Matcha Coffee Recipe: Everything’s Gone Green!

Matcha was originally used during the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Today, the drink, which consists of fine, green tea in powder form, is a popular coffee alternative in many places. Whipped up with milk and featuring a latte art heart, matcha coffee looks like a green cappuccino. Why does this make me think of Shrek?

The requisite tea powder from Japan is expensive, which makes matcha a status symbol to some. However, matcha doesn’t taste any different to regular green tea. Or, did I miss something? Join me to find out. Because I have a matcha coffee recipe that I think you’re going to love.

What Is Matcha Tea?

Matcha is green tea in powder form, which, like oolong, Pu-Erh and silver needle, is one of the highest quality teas in the world. During cultivation, the tea plant is shaded for almost a month, so that many amino acids (responsible for the dark green coloring), antioxidants and chlorophyll can form in the tea leaves.

After harvest, the tea leaves are taken to a production facility where they’re processed until only the leaf tissue, called tencha, remains. This is then slowly ground into fine powder so that the tea does not lose its inherent quality. The hot drink is also not infused in the usual way, but whipped up with water or milk.

Matcha has its origins in ancient China. There, in the sixth century, all teas were ground into powder. In the 12th century, matcha was brought to Japan by a traveling monk. The Japanese then set about perfecting matcha tea production, drinking it on special occasions or during a tea ceremony.

Does Matcha Have Caffeine?

On average, a teaspoon of matcha powder contains 40 to 80 milligrams of caffeine.¹ This places matcha between drip coffee and pour over, according to my caffeine study.

As usual with green tea, the caffeine effect lasts for a longer period of time. Thanks to the amino acid L-theanine contained in matcha tea, the caffeine is absorbed more slowly and evenly into the blood.

Recipe Idea: Cold Matcha Coffee

Of course, you can prepare matcha without coffee, but with this refreshing matcha coffee recipe with espresso you get twice the caffeine hit.

Equipment

Matcha tea preparation is best done in the traditional Japanese way. You can order a suitable [custom-aff asin=”B0BTYKN4KW” text=”matcha set” lang=”en” on the Internet. Still, at around $45, this isn’t exactly cheap and is only worthwhile if you’re interested in traditional tea preparation. Otherwise, you can use other utensils:

Ingredients

Method

Coffee Alternative: What Is a Matcha Latte?

With a matcha latte, the green tea powder is also first mixed into paste and then mixed with milk foam. You can use cow’s milk, almond milk, oat milk or any other non-dairy milk for the foam.

First put the frothed milk into the glass and then pour over the matcha tea. For a touch of sweetness, you can add some agave syrup.

Matcha vs Coffee

Coffee is prepared from harvested, roasted and ground coffee beans. Hot water meets coffee grounds, and flavors and substances end up in the cup as coffee compounds dissolve.

There are dozens of coffee preparation methods: you can choose the espresso machine, the fully automatic coffee machine or brewing by hand.

Depending on the type of bean and specific coffee drink, the brew tastes strong, mild, fruity, slightly bitter, chocolatey or nutty.

In contrast, with matcha, the tea leaves are treated during the preparation of the powder in such a way that they do not oxidize. They are steamed so that the ingredients are preserved. Thus, matcha is considered more natural and original.

Matcha tea has a grassy-sweet-mild taste. Like coffee, it contains caffeine, but this is bound to the secondary plant substances. The caffeine in matcha is released more slowly and evenly because it is bound to tannins and L-theanine, resulting in a longer but milder effect compared to coffee.

The Best Coffee Beans for Matcha Coffee

I recommend coffee beans with a fruity aroma and light acidity for matcha coffee preparation. In my experience, they go well with the mild, grassy taste of the tea powder. You are also welcome to try out my Coffeeness coffee beans. This carefully crafted blend has a nutty, chocolatey flavor that harmonizes well with the delicately nuanced flavors of the green tea.

Effects and Benefits: Is Matcha a Superfood?

Those looking for a gentle alternative to coffee, often choose black tea or green tea. Still, in terms of the wake-up effect, matcha, with its high caffeine content comes out on top. Matcha is often celebrated as a superfood, but many of its alleged benefits aren’t scientifically proven. Is it really a miracle cure or just hyped?

Tea Type	Caffeine Content
Green tea	20–45 mg per 8-ounce (240-milliliter) cup
Black tea	40–70 mg per 8-ounce (240-milliliter) cup
Matcha	35-70 mg per 1-gram of powder*

*which corresponds to a serving of about 2 ounces (60 milliliters).

As with other green teas, the so-called catechins are at the top of the hit list. The secondary plant substances are considered highly effective antioxidants. Among other things, they help slow cell aging, strengthen the immune system and can prevent cancer.²

In addition, matcha provides special amino acids (such as L-theanine). They are touted by the alternative medicine industry as an active ingredient to promote concentration,³ lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels, reduce anxiety and stress, alleviate ADHD and more.

In the media, you can get the impression that all this has already been extensively proven. But it has not. So far, there are only studies on isolated substances, or on products that contain matcha, but not on matcha tea itself. In addition, study results contradict each other and not all effects have been fully proven by scientific studies in humans.

What is certain is that the caffeine contained in matcha has a longer effect than that of coffee. This is particularly important for people who have to pay attention to their caffeine consumption.

Matcha Ingredients:

Is Matcha Healthy?

Matcha provides energy for the day, nothing more. That’s why I find the question of whether matcha tea has positive effects on health just as stupid as the question of whether coffee is healthy.

The media often give the impression that we should automatically feel better by consuming so-called “superfoods” such as matcha. But what is considered healthy can cause unpleasant side effects such as stomach pain in some people.

However, if you want to limit your coffee consumption for some reason, but do not want to do without the caffeine kick, matcha could be a great substitute for you. Nothing more and nothing less.

Are There Any Matcha Side Effects?

As a rule, Matcha is well tolerated. But as with any other food, side effects can occur. Some people experience stomach pain, digestive problems, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea or headaches. However, these symptoms usually only occur after several cups of matcha.

I can’t give you specific information here; tolerance always comes down to the individual. I mean, for one of you, two cups are enough, while others easily drink four to five cups a day.

Matcha Coffee as a Wake-Up Call: Caffeine Booster Trend or Pure Enjoyment?

I was quite surprised to learn that matcha has such a high caffeine content. This coffee alternative can obviously work as a decent energy booster. Although the powdered Japanese tea tastes like other green tea, marketing, Instagram and all the rest have ensured that matcha is no longer missing from any hip coffee bar menu.

And yes, its many beneficial ingredients cannot be dismissed. However, this does not automatically mean that matcha is healthier than coffee or anything else.

From an objective point of view, it hardly makes a difference whether you are drinking straight matcha tea or delicious matcha coffee.

Much more important is the question of whether you like Japanese green tea. Because matcha is primarily meant to be enjoyed.

Sources

1. Kochman et al (2020) molecules: Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review ↩︎
2. Isemura (2019) molecules: Catechin in Human Health and Disease ↩︎
3. Dietz & Dekker (2017) Current Pharmaceutical Design: Effect of Green Tea Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognition ↩︎