcha latte, making it a delightful light accompaniment.

Asian-Inspired Sweets

Mochi: The chewy texture and often subtle sweetness of mochi, especially flavors like red bean or plain, goes well with matcha.
Japanese Cheesecake: Light, fluffy Japanese cheesecake offers a delicate pairing that matches the latte’s refined taste.

Also Check: Starbucks Grilled Cheese Recipe

Storing

Drink your Matcha Latte right after making it for the best taste and texture. Fresh matcha has the brightest color and flavor, and the milk foam stays nice.

If you need to prepare ahead, make the matcha mixture (matcha, sugar, water) and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready, heat it for hot or use cold for iced, then add fresh milk. Stored matcha mixture might not taste as vibrant, so fresh is best.

Ingredient Swap/Substitutes

If you don’t have all the exact ingredients listed, or if you have dietary preferences, several substitutions can work well in this Starbucks Matcha Latte recipe. Making adjustments allows you to customize the drink to your liking or use what you have available.

For the Matcha Powder

Grade of Matcha: While ceremonial grade is often recommended for its smooth flavor, a good quality culinary grade matcha (sometimes labeled as latte grade) is a perfectly acceptable substitute and often more budget-friendly. Brands like Encha, Mizuba, or Maeda-en offer culinary grades suitable for lattes. Avoid very low-quality matcha, as it can be overly bitter.
Sweetened vs. Unsweetened: Starbucks uses a sweetened blend. If you buy sweetened matcha powder (like Jade Leaf’s latte mix or Rishi’s Sweet Matcha), you may not need additional sweetener. If you only have unsweetened matcha, you control the sweetness level entirely by adding your preferred sweetener.

For the Milk

Dairy Milk: Starbucks standard is 2% milk. You can substitute whole milk for extra creaminess or skim milk for a lighter version. Adding a splash of heavy cream (around 1/4 cup, reducing milk accordingly) makes it even richer.
Plant-Based Milk: Many non-dairy milks work well.
- Oat Milk: Offers excellent creaminess, similar to dairy milk. Barista blends froth particularly well. This is a popular choice at Starbucks.
- Soy Milk: Froths well and has a relatively neutral flavor. Ensure it’s unsweetened unless you want extra sweetness.
- Almond Milk: A lighter option, often with a subtle nutty flavor. Choose unsweetened varieties to control the sweetness.
- Coconut Milk: Provides creaminess and a distinct tropical flavor. Use the beverage kind (from a carton), not canned coconut milk, unless you want a very thick, rich drink. Full-fat canned coconut milk can add healthy fats but will significantly alter the taste.
- Cashew Milk: Generally creamy with a mild flavor.

Done and Served

We hope you were able to follow this copycat starbucks matcha latte recipe and have learned how to make a Starbucks-style Matcha Latte at home. It’s quite simple once you get the hang of whisking the matcha properly.

You get to control the sweetness and the type of milk, making it just right for you. Plus, think of all the money you’ll save skipping the coffee shop line! Now, go forth and whisk up a storm. Share your experience with following the Starbucks matcha latte copycat recipe in the comment section.