We have all known the exceptional health benefits Green Tea has to offer, but one drink that has surpassed regular green tea in taste, flavor, texture, and caffeine is a Japanese tea called Matcha tea.
This bright green-colored drink started becoming popular in recent years once it was introduced in coffee shops! You can find this form of caffeine and leafy goodness everywhere now in lattes, tea, ice cream, smoothies, and even frostings.
With so many variations of matcha powder coming up, it also gives rise to the question: Can you put matcha powder in coffee?
Yes, you can add matcha powder in your coffee. Even though both coffee and matcha powder are two exceptionally different forms of caffeine. Combining them together would result in a drink that not only tastes good but is filled with amazing health benefits and flavor profiles.
But, before you go ahead with making this delicious combination, it is important to understand the properties both coffee and matcha have to offer and also the correct way of using matcha powder in your coffee. Continue reading to find out more about this!
About Matcha Powder And Its Rich History
The origin of matcha dates back to the 8th century in China. Where powdered tea was made from steam-prepared dried tea leaves. However, the process of whipping powdered tea with hot water in a bowl became popular during the latter part of the 12th century.
It is said, that during this time Matcha was discovered by a Buddhist monk, Myoan Eisai. Who later brought the famous drink to Japan. Eisai realized that drinking matcha tea gave him a calm and alert feeling which in turn helped him meditate better.
Eisai is famously quoted as saying that Matcha green tea was the “elixir of the immortals’.
Powdered tea was soon forgotten in China, but it became an important ingredient in Zen’s monasteries. Matcha powder not only helped the monks meditate better but also was considered as attaining enlightenment.
What Are Some Benefits Of Matcha?
Now that we have talked about the rich history of matcha powder, let’s learn about the exceptional health wellness benefits of this green tea powder. Some of these benefits are listed below-
1. Matcha powder puts you in a calm and alert mood
One of the most common benefits of drinking matcha is that it relaxes your mind and helps you focus this happens due to s L-theanine, an amino acid that is present in matcha. The L-theanine content in matcha green tea is 5 times the amount of other green teas.
2. Matcha is high in antioxidants
Studies show that matcha has a really high antioxidant rating which can also prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) test found that matcha measured in at a staggering 1384 units per gram. That is 15x the antioxidants in blueberries or 125x the antioxidants in spinach.
3. Matcha helps you concentrate better
The simple reason behind this is the L-theanine and caffeine combination. Caffeine in matcha binds to catechins (A type of compound found in tea and berries). As the catechins break down, caffeine is slowly released into the bloodstream over a 6 to 8-hour period.
This results, in not giving you the jitters that you would get after consuming high amounts of caffeine. Instead makes you feel calm and helps focus better.
Why Mix Coffee With Matcha?
The combination of coffee with matcha is such a unique and beautiful match, that you’ll fall in love with the flavors of this drink. There are several ways you can mix coffee and matcha to suit your taste buds.
If you’re a coffee-lover, then you can make that drink in a way that it tastes more like coffee with a hint of matcha flavor. Alternatively, if you are a green tea lover you can prepare your matcha tea with a shot of espresso to give it a subtle flavor of the coffee.
Both coffee and matcha are filled with tremendous health benefits and can be a perfect way to kickstart your day. One of the biggest reasons this flavor combination has gained popularity and is enjoyed by so many people is because of how different the drink feels from a regular tea or coffee!
How To Use Matcha Powder In Your Coffee?
The best way to consume matcha with coffee is to make a classic matcha espresso fusion or a latte. You can also experiment with other forms of caffeinated drinks like cappuccino, and iced coffee and add matcha to them.
Whenever you are using matcha powder you need to be careful because a little can go a long way. Do not overdo the matcha powder or else you will end up with an extremely bitter combination of coffee and matcha.
In most cases using anywhere between 1-2 teaspoons is fine and can make a fairly good cup of tea. Here are some things to note down when using matcha powder in your coffee –
- Be sure to Use Good Quality Matcha Powder.
- Make sure that you whip the matcha with water or milk properly to ensure no lumps are left.
- Use fresh and good-quality coffee beans or powder.
- Do not store the drink for a very long period, drink it immediately.
Matcha Coffee Recipe – The Best Combination You’ll Ever Taste
As we mentioned, Matcha and Coffee both have exceptional benefits. While coffee can give you that morning buzz, matcha can help relax your nerves and also give you a boost of energy. The combination of these two drinks is not only delicious but also power-packed and refreshing. Here is how to make matcha coffee-
Ingredients
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 Tsp of matcha powder
- 2 Tbsp Hot Water
- 1 tsp vanilla syrup
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup ice
Process
- Take matcha powder and hot water in a bowl and whisk it properly. Ensure the matcha powder dissolves completely and leaves no lumps behind.
- Pull a shot of espresso using an espresso machine. Alternatively, you can also use 1/4 cup of brewed coffee.
- Take a tall glass, and add ice, matcha mix, espresso, and vanilla syrup. Give it a good stir. You can also add simple syrup, honey, or maple syrup.
- Froth milk using a milk frother. Add the nicely frothed milk on top and give it a good stir. Serve chilled.
Some Coffee-Matcha Recipes You Can Try
While there are many ways to try out this combination, we would suggest you experiment with adding matcha to different coffee recipes and select what you love the most.
Here are some recipes you can try out-
1. Matcha-Espresso fusion – As the name suggests matcha espresso fusion is a drink made with matcha and espresso. This is a drink that is very popular at Starbucks in Asia. You can check out the recipe here!
2. Iced Matcha Coffee Latte- Well, who doesn’t love a refreshing iced latte on a summer morning? Iced Matcha Coffee Latte is a refreshing beverage that brings out the best of both worlds. Check out the recipe here!
Best Matcha Powder to use
While there are dozens of options to choose from when it comes to Matcha powder you need to make sure that you select the best quality matcha to get the best flavor and taste.
Midori Spring Premium Authentic Japenese Powder is the best choice for this.
- Ceremonial Versatile Matcha – Great for beginner Matcha drinkers and Chefs. Emerald offers a balance of premium taste with unrivaled versatility. This 1st harvest, ceremonial grade Matcha is rich vibrant green in color, sweet in aroma with smooth earthy flavors. Our leaves are shade grown, hand picked by farmers and blended by veteran Tea master with over 30 years of experience.
- Bodily Benefits – Our Emerald Class Organic Matcha is rich in antioxidants, with greater than 137x the EGCG levels that of regular steeped tea. Organic Matcha has been shown to help Increase energy levels and alertness without jitters.
This green tea is perfect for use in beverages or desserts, made with the most premium quality green tea leaves it is sure to leave your taste buds wanting for more. Midori green tea is rich in antioxidants, Some of the benefits that it offers are –
- Increase energy levels
- Help reduce stress and improve mental alertness
- Support metabolism and help with weight loss
- Support the immune system and helps reduce inflammation.
- Help the body cleanse harmful elements.
Why You Might Not Want To Mix Matcha With Coffee?
Even though matcha comes with a lot of health benefits, consuming matcha with coffee might not be a good idea for a certain group of people.
Matcha and coffee are both very heavily caffeinated drinks. Typically an 8-ounce cup of matcha, that is made of 1 teaspoon of matcha powder contains around 78 milligrams of caffeine. Conversely, a cup of coffee can contain around 95mg of coffee.
Both powders combined can make a very strong cup of beverage, and may not be suitable for people who get jittery or anxious feeling after drinking a cup of coffee!
In general here are a few cases when you should avoid coffee-
- If it increases your anxiety
- If you have trouble sleeping
- If it affects your digestion
Can You Put Matcha Powder In Milk Frother?
Matcha is usually whisked with a wooden whisk in a bowl using warm water or milk. The reason this is done is so that when you add matcha to the milk it does not create any lumps. However, many people prefer to add it to a milk frother directly, so can you put matcha powder in a milk frother?
Yes, you can put matcha powder in a milk frother. There is no reason that you cannot add matcha powder directly to your frother. With electric frothers, the speed of whisking is really high, so there are really fewer chances that the matcha powder will become clumpy. Read the complete guide on if you can put matcha powder in milk frother here.
Best Milk Frother For Matcha Latte
There are so many milk frothers available in the market, that it can be really confusing to select a milk frother that is best for your use and suitability. The frother that we think would work the best when making matcha latte is the Secura Detachable Milk Frother, given that this device can steam or froth milk of huge quantities into perfection; this would be the right fit.
Why limit yourself to Matcha Latte? You can use this classic frother to froth hot or cold milk, steam milk, and also prepare hot chocolate. The device also has a sleek look which looks like a statement piece of equipment on your kitchen countertop. It is also quite affordable if you are planning to invest in a good quality frother for the longer run.
Here is a list of the 8 best milk frothers for matcha latte!
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy green tea and coffee, you should go right ahead and try this delightful combination. Consuming matcha and coffee can really give you a calm and relaxed mindset to start your day. Try out a few recipes at home, or head to the nearest Starbucks you will surely find a bunch of matcha-coffee beverages there!
Related Questions
Normally matcha powder is steamed and prepared for use. There is however another Japanese tea known as Hojcha. Hojicha powder is made by roasting green tea leaves which also results in a chocolaty color. The taste of this roasted green tea powder is smoky and it is naturally sweet.
There are certain points that give matcha better leverage over coffee, even though they both almost contain the same amount of caffeine, Matcha green tea gives you a calm and alert feeling.
The caffeine in matcha is released slowly into your bloodstream as compared to coffee. A really strong cup of coffee can give you jitters or even make you feel anxious. Both these drinks have similar properties but some can say matcha has better health benefits than coffee.
If you want to experience the true taste of matcha, you should try it without adding anything, simply because it is known for – Green tea. To make matcha you need to whisk it with hot water, or frothy almond, oat, or regular milk. You can make it Iced or cold. You can also add toppings like cream, cinnamon powder, condensed milk, etc.
We have all loved and admired the bright green shade that matcha is, but the reason behind this is the way matcha is grown and processed. Matcha is never exposed to sunlight. Bamboo traps are hoisted upon the tea plants. The lack of sunlight causes the plants to concentrate large amounts of chlorophyll and other nutrients, and therefore it results in an extremely bright green matcha powder.
Yes, you can add almond or coconut milk to your coffee and matcha powder beverage.
If caffeinated beverages are not a problem for you, then there is no reason why you cannot consume matcha and coffee every day. However, since both these drinks are high in caffeine, it is absolutely necessary to not go overboard with them.
Generally, it is told, 400mg of caffeine per day is safe to drink. Which is equal to 4 cups of coffee. Therefore, when adding matcha to your coffee, you must quantify the amount of caffeine you are intaking so you do not go overboard.
Caffeine in matcha binds to catechins (A type of compound found in tea and berries). As the catechins break down, caffeine is slowly released into the bloodstream over a 6 to 8-hour period. Therefore, caffeine in matcha powder can last anywhere between 6 to 8 hours.
There are several ways you can incorporate matcha into your diet apart from tea or coffee. Here are a few of them:
-Add it to Baked Goods like cakes, cheesecakes, etc.
-Mix it in your smoothie or smoothie bowl
-Have it with your morning breakfast like oatmeal or pancakes.
