Coconut Matcha Latte

Frothy, creamy and energising – this coconut matcha latte is a delicious morning booster that will help you jump-start your day. 

Keeping in line with our new years resolutions, I’m sharing a healthy breakfast beverage with you today. If you are currently trying to cut out coffee or dairy from your diet, this is an ideal substitution for your regular cup of Joe in the mornings. Since we talked all about an early morning routine in my last post, I thought it would be the perfect time to showcase this delicious and caffeinated coconut matcha latte. Because let’s be honest, waking up early isn’t always so easy and we can all use a little caffeine from time to time. Not only is this latte a yummy treat to wake up to, it also provides your body with nutrients and fuel to start your day off on the right foot!

This recipe has been my go-to beverage shortly before my exams. While I have become an avid coffee drinker, I actually prefer matcha tea. It doesn’t contain as much acid and in turn doesn’t stress my stomach as much. It also doesn’t make me feel nervous or give me the shakes (which is particularly annoying on a day where I am doing photoshoots!). Plus as a foodie, I enjoy switching out my morning beverages from time to time. While this matcha takes a little longer than just popping a capsule into my dolce gusto coffee machine, it doesn’t take me longer than 5 minutes to prepare. 

Matcha vs. Green Tea

To start off – matcha is a type of green tea. There are, however, substantial differences between the two. When drinking regular green tea, the leaves are brewed in water, removed and only the liquid is consumed. Matcha, however, consists of young tea leaves that are ground to a powder, which are then dissolved in hot water – meaning that you are drinking the whole tea leaves. This provides you with the full nutritional benefits. It also means that matcha contains more caffeine than regular green tea.  

Matcha tea is one of the healthiest types of tea you can drink. It’s loaded with antioxidants and theanine, which has stress-reducing effects. It can also aid in weight loss and help you stay alert and fit throughout the day. In contrast to coffee, it doesn’t spike your glucose levels which then is followed by a crash. Instead it consistently gives you energy, without making you feel jittery or nervous. If you have ever had that sensation before, you’ll know the discomfort I’m talking about. It’s really not fun! In turn, I find that I am also able to fall asleep better on a day I’ve had matcha than on a day where I’ve had coffee.

Tips for the perfect matcha latte

When it comes to preparing matcha tea, temperature is key. Using boiling water not only destroys the beneficial nutrients, it also makes the matcha taste bitter. The maximum temperature for your tea water shouldn’t exceed 80C (175F). If your tea kettle doesn’t let you select the temperature, you can simply boil water and add a little bit of cold water on top. I personally do not own a tea kettle at the moment, so I typically boil water, remove the pot from the heat and let it cool down for about 5 minutes. This has been working well for me. 

To make the perfect matcha latte, I suggest using a little bamboo brush. You definitely don’t need to go out and buy a whole set, containing a special bowl, bamboo scooper and what not, but a bamboo brush is a really practical thing to have. If you don’t want to invest in one, you can use a milk frother instead. If you plan on making matcha regularly, I highly suggest investing those 10 bucks and getting one though. It works super well and gives you that perfectly frothy matcha!

That’s it! Contrary to the belief, making matcha isn’t art, it’s something you can very well master in no time. Enjoy your morning coconut matcha latte!

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