This dirty matcha latte is a barista-style drink prepared at home with minimal equipment and less than 5 minutes!
This dirty matcha is a perfect drink for hot summer days. With chilled espresso, creamy oat milk, and umami matcha flavor, this latte is the ultimate flavor combo for the extra caffeine boost.
If you want to enjoy other matcha beverages, try this classic oat milk matcha latte. And if you’re feeling adventurous and want to explore different flavors, the matcha chai latte and turmeric latte are excellent options.
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Ingredients
- Matcha powder: My favorite matcha is the Jade Leaf cafe-style sweetened matcha latte mix. This is an excellent option if you want to have budget-friendly matcha that will taste good. You can use your favorite matcha. To read more about how to pick the best matcha for you, please take a look at the Picking the Matcha section. Read the following article to learn more about matcha and matcha tea benefits.
- Warm water: We’ll need warm water to dissolve the matcha powder. Please ensure you are not using very hot or boiling water because that will burn the matcha and alter the taste of the latte.
- Espresso: For this recipe, I used a double shot of my favorite espresso pod – Nespresso Vertuo. You don’t need a fancy espresso machine to make barista-style lattes at home. A basic Keurig or Nespresso machine will work great. You can use your favorite coffee beans or pod for this recipe. I suggest using mild coffee beans, which will not be too strong or bland.
- Brown sugar: I love using brown sugar for my lattes. It gives a richer and more profound, almost caramelized taste. Since the matcha powder I am using, I only used one teaspoon of sugar. Please feel free to adjust the amount of sugar you’d like.
- Oat milk: My favorite non-dairy option for lattes is oat milk. I used full-fat Oatly milk for this recipe. It has a creamy and yummy flavor that pairs perfectly with all ingredients.
See recipe card for quantities.
Why You’ll Love This Beverage
- Easy to make: With my simple and easy instructions, you will make this drink perfectly the first time.
- Refreshing and tasty: This is a delicious and refreshing beverage for hot summer days.
- Beautiful presentation: Distinct layers create a stunning display.
Equipment and Tools Needed
- Hand-held frother (or a matcha whisk)
- Jar
- Bar spoon
- Tall glass
- Espresso machine like Keurig or Nespresso
Picking the Matcha
With so many different options, sometimes it can be overwhelming to pick the suitable matcha.
Here are some of my tips for picking the matcha that’s right for you:
- Categories of matcha:
- Ceremonial-grade: This is the highest quality matcha. This matcha is best-suitable for preparing matcha tea.
- Latte-grade: The name itself explains that this matcha is best for lattes. This is a slightly lower-grade matcha than a ceremonial-grade matcha. It’s also less expensive as well.
- Culinary-grade: This grade of matcha is mainly used for baking. This matcha is more bitter and the least expensive.
- Color: One of the ways you can tell if matcha is high-quality is by color. The excellent quality matcha will be a bright green color. The lower quality matcha will be light green or even brownish color.
- Scent and flavor: The good matcha will have a grassy, fresh aroma and creamy and umami flavor. In comparison, the poor quality matcha has a bitter taste.
- Price: Matcha powder can have a wide price range based on many factors. The best matcha, with the highest quality and taste, can be very expensive. Pick the matcha that’s somewhere in between, affordable, but still excellent quality and flavor.
Instructions
Before preparing this latte, gather all ingredients, equipment, and necessary tools.
To enjoy a barista-style latte in the comfort of your own home, follow these step-by-step instructions.
Step 1: Prepare the double espresso shot and leave it in the freezer to cool down while preparing other ingredients.
Step 2: Prepare the matcha mix by adding matcha powder, sugar and warm water. Mix with a frother or a bamboo whisk. Add the matcha mixture to a tall glass or a jar.
Step 3: Add the ice cubes almost to the top of the jar or tall glass.
Step 4: Pour the oat milk slowly, using a spoon.
Step 5: Start pouring the chilled espresso using a spoon.
Step 6: Pour espresso, along with the foam, all the way to the top of the jar.
Hint: Before pouring the oat milk, shake the carton for a few seconds.
The Layers
To preserve the beautiful layers of this dirty matcha, there are a few things to consider.
First, please ensure that the bottom layer has added sugar since the sugar will naturally sink to the bottom. I added a little sugar to this recipe since the matcha powder I am using is already sweetened.
For optimal layer preservation, it is recommended to include ample large ice cubes before pouring warm espresso atop.
Last but not least, use a spoon to pour the ingredients slowly.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Prepare the espresso beforehand: I recommend preparing it first and putting it in the freezer briefly to cool down.
- Add sugar to matcha to preserve the layers: To ensure beautiful layers, it is recommended to place the layer with sugar at the bottom. This is because the sugar can cause the mixture to sink, resulting in an uneven presentation.
- Slowly pour over the spoon: To help preserve the layers, slowly pour the milk and espresso over the small spoon.
- Use quality ingredients: When making a latte, the taste can be influenced by the choice of matcha powder, oat milk, and even espresso beans. It is recommended to use the suggested ingredients, but if you already have a preferred brand of coffee beans and matcha, you are welcome to use those instead.
- Use lots of ice: To keep the latte cold, use lots of ice. I also recommend using large ice cubes so they don’t melt fast.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use different sweeteners: I like using brown sugar because it has a rich and almost caramelized flavor when added to a latte. Feel free to use another sweetener like maple syrup, agave syrup, or even another type of sugar.
- Use different espresso: Use your favorite espresso pod or beans, depending on how you prepare the espresso shots. The stronger the espresso, the more bitter the latte will be, so you may need to add more sugar.
- Use different milk: I am a true fan of the Oatly brand and always use their oat milk. Feel free to use your favorite oat milk or even a different type of non-dairy milk. If you don’t follow a vegan/vegetarian diet, feel free to use dairy milk too.
- Adjust the coffee/matcha ratio: I used only one teaspoon of matcha, but if you prefer a more robust matcha flavor, use two teaspoons. Also, use one espresso shot instead of two if you want less coffee in the latte.
- Make a hot latte: Don’t like iced drinks? Make a hot latte instead. In this case, adding ice or chilling the espresso is unnecessary before pouring. Please note that you won’t have the distinct layers as with an iced latte.
How to Serve
I like to serve this drink in a tall glass or a jar to preserve the beautiful layers before mixing and drinking it.
Storage
I recommend serving this drink as soon as you make it. If you need to store it, remove the ice cubes and store the latte in the fridge for a day. When you want to drink it, add ice cubes and enjoy it.
FAQ
Visit the search results to see which questions come up under the People also ask section for your primary keyword, and answer them here
Yes, it does. Since you are using the espresso and matcha, it will have plenty of caffeine. The exact amount depends on the espresso you are using and also matcha.
Depending on the ratio of coffee to matcha, dirty matcha will have a unique flavor combination of creamy matcha and coffee, with one flavor being more dominant based on the ratio.
Adding sugar to matcha can negate its health benefits, so moderation is key, just like other sugary drinks.
Ceremonial grade matcha is a high-quality matcha. This matcha is mainly used for preparing matcha tea.
OTHER BEVERAGE RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE
- Dalgona Latte
- Butterfly Pea Latte
- Iced Oat Milk Latte
- Matcha Chai Latte
- Oat Milk Matcha Latte
- Rose Chai Latte
- Espresso Tonic
- Iced Almond Milk Latte
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Dirty Matcha Latte
Equipment
- hand held frother (or matcha whisk)
- jar
- bar spoon
- tall glass
- measuring cups and spoons
- Espresso machine (see notes)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- ⅓ cup warm water
- 1 – 2 teaspoon brown sugar
- oat milk (enough to fill the jar ¾ of way)
- 2 shots espresso
Instructions
- Make the double espresso shot and leave it in the freezer to cool down.
- Add matcha powder and brown sugar to a tall glass while the espresso cools down.
- Add warm water to a glass with matcha and brown sugar. Using a hand-held frother, mix the matcha until there are no clumps left – approximately 5-10 seconds.
- Pour matcha into a jar or a large glass. Then, add ice cubes to a jar.
- Shake the oat milk carton before slowly pouring the oat milk into the jar.
- Finally, slowly pour the cooled espresso into the jar to create the layers between each liquid for a visual effect.
- Mix with a straw before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Shake the oat milk carton before pouring the milk.
- Add sugar to the bottom layer, so even if you want to switch the layers, sugar always goes to the bottom. Otherwise, the layers will mix while you are pouring the ingredients.
- Pour ingredients slowly over the spoon to preserve the layers.
Mujo
❤️ Thank you
Liz Malcolm
This tastes as amazing as it looks! 😍
Natasa
Thank you Liz, I am glad you like it! 🙂