Everyday Latte-Grade Matcha
A bold, bright matcha made to hold its own in milk: fresh greens, sweet grass and a creamy finish.
Latte-grade matcha is a robust powder chosen for milk drinks, smoothies and everyday whisking. It tastes of fresh greens and sweet grass, with a little bitterness and enough body to stand up to milk.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 55 mg in one serving (2.4 oz (70 ml), 2 g matcha), a concentration of 78.6 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 | Chasen & Chawan |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 1:35 |
| Dose & yield | 2g → 70g |
| Grind size | Powder |
| Water temperature | 176°F / 80°C |
| Target brew time | 0:20 whisking |
| Serving | 2.4 oz (70 ml), 2 g matcha |
What you need
- 2 g matcha powder
- 70 g filtered water at about 80°C
Required gear
- Chawan, a wide bowl
- Chasen, a bamboo whisk
- Chashaku or a small spoon
- Fine sieve
- Scale accurate to 0.1 g
- Kettle with temperature control
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Pour hot water into the chawan and rest the tips of the chasen in it for a few seconds to soften them. Pour the water out and dry the bowl.
- 0:30Sift 2 g of matcha through a small sieve into the warm, dry bowl so that it does not clump.
- 0:45Add about 15 g of water at 80°C and work the powder into a smooth, thick paste, pressing out any lumps against the side of the bowl.
- 1:00Add the rest of the water, about 55 g, and whisk quickly in a W motion from the wrist for 15 to 20 seconds, keeping the tips just off the bottom of the bowl, until a fine foam covers the surface.
- 1:30Finish with a slow pass across the surface to break the larger bubbles, then lift the whisk out through the center. Drink at once, because the matcha settles.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
Caffeine, in numbers
We list about 55 mg for 2 g of matcha. The amount varies with the powder, and because you drink the whole leaf, matcha usually carries more caffeine than steeped tea made with the same amount.
For milk and for the bowl
A bold matcha like this one can be whisked on its own or stirred into hot or cold milk. For milk drinks, whisk the powder with a little hot water first, then add the milk, so there are no clumps.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you.
Latte-grade matcha is a robust powder chosen for milk drinks, smoothies and everyday whisking. It tastes of fresh greens and sweet grass, with a little bitterness and enough body to stand up to milk. Whisked here with 2 g of powder in 70 ml of water at 80°C.
Origin & Story
Latte grade is a way of saying what a matcha is for. Matcha has no official grading, in Japan or anywhere else: terms such as ceremonial, culinary and latte describe how a powder is meant to be used, not a certified level of quality. Japanese producers judge matcha by harvest, shading, cultivar and analysis.
A powder sold for lattes is often made from later-harvest or more mature leaf, which tends to give a stronger, grassier and slightly more bitter flavor than the first-flush leaf used for the most delicate bowls. That is useful: a bolder matcha is not lost when it is mixed with milk.
This one comes from Kagoshima, which, with Kyoto and Shizuoka, is among the leading producers of tencha, the shaded leaf that becomes matcha.
Matcha is not steeped: the whole leaf is whisked into the water, which is why it carries more caffeine per cup than steeped tea. You can whisk it as thin tea, 2 g in about 70 ml of water at 80°C, or use the same amount in a latte, a smoothie or baking.
In the bowl it is bright green and fresh, with sweet grass and a creamy finish. Sift the powder, whisk it into a smooth paste with a little of the water, then whisk in the rest in a quick W motion until it foams.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 68/100 |
| Acidity | 24/100 |
| Bitterness | 32/100 |
| Body | 74/100 |
| Aroma | 86/100 |
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 Everyday Latte-Grade Matcha?
One serving, 2.4 oz (70 ml), 2 g matcha, contains approximately 55 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Everyday Latte-Grade Matcha?
Target 80°C (176°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 Everyday Latte-Grade Matcha be extracted?
Timing: 0:20 whisking. Method: Chasen & Chawan. Ratio: 2g matcha to 70ml water. Grind or leaf format: Powder.
Why does my Everyday Latte-Grade Matcha 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 latte-grade matcha?
It is a name sellers use for matcha meant to be mixed with milk or used in cooking. It is usually bolder and less delicate than matcha sold for whisking with water, but there is no official standard behind the label.
Can I drink latte-grade matcha on its own?
Yes. Whisked with hot water it makes a bright, grassy bowl, usually with a little more bitterness than a matcha sold for whisking.
Who should avoid Everyday Latte-Grade Matcha?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much tea is right for you. 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: Chasen, a bamboo whisk
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