Guides
Café matcha guide: latte ratio, the shot method and batch concentrate
There are two ways to make a matcha latte behind the bar. The shot method — whisking each cup to order — gives the fullest aroma and colour. The concentrate method — whisking one batch ahead and pouring by the millilitre — gives the same cup every time, even in the morning rush. Both start from one baseline: 2 g of matcha for a 12 oz latte.
Our matcha is grown slowly in the high-mountain mist of Guizhou and shade-covered before harvest, which gives a vivid green and a clean, savoury-sweet taste with gentle bitterness — so a small dose shows clearly through milk. Remember matcha is a suspension, not a solution: it never fully dissolves. Fine particles are normal; sifting and a proper whisk keep lumps away.
Which MISTFOLD grade for café drinks
How much matcha per latte
| Drink | Matcha | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard hot latte, 12 oz (~350 ml) | 2.0 g | The most versatile — balanced colour and flavour |
| Strong / signature latte | 2.5–3.0 g | When you want the matcha to lead |
| Iced latte | 2.3–2.8 g | Ice dilutes — use a little more |
| Plant milk (oat etc.) | 2.3–2.7 g | Plant milks carry more flavour of their own |
| Straight matcha, no milk | 1.5–2.0 g | Whisk with 70–80 °C water |
| Large cup, 16 oz+ | 2.5–3.0 g | Scale up with volume |
At 2 g a cup, one 250 g pouch makes about 125 standard lattes.
Method 1 How to whisk a matcha shot to order
Best for made-to-order drinks: the fullest aroma and colour.
- Sift the matcha into a jug or bowl to break up any lumps.
- Add 30–40 ml hot water at 75–80 °C (never above 85 °C). Whisk hard with an electric frother or bamboo whisk into a smooth, thick paste with no visible lumps.
- Pour in about 220–280 ml steamed milk or plant milk. Stir gently, or pour latte art.
Water above 85 °C dulls the green and flattens the aroma.
★ Key method
Method 2 How to make matcha concentrate for busy hours
When the queue is long or several people are on the bar, a concentrate puts the same dose in every cup — measured in millilitres, not scoops.
Make it
- Ratio: 10 g matcha to 100 ml hot water at 75–80 °C.
- Sift the matcha first, then whisk it with 20–30 ml of the water into a thick paste.
- Add the rest of the water a little at a time, whisking all the way, until smooth.
- It is a suspension and will settle as it stands — that is normal.
Pour per cup
- Hot latte, 12 oz: 20–25 ml concentrate (≈ 2–2.5 g matcha).
- Iced drinks or plant milk: 25–30 ml.
- Shake or stir before every pour.
Keep it
- Sealed in the fridge, and use within 24–36 hours.
- After that the colour and aroma drop noticeably — discard and make a fresh batch.
| Batch | Hot lattes (20–25 ml each) |
|---|---|
| 10 g + 100 ml | 4–5 cups |
| 30 g + 300 ml | 12–15 cups |
| 50 g + 500 ml | 20–25 cups |
House starters: hot and iced matcha latte
- Hot matcha latte (12 oz) 2 g matcha + 30–40 ml water at 75–80 °C → whisk to a paste → add about 250 ml steamed whole milk. Sweeten to taste.
- Iced matcha latte 2.5 g matcha + 40 ml room-temperature water → whisk → pour over ice → add 200–220 ml cold milk → stir gently.
Quick answers
How much matcha do I use for a latte?
2 g of matcha for a standard 12 oz (about 350 ml) hot latte. Use 2.3–2.8 g for iced lattes, 2.3–2.7 g with plant milk, and 2.5–3.0 g for a stronger or 16 oz cup.
What is the ratio for matcha concentrate?
10 g of matcha to 100 ml of water at 75–80 °C. Pour 20–25 ml of concentrate for a 12 oz hot latte, or 25–30 ml for iced drinks and plant milk.
How long does matcha concentrate keep?
Keep it sealed in the fridge and use it within 24–36 hours. Shake or stir before every pour, as it naturally settles.
What water temperature is best for matcha?
75–80 °C. Never go above 85 °C — hotter water dulls the green colour and flattens the aroma.
These are starting points. Adjust for your milk, cup sizes and customers — begin at 2 g and move from there.
MISTFOLD usage guide · starting points — adjust to your milk, cups, oven and customers.
Stocking matcha at your café or bakery?
Cafés and bakeries in New Zealand can request free trade samples to try MISTFOLD in their own drinks and bakes, or see our wholesale terms for trade customers.
