Dirty Matcha Latte
An iced matcha latte with a shot of espresso on top: grassy, roasted and layered.
A dirty matcha is a matcha latte with a shot of espresso added. Iced, it is built in layers: milk, then bright green matcha, then dark espresso floating on top.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 135 mg in one serving (12 oz (355 ml) glass over ice, one shot), a concentration of 38 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Layered over ice: milk, matcha, espresso |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 2 g matcha in 40 g water, 150 g milk, 30 g espresso |
| Dose & yield | 2g → 222g |
| Grind size | Matcha powder, sifted; fine espresso grind |
| Water temperature | 172°F / 78°C |
| Target brew time | Whisk matcha 20-30 sec; espresso 25-30 sec |
| Serving | 12 oz (355 ml) glass over ice, one shot |
What you need
- 2 g latte-grade matcha, sifted
- 40 g water at 75-80°C
- 150 g cold milk
- 30 g espresso (one shot, from about 9 g of coffee)
- 8 g simple syrup, optional
- 120 g ice
Required gear
- Bamboo whisk or small electric frother
- Small bowl
- Fine sieve
- Espresso machine
- Tall glass
- Scale
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Sift 2 g matcha into a bowl, add 40 g water at 75-80°C, and whisk in quick zigzags for 20-30 seconds until smooth and frothy.
- 0:45Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the syrup if using, then 150 g cold milk.
- 1:00Pour the matcha slowly over the back of a spoon so it sits on the milk.
- 1:15Pull one shot of espresso and pour it the same way, slowly, to float on top. Stir before drinking.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
The caffeine count
About 135 mg: roughly 70 mg from 2 g of matcha and 63 mg from one shot of espresso, about the same as a double-shot latte.
Estimates; matcha caffeine varies with grade and dose.
Unsweetened as written
Many café versions add syrup. This recipe leaves it optional; milk alone softens the bitterness of both.
What to watch out for
- Contains caffeine from both tea and coffee. If you are pregnant, nursing, sensitive to caffeine or have been told to limit it, count both.
- Contains dairy unless made with a plant milk.
A dirty matcha is a matcha latte with a shot of espresso added. Iced, it is built in layers: milk, then bright green matcha, then dark espresso floating on top. The grassy sweetness of matcha and the roasted bitterness of coffee are more different than they sound, so the balance of the two decides whether it works.
Origin & Story
The name
"Dirty" is café shorthand for adding espresso to a drink that does not normally contain coffee, because the shot muddies the colour. The term comes from the dirty chai, a chai latte with espresso, which was on menus long before matcha lattes were common. The dirty matcha applied the same idea to matcha in the 2020s and spread quickly on social media, helped by how its three layers look in a clear glass.
Matcha and espresso together
Matcha is powdered green tea: shade-grown leaf, steamed, dried and stone-ground, so you drink the whole leaf whisked into water. It tastes grassy, vegetal and sweet, with a savoury note (umami) and a little bitterness. Espresso is roasted, bitter and heavy. Put together carelessly, the coffee simply wins. The drink works when the matcha is strong enough to hold its own, which means a full 2 g of a good latte-grade matcha, and when you use one shot, not two. Milk is the bridge: both are classic latte bases, and the fat smooths the two kinds of bitterness.
For more on matcha grades and the plain version, see our matcha latte page.
Why it layers
The layers come from density. Cold milk is the heaviest because it is cold and contains sugar, fat and protein; matcha whisked into a little water is lighter; espresso, poured last and still warm, is lightest of all. Pour each one slowly over the back of a spoon onto ice and they stay separate for a few minutes. Stir before drinking, or the first sip is pure espresso.
Caffeine
This is a strong drink. Two grams of matcha carries about 70 mg of caffeine, and a single espresso about 63 mg, so the total is roughly the same as a double-shot latte. It is not a lighter alternative to coffee.
Making it at home
Sift the matcha so it does not clump, whisk it with water at 75-80°C (boiling water makes it bitter), then build the glass: ice, cold milk, matcha, espresso. Hot, it is a matcha latte with a shot added, and it does not layer.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 44/100 |
| Acidity | 24/100 |
| Bitterness | 50/100 |
| Body | 64/100 |
| Aroma | 72/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Dirty Matcha Latte?
One serving, 12 oz (355 ml) glass over ice, one shot, contains approximately 135 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Dirty Matcha Latte?
Target 78°C (172°F). Matcha is whisked well below boiling: water that is too hot scorches the powder and brings out bitterness, and it costs you the sweetness that shading put there.
How long should Dirty Matcha Latte be extracted?
Timing: Whisk matcha 20-30 sec; espresso 25-30 sec. Method: Layered over ice: milk, matcha, espresso. Ratio: 2 g matcha in 40 g water, 150 g milk, 30 g espresso. Grind or leaf format: Matcha powder, sifted; fine espresso grind.
Why does my Dirty Matcha Latte taste bitter?
With matcha there is no steeping to shorten, so bitterness is almost always the water or the powder. Let the kettle stand until the water is around 80°C — boiling water scorches the powder — sift it so there are no dry pockets, and whisk in a quick W or M motion rather than stirring. If it is still harsh, the powder may be old or a lower grade; fresh first-harvest matcha tastes noticeably sweeter.
What is a dirty matcha?
A matcha latte with a shot of espresso added. "Dirty" is café shorthand for adding espresso, borrowed from the dirty chai.
Does matcha go with espresso?
It can. Use a full 2 g of good matcha and only one shot of espresso, so the coffee does not drown the tea, and let the milk soften both.
How much caffeine is in a dirty matcha?
About 135 mg: roughly 70 mg from the matcha and 63 mg from the espresso, similar to a double-shot latte.
How do I get the layers?
Pour over ice in order of weight: cold milk first, then the matcha, then the espresso, each slowly over the back of a spoon.
Who should avoid Dirty Matcha Latte?
Contains caffeine from both tea and coffee. If you are pregnant, nursing, sensitive to caffeine or have been told to limit it, count both. Contains dairy unless made with a plant milk. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Hand-Carved Takayama Bamboo Matcha Chasen Whisk
In this recipe: Bamboo whisk or small electric frother
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