It ain’t easy being green. Unless you’re a Matcha Latte, of course. This creamy, dreamy Dunkin’ Donuts copycat recipe is so easy to make, and brings those coffee shop feels right into your kitchen.
I’ll show you how to make a hot matcha latte and an iced matcha latte just like they do at Dunkin’, at a fraction of the cost!
The first time I tried matcha, it was love at first sip. A matcha latte, with its vibrant green color and creamy, frothy mouthfeel has become one of my favorite beverages.
And I love being able to make this coffee house favorite at home with only two main ingredients. You will too!
What is matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder that has been a staple in Japanese culture for centuries. It starts with a young green tea leaf. These very high quality green tea leaves are ground to a fine powder, resulting in a beautiful pale green color.
Matcha has a mild but earthy flavor and can be used to make a simple hot tea or combined with milk to make a creamy latte. I’ve even made ice cream with it and it’s ah-mazing!
Ingredients for this Matcha Latte Recipe
Two simple ingredients is all you’ll need to make this Dunkin’ Donuts matcha latte recipe:
- Milk. Any type of milk can be used, from skim milk all the way through whole milk. Plant-based milks can also be used. Go with your own preference.
- Sweetened matcha powder. Dunkin’ uses a brand called Aiya Zen Cafe. It comes already sweetened and ready to create your latte. If you want your matcha latte to taste exactly like Dunkin’s matcha latte, this is the brand to use. If you find that Aiya Zen Cafe is out of your price range, a very delicious substitute at a lower price point is made by Jade Leaf.
If you are not using sweetened matcha powder, you’ll need to add your own sweetener to regular matcha powder. Be sure to use a high-quality matcha green tea powder that will be labeled as “ceremonial grade matcha“. Ceremonial matcha is the finest matcha available, made with the finest tea leaves.
An advantage of using ceremonial matcha is that you get to control the level of sweetness in your green tea drink. You can also reduce calories, grams of sugar and grams of carbohydrates by using sugar substitutes.
How to make this Dunkin’ Donuts Matcha Latte Recipe
Dunkin’ Donuts and other coffee shops usually offer matcha lattes in two and sometimes even three ways. The most common are hot lattes and iced lattes. Sometimes you can even get your matcha latte frozen.
Making a hot matcha latte
First, place your sweetened matcha powder into the bottom of a glass or coffee mug.
Then, steam the milk. If you have an espresso maker with a milk frother attachment, you can use it to steam the cold milk.
Place the frother attachment just underneath the surface of the milk without going too deep. When the cup of milk becomes almost too hot to handle, you’ll know that it’s ready.
You can also steam the milk in a small saucepan on the stove, watching it carefully so that it doesn’t boil over and scorch. The microwave also works!
Pour the steamed milk into the glass of matcha powder and give it a good stir.
Making an iced matcha latte
Start the same way as if you were making a hot beverage, and place the matcha powder into a glass. You’ll need to use a handheld milk frother to get the cold milk nice and creamy.
If you don’t have a handheld frother, pour the milk into a French press coffee maker and plunge up and down vigorously until it gets frothy.
Stir the frothed milk into the matcha powder and pour the entire mixture over ice.
Making a frozen matcha latte
This one is the easiest to make.
Simply place your powdered matcha blend, milk and ice into a blender and process until you get a frosty, smooth texture.
Do you need to add hot water to this matcha latte?
You won’t need to dissolve the matcha powder in hot water as long as you stir it vigorously with the steamed milk OR use a handheld milk frother to combine the ingredients.
If for any reason your matcha latte comes out grainy, you can use hot water to dissolve the powder, using 2 tablespoons of hot water for every tablespoon of matcha powder.
Variations on this Matcha Latte Recipe
Once you’re hooked on the creamy, earthy deliciousness of a matcha latte, play around with these different ideas for matcha drinks:
- Milk Choice: Opt for dairy milk or a dairy-free alternative like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk or oat milk to suit your dietary preferences.
- Sweeteners: If you’re using unsweetened matcha powder, experiment with different sweeteners like honey, agave syrup, maple syrup or stevia for a personalized sweetness level.
- Flavor Additions: Make gourmet matcha lattes by infusing them with extracts and dried spices. Make a vanilla matcha latte with a dash of vanilla extract or vanilla syrup, or a cinnamon matcha latte using ground cinnamon.
- Toppings: Get creative with toppings like whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or a sprinkle of coconut flakes for added texture and flavor.
Is a Matcha Latte healthy?
This Dunkin’ Donuts matcha latte recipe can be as healthy as you make it. If you use a low fat milk, nonfat milk, or a plant-based milk, this green tea latte can easily fit into a healthy lifestyle.
And matcha itself has a ton of great health benefits! Here are just a few:
- Rich in Antioxidants: Matcha is teeming with antioxidants, particularly catechins, which combat free radicals in the body, aiding in cell repair and overall health.
- Metabolic Boost: The combination of caffeine and a unique amino acid called L-theanine in matcha promotes a sustained, steady energy release and can enhance metabolism without the jitters associated with other caffeine sources. This is great for weight loss!
- Calming Effect: L-theanine also has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety, making matcha a perfect balance of energy and relaxation.
- Detoxification: Chlorophyll in matcha supports the body’s natural detoxification processes, helping to flush out toxins.
Is there caffeine in a matcha latte?
There is a decent amount of caffeine in matcha, but not as much as in coffee. A typical cup of regular green tea has about 30-40 mg of caffeine as compared to about 90 mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee.
So a Dunkin matcha latte won’t rev your engine the way a cup of coffee will, but it will provide enough of an energy boost to keep you focused.
When you make this matcha latte recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more coffee house recipes, try these:
- Iced Mocha Macchiato Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
- Chai Tea Latte Recipe (Just like Dunkin Donuts)
- Irish Cream Breve Recipe
- Mocha Macchiato Recipe
Matcha Latte Recipe (Dunkin Copycat: Iced and Hot)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 Tbsp. sweetened matcha powder
Instructions
Hot Latte Instructions
- Put matcha powder at the bottom of a glass.
- Steam the milk. Froth the milk, if desired. Pour the milk into the glass of matcha powder. Stir vigorously until blended. Serve warm.
Iced Latte Instructions
- Put matcha powder and milk into a glass. Using a handheld frother, froth the milk and powder until creamy. Pour over ice and serve cold.
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