How To Make a Matcha Latte Just Like a Cafe Latte

Recently I posted this matcha latte recipe to r/tea and I'd like to post it here but with some new pics, cheaper gear, and some bright green latte art!

To make a matcha latte you'll need a few things.  First and most importantly you need a matcha whisk or chasen, this is the essential tool for matcha. There is an inexpensive one at Den's Tea, you should order their sampler too while you're there.  If you must, Teavana also has one for 13$, but den's come highly recommended.  Other things you'll need are, cheap-but-not-nasty matcha, a flat bowl with steep sides, and anything that can froth hot milk. The one in this pic (middle right) is from ikea for $2.50.  You need a steamer if you want to make latte art so that is what was used this time.

You need to make matcha for this.  I will do an in depth post on matcha later, but for now this video by Thirsty For is an excellent guide for making matcha.  

Measure out 2g or one full teaspoon.  I'm usually generous with this because a matcha latte is a treat, so I don't hold back.

Time to whisk! 

Now for the milk.  I use whole milk because, like I said, matcha latte is a treat.  But if you want to use skim it froths up even better than whole.  Unsweetened soy milk compliments this well; I would steer clear of almond milk for this one (even though it's so yummy!).  If you want sugar now is the time to add it.  

Now that the milk is hot and foamy you can pour it over your matcha, in a separate glass or in the whisking vessel.  

Enjoy your delicious matcha latte!  

Another yummy drink is a Duke of Earl!  To make this switch the matcha with a super strong shot of Earl Grey.  To make the shot preheat a shot glass with boiling water, dump the water out, add enough Earl grey for a small pot of tea, add more boiling water, stir and steep for 5 min and you have a shot of Earl grey!

Too much coffee

I've never gotten jittery or a buzz or from any kind of tea, though I firmly believe that I function better after some tea.  Not because of the caffeine or Theanine, but because tea makes me happier.  No matter if I'm awfully upset or elated, tea makes everything better.  I love coffee, but I can definitely feel the effects of caffeine after a delicious pour over, or french press.. or two.  Not so much with espresso but that's a topic for another time.  Whenever I have too much coffee and it's late I get this weird feeling where I can feel my body is tired, but my mind is alert and very focused.  I normally love the feeling I get after a few well-made cups, but when I need to sleep it can make doing so very difficult. When that happens I turn to some of the heavily roasted, low grade oolong I have that has very sleepy cha qi or I go for some sleepytime by celestial seasonings.  I normally don't like bagged tea, but I haven't been able to find a good enough loose leaf blend like sleepytime.  Anyway a cup or two of either one of those really helps sooth my mind and calm me down.  Sleepytime can be found in almost any grocery store and is only a few bucks.  

Sleep tight!
Mickey

So many things!

I have so many things to write about since I am already so deep in the world of tea and coffee.  Many of the things I want to post about are small things that I've already experienced: a certain tea, company, recipe,  or item.  I'll try to give you a quick one paragraph post with a picture whenever I feel inspired to write about these small things.  There are somethings however, that I have a lot of thoughts on.  When it comes to these things I'll update you once a week with an in depth post about whatever it may be.  I'll do a post things like my thoughts on tea as a whole, my job at Hansa Coffee, or an in depth recipe.  Lets make that day Sunday.  So you'll be getting an in depth post every sunday and little posts whenever.

Until then, cheers!

Mickey

Me, You, Coffee, and Tea

I'm a young person in love with any kind of hot beverage. In Fall this coming year I will begin my career at Kendall Collage in Chicago for my Bachelor of Hospitality, specializing in beverage management. I'm inspired by flavor, color, culture, tradition, and people, so naturally, I gravitate towards tea more than anything else. Although, I currently work at the third wave coffee shop Hansa Coffee where I have learned a great deal about opening and running a small business and moved once step closer to my dream of opening up a tea and coffee shop. 

In this blog, I'll share my thoughts on tea and coffee with you -- the traditions that involve them, new ways of using them or preparing them, businesses that supply them, recipes that involve them, and most importantly the people I meet in the process and the things I learn from them. My hope is to teach and demonstrate to you that not only can you have great tea and coffee at home, you can also have cultural, traditional, inventive and unique experiences, and do so on a 17-year-old's budget.