This cool and creamy Copycat Starbucks Matcha Latte Recipe brings all the sweet and earthy flavor to the comfort of your own home! It’s a super easy iced matcha latte recipe, you can make in less than 5 minutes!
Matcha green tea lattes have become all the rage lately!
What is matcha? Matcha is a powder made from green tea. Unlike green tea, which comes in a tea bag, matcha is a powder you stir in hot water or milk.
It’s a healthy alternative to coffee or other high caffeine drinks. It is earthy in flavor. Sweetened and served over ice, it’s a refreshing summer drink!
The Starbucks matcha latte recipe has been on the menu for quite some time. Maybe you’ve enjoyed it yourself, or seen people walk out of Starbucks with an interesting bright green drink, and wondered what it was they were drinking.
Since a grande Matcha Latte at Starbucks can run you $4 or more, 200 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 28 grams of sugar, I thought I should try making my own healthier version at home.
This frothy drink recipe is so easy, and only requires a few simple pantry ingredients! It’s also all natural, lower in sugar, and lower in calories.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe!
- Cool and refreshing!
- Perfect drink for summer!
- Only a few simple steps
- No milk frother needed
- A healthy caffeine kick!
- Naturally sweetened
- Vegan and Dairy-Free
- Tastes amazing!
Latte Ingredients and Notes
Matcha Powder: When you buy matcha powder there are two types you’ll find. Ones that include added sugars and other ingredients, and ones that are purely matcha powder. Get the type that is pure matcha powder, no extra stuff! You can find it online, Whole Foods, or Asian markets.
Dairy-Free Milk: I used unsweetened almond milk for my recipe, but I also recommend oat milk, soy milk, or a light coconut milk. Oat milk and soy milk will allow the flavor of the matcha to shine through. Whereas you’ll taste an undertone of coconut if you choose to go with coconut milk.
Maple Syrup: You can add more or less than the one tablespoon of maple syrup in the recipe. However, I recommend starting with one, tasting, and adding more if you think it needs more sweetness.
Vanilla Extract: The vanilla extract gives a slight hint of vanilla flavor that you’ll find in the Starbucks version.
Tools and Equipment
Blender: Any blender you have at home will do just fine. Be sure to blend long enough to remove any lumps so that you have a nice smooth and creamy consistency.
Step by Step Instructions
Add your milk of choice, matcha powder, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to your blender.
Cover and blend for 30 seconds to a minute until smooth and creamy.
Pour over ice, and serve! Enjoy immediately!
Recipe FAQS
Matcha powder is made from the green tea leaf. It is grown in a shady area, and harvested after 3-4 weeks. The stems and veins are removed, and the leaves are dried and ground into powder.
Yes! Matcha does have caffeine. This recipe has 1 teaspoon of matcha which has about 68 grams of caffeine. A cup of coffee has about 100 grams of caffeine. Matcha contains slightly less caffeine than a typical cup of coffee.
Yes! Matcha drinks are good for you as long as you’re not consuming them with too much sugar. It is high in antioxidants which can help reduce cell damage. In some studies, matcha tea has shown to prevent or reduce liver damage. Because it includes caffeine, and L-theanine, it has been shown to improve brain function. It has also shown to improve heart health, and help with weight loss.
There are several differences between the two. The first, and most noticeable is that they taste different. Green tea has a lighter flavor, whereas matcha has a bold.
Green tea is often served with just hot water, whereas matcha is served with milk, and sugar, and thus has a creamier and sweeter flavor when prepared.
Both matcha and green tea are made from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis plant. However, they are processed differently.
Most green tea comes from China, while most matcha comes from Japan. Green tea is made using the entire leaf by sun-drying, basket-firing, pan-firing, oven-drying, tumbling, or steaming. This takes away the bitter flavor.
Matcha on the other hand is made by removing the stems, and veins, and then quickly steaming, then grinding it into a fine powder. The result is a vibrant green color but a more bitter flavor.
No, you can’t make a matcha latte using green tea. They are two different things, and the result will be different. You can steep your green tea bags in hot water, and add a bit of milk, and maple syrup, but the color, taste, and texture will not be the same.
The best milk to use is the one that is your favorite! An oat milk will give you a frothier texture, whereas a coconut milk will give you a slightly sweeter undertone. You can also use whole milk or regular milk if you choose. Either way, if you allow the matcha to blend for a minute it will become smooth and frothy and have an excellent flavor.
The key to achieve a lump free latte is to blend it on high for at least a minute. This will dissolve any lumps that form.
All you need to do to create a warm latte, is to steam the milk. You can do this by warming your milk on the stovetop and using a bamboo whisk to create a frothy texture, then add the other ingredients whisking continuously until combined. If you still see lumps of matcha, place in the blender and blend on high for 30 seconds to a minute.
Expert Tips for Making The Best Copycat Iced Starbucks Matcha Latte Recipe
- Use a blender, for best results. Simply whisking the ingredients together will not be enough to remove any lumps and create a creamy frothy texture.
- Be sure to use fresh cold milk. This will result in a creamier consistency.
- Make sure to use pure matcha powder, not the matcha mixes. This is a healthier option, with less sugar and calories. You’ll get all the benefits of matcha without any of the bad stuff!
More matcha and coffee recipes recipes!
If you’ve tried this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!
Copycat Iced Starbucks Matcha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 tsp matcha powder pure matcha/no added sugars
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add your milk of choice, matcha powder, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to your blender.
- Cover and blend for 30 seconds to a minute until smooth and creamy.
- Pour over ice, and serve! Enjoy immediately!
Video
Notes
- Half the calories than a regular Starbucks Grande Iced Matcha Latte.
- More than half the sugar as the original.
- Serve over ice.
- Enjoy right away!
Nutrition
So good, I’ve been wondering how to make these. Thanks for the recipe.
This matcha latte looks amazing! A perfect summer drink.
This drink is going to be my daughter’s favorite! So excited to share this recipe with her! Perfect for summer too!
This is one of my favorite drinks from Starbucks! Can’t wait to try this homemade version it looks so yummy!