Topping a layer of matcha cold foam on cold brew coffee is my favorite tea and coffee combination: matcha coffee.
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When I talk about tea and coffee, there’s usually some sort of competition that arises. Which beverage does one prefer to drink? Is one better than the other?
But why does it have to be this way?
Despite this being my little corner of the internet dedicated to coffee, I have to admit that tea has its merits. (And ok I’ll also admit I do drink tea on occasion instead of coffee some mornings.)
So are there ways to combine both tea and coffee together? I’m here to tell you—there is a way. Actually a few ways.
When I usually think about combining these two popular morning beverages, I think about dirty chai lattes. This is a no-brainer combination of espresso and chai tea. There’s just something satisfying about taking a sip of the full flavor of espresso with the spiciness of chai.
And now for the next tea and coffee combo that should become a no-brainer: matcha and coffee.
Is matcha good in coffee?
While I think simply pouring a shot of espresso into a matcha latte isn’t terrible, it’s not actually my favorite way to drink matcha coffee.
Instead, I like to use matcha to flavor the cold foam that I pour on top of my cold brew coffee. This way, you can taste the matcha first, then the coffee. Just my preference.
And to make it even more delicious, I like using vanilla-flavored matcha. Matcha, coffee, and vanilla are a winning combination.
What is a dirty matcha latte?
Basically, adding a shot of espresso into a tea makes it ‘dirty’. For dirty chai tea, it’s called that because espresso is added. So for dirty matcha lattes, a shot of espresso is added.
Matcha caffeine vs coffee
Matcha has less caffeine than coffee.
I found a report on US News that states that there are about 20-39 milligrams of caffeine in half a teaspoon of powdered matcha. This is a typical serving of matcha.
Meanwhile, there are about 95 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee. We’ll call this one serving.
As you can see by this measurement, coffee has a significant amount of caffeine compared to matcha if measuring based on the serving size.
(Of course, adding both together means we’re drinking more caffeine than just your usual cup of coffee.)
Matcha Coffee Ingredients
- ½ tsp vanilla matcha
- ¼ cup milk or milk alternative
- 1 cup cold brew coffee
- Optional: Ice
Tips for Making Matcha Coffee
Matcha
I used Vahdam Vanilla Matcha. If you have a preferred matcha brand, feel free to use it.
I’m a fan of Vahdam’s turmeric teas. When I found out Vahdam also has a line of matcha powders, I knew I had to try them. And especially because they have various flavors—mint, turmeric, vanilla, cocoa, and more.
When I tried the vanilla flavored one, I thought it would pair perfectly with a light cold brew coffee. (What I used and recommend using when pairing matcha and coffee together.)
Vahdam Tea sources its matcha from the Shizuoka prefecture of Japan, where green tea is produced by tens of thousands of tons per year.
Cold Brew Coffee
For the coffee, I used coffee beans from my local coffee roaster. You can use any that you prefer. Check out the best cold brew coffee beans if you want to make cold brew and are looking for a new favorite bean.
As mentioned in the matcha section, I used cold brew coffee. To make cold brew coffee at home, all you need is coarsely ground coffee, water, and a French press or jar.
Just steep the ground beans in water overnight in the refrigerator and the result is cold brew coffee. Check out my guide to making cold brew coffee (including a few methods.)
Although I prefer the combination of matcha with cold brew coffee, this recipe will work with any coffee brewing method you prefer. Try any and see what you prefer.
Milk
For the matcha cold foam, I mixed it with almond milk. I used an electric milk frother on a cold froth setting.
If you don’t have an electric milk frother, you can also try shaking the matcha and milk vigorously in a mason jar for several seconds until combined and frothed.
How to Make Matcha Coffee
- Brew coffee. Use your favorite coffee brewing method. For this recipe, I used cold brew coffee.
- Froth matcha powder and milk in a milk frother.
- Pour coffee into a glass, top with frothed matcha.
- Optional: Add ice
In pictures…
Step 1
Brew coffee. You can make this either hot or iced.
If making it hot, choose your preferred coffee brewing method. For iced, you can set aside the hot coffee until cool and add ice.
Or make cold brew coffee as I did. To make cold brew coffee at home, steep coarsely ground coffee beans in water overnight, strain, and you have cold brew coffee. Here’s a guide to making cold brew coffee at home.
Step 2
Use a milk frother and froth the matcha powder and milk.
For hot coffee, make sure to use your hot frothing setting and top the coffee with warm matcha.
And for my cold brew matcha coffee, I used the cold setting on my milk frother, which resulted in a cold foam that sits nicely on top of the coffee.
Step 3
Pour coffee into a mug, top with frothed matcha, and enjoy!
More Coffee Recipes You May Like
Matcha Coffee Recipe
Matcha Coffee
Topping a layer of matcha cold foam on cold brew coffee is my favorite tea and coffee combination.
Tools
- ½ tsp vanilla matcha
- ¼ cup milk or milk alternative
- 1 cup cold brew coffee
- Optional: Ice
Instructions
- 1. Brew coffee. Use your favorite coffee brewing method. For this recipe, I used cold brew coffee.
- 2. Froth matcha powder and milk in a milk frother.
- 3. Pour coffee into a glass, top with frothed matcha.
- 4. Optional: Add ice
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