Short answer
A matcha latte is matcha powder whisked with water and combined with steamed or cold milk, served hot or iced. It tastes grassy, creamy and lightly sweet, and cafes often offer vanilla, strawberry and stronger double versions.
A matcha latte is a drink of matcha powder whisked smooth with a little water, then topped with steamed or cold milk. It is served hot or over ice, and it tastes grassy, creamy and gently sweet. A matcha latte can be unsweetened or made with vanilla, strawberry or another flavour.
What is a matcha latte?
A matcha latte is a milk drink built on matcha, the finely ground powder of shade-grown green tea leaves from Japan. The powder is not steeped and removed like a tea bag. It is mixed into the drink, so the whole leaf ends up in the cup.
The name copies the coffee latte, where espresso meets steamed milk. In a matcha latte, whisked matcha replaces the espresso. Other names include green tea latte and matcha au lait, and the style is also sold as a cold milk drink without any steaming.
What does a matcha latte taste like?
A matcha latte tastes grassy and slightly sweet, with a creamy body from the milk and a mild bitter edge at the finish. Better matcha tastes smoother and more savoury, sometimes described with the Japanese word umami.
Flavour changes with three things: the quality of the powder, the ratio of matcha to milk, and any syrup. A drink with a lot of milk tastes soft and mellow. A drink with more powder tastes deeper green and more bitter.
How is a matcha latte made?
A matcha latte is made by dissolving matcha in a small amount of water first, then adding milk. Dissolving first avoids clumps and gives an even colour.
- Sift about 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha powder into a bowl or mug.
- Add roughly 60 ml of hot water, around 80 C, not boiling.
- Whisk in a fast W or M motion until no lumps remain and a fine foam appears.
- Heat and froth about 180 ml of milk, or pour cold milk over ice.
- Combine the matcha and milk, and sweeten only if you like.
The same method works at home with a bamboo whisk, a handheld frother or a jar and lid. For a full walk-through of the whisking step, see the separate guides on making matcha.
Hot matcha latte vs iced matcha latte: what is the difference?
A hot matcha latte uses steamed milk and tastes rounder and creamier, while an iced matcha latte uses cold milk and ice and tastes lighter and more refreshing. The matcha base is the same in both.
| Hot matcha latte | Iced matcha latte | |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | Steamed, with foam | Cold, poured over ice |
| Texture | Warm and velvety | Light and crisp |
| Taste | Rounder, sweeter | Sharper, more grassy |
| Dilution | None | Ice melts slowly |
| Colour | Soft pale green | Layered green and white |
Ice dilutes the drink as it melts, so iced versions often use a little more powder to hold their flavour.
Matcha latte vs matcha tea: what is the difference?
Matcha tea is matcha whisked with water only, while a matcha latte adds milk. The tea is stronger, thinner and more bitter, and the latte is milder and creamier.
Traditional matcha is served as a small bowl of thin tea. A latte takes that same base and stretches it with milk, which suits people who find the straight tea intense. The two are often sold side by side in the same cafe.
What do vanilla, strawberry and double matcha mean on a menu?
These are flavour or strength variations on the same base. Vanilla matcha adds vanilla syrup or flavouring, strawberry matcha adds a strawberry layer or puree, and double matcha uses extra powder for a stronger taste.
- Vanilla matcha: sweeter and rounder, with the vanilla softening the bitter edge.
- Strawberry matcha: a fruit layer, usually pink under or over the green, that makes the drink brighter and sweeter.
- Double matcha: more powder in the same volume of milk, for a deeper green flavour.
Menus differ on exactly what goes in, so the staff are the best source for a specific cafe.
How do you order a matcha latte?
Say whether you want it hot or iced, which milk you prefer and how sweet you like it. These three choices change the drink more than anything else.
- Ask for the milk by name, such as whole, oat or soy, if the cafe offers a choice.
- Say “less sweet” or “no syrup” if you want to taste the tea itself.
- Ask for a stronger drink if you like deeper flavour, as many cafes can add an extra shot of matcha.
Which milk works best in a matcha latte?
Whole dairy milk gives the creamiest matcha latte, while oat and soy milk foam well and keep the green flavour clear. The best milk is the one that tastes good to you on its own.
- Whole milk: rich and sweet, it softens the bitter edge of the matcha.
- Oat milk: naturally a little sweet and smooth, a common cafe choice.
- Soy milk: thicker, with a slightly beany flavour that some people like beside matcha.
- Almond or other thin milks: lighter, and the matcha flavour stands out more.
Very hot milk can scorch the powder and dull the flavour, so many cafes whisk the matcha with water first and add the milk after.
How much matcha goes in a matcha latte?
A cafe matcha latte usually uses about one to two teaspoons of powder, roughly two to four grams, for a mug of milk. More powder gives a stronger, more bitter drink, and less gives a milder one.
Exact amounts vary from cafe to cafe, and Out of Office Coffee + Bakery does not publish its recipe. At home, start at one teaspoon for a mug and raise it a little at a time until the flavour suits you. Sifting the powder first matters more than the exact amount, because lumps leave bitter pockets.
What matcha latte does Out of Office Coffee + Bakery list?
Out of Office Coffee + Bakery in Markham lists a Matcha Latte, a Vanilla Matcha, a Double Matcha and a Strawberry Matcha in its recorded menu, as of November 2026. The cafe’s Instagram bio describes premium matcha from Kyoto, and a review page describes ceremonial-grade matcha from Uji.
A visitor reported the Matcha Latte served hot or iced with a cream topping, and a reviewer described the Strawberry Matcha as balanced and not too sweet. No prices are published, so none are given here. Details such as the milk choices are not recorded, so check the cafe’s Instagram or ask at the counter.
See the menu page for the full recorded list and the hours and location page before you go. This guide is independent and takes no orders.
Common questions
Is a matcha latte the same as green tea latte?
Mostly yes. Green tea latte is the older name and often means a sweetened powder mix, while matcha latte usually implies whisked matcha powder and milk. Menus use the words loosely, so ask what powder the cafe uses.
Can you make a matcha latte without a whisk?
Yes. A small handheld frother, a jar with a tight lid shaken hard, or a fork and a fine sieve all dissolve the powder. A bamboo whisk gives the smoothest, frothiest result but is not required.
Why is my matcha latte clumpy?
The powder was not sieved or not fully dissolved in the small amount of water. Sift the powder, add a splash of warm water, whisk until smooth, and only then add milk.
What milk works best in a matcha latte?
Whole dairy milk gives the creamiest drink, and oat or soy milk foam well and keep the matcha flavour clear. Thin, watery milks can taste flat. Choose the milk you like to drink on its own.
For the address, opening hours and menu, see OUT OF OFFICE COFFEE + BAKERY in Markham.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from OUT OF OFFICE COFFEE + BAKERY itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.