How to Make Matcha Coffee in 3 Minutes

If you’re tired of weak-tasting instant coffee but still want something fast and flavorful—especially to pair with toast or a small pastry—matcha coffee might be your answer. It’s not a latte, not a frappé, but a creamy, earthy, green-tea-infused coffee drink you can whip up in minutes.

Making matcha coffee takes just three minutes if you have the right tools: all you need is coffee, 15g of quality matcha powder, ice-cold milk, a bit of milk foam, and optionally, a milk frother or steam wand.

What Is Matcha Coffee?

Matcha coffee isn’t a standardized drink, but in this context, it’s a blend of brewed coffee and matcha powder mixed into milk—either hot or cold—with a layer of foam on top. It combines the umami and grassiness of matcha with the roasted body of coffee, often finished with whipped cream and a dusting of extra matcha for presentation.

What You’ll Need

To make the version described in the original recipe, gather these ingredients and tools:

• Coffee (brewed or espresso, quantity not specified but assumed standard)
• 15g of matcha powder (use high-quality ceremonial or culinary grade)
• Ice-cold fresh milk (or substitute with light cream)
• 1 spoonful of milk foam (about 1 tbsp)
• Optional: whipped cream for topping
• Tools: milk frother or steam wand, electric milk frother (if not using steam), and a whisk or spoon

How to Make Matcha Coffee – Step by Step

Here’s the streamlined, no-fluff method used in the original Chinese tutorial, adapted for clarity:

1. Mix Milk and Matcha: Pour half a cup of cold milk into a steel mixing cup. Add 15g of matcha powder and stir until fully combined. This creates a matcha-infused milk base with a strong green tea flavor.
2. Froth the Milk: Use either a steam wand or an electric milk frother. If using an electric frother, heat the milk to around 65°C (149°F) for best foam stability. Properly frothed milk at this temperature holds its foam longer without collapsing.
3. Assemble the Drink: Pour the frothed matcha milk into your coffee cup, filling it to about 80–90% full. Leave room for whipped cream if desired.
4. Garnish: Add a spoonful of milk foam on top, and optionally sprinkle a bit more matcha powder on the foam for garnish.

Pro Tips

• Use high-quality matcha powder for the best flavor—cheap matcha can taste overly bitter or grassy.
• You can use either cold milk or heated milk depending on whether you want an iced or warm version.
• Light cream or half-and-half can substitute for milk if you prefer a richer texture.
• The original recipe doesn’t specify coffee strength or brew method, but a standard espresso or Americano-style brew works well as the base.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an espresso machine to make matcha coffee?

No. The original recipe doesn’t specify the coffee brewing method. You can use any brewed coffee—espresso, Americano, drip, or even instant—as the base. The focus is on combining coffee with matcha-infused milk and foam.

What’s the best matcha powder to use?

Use ceremonial or high-grade culinary matcha powder. Lower-quality matcha tends to be more bitter and grassy, which can overpower the coffee flavors. The recipe specifically recommends using “” or higher-quality matcha.

Can I make this drink hot instead of cold?

Yes. The milk can be heated along with the matcha powder (to around 65°C), or you can use cold milk and serve the drink over ice. The foam stability is best when milk is frothed around 65°C.

Is a milk frother necessary?

No, but it helps. You can use a steam wand, electric milk frother, or even a handheld frother. The key is to get stable foam by heating the milk to roughly 65°C if using an electric frother. Without a frother, you can whisk the milk and matcha vigorously—but the foam may not hold as well.

Can I use any kind of milk?

Yes. The recipe calls for (ice-cold fresh milk) or (light cream). You can use whole milk, skim milk, oat milk, or any milk alternative. For best foam, dairy milk works best.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Milk-Based Drinks

For a rich, balanced matcha coffee base, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend—an affordable, well-rounded espresso blend with notes of dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, and caramel. For a smoother milk drink, their Brazil Queen Manor SOE highlights yellow bourbon beans with sweet milk chocolate, almond, and soft caramel notes, ideal for lattes. Alternatively, the PWN Golden Mandheling offers bold spice and dark caramel tones that pair deeply with matcha’s earthiness. All three beans are excellent for creating smooth, flavorful espressos or milk coffees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.