Do you love matcha a whole latte? (Sorry, had to.) There’s so much to enjoy when it comes to this green, finely-ground powder of young tea leaves. And with some tips from a pro, you can make a matcha latte at home that’s just as good—if not better—than what you’d order from a coffee chain.

With more than 37,000 coffee shops in the United States, there are plenty of places to order your daily matcha latte from. The downside? All the waste. It’s nearly impossible for chains to serve thousands of customers a day and remain sustainable—especially when most to-go coffee cups aren’t recyclable. Making your matcha at home more often is a simple way to combat the problem.

The Benefits of Drinking Matcha

First thing’s first: Why matcha? “Green tea matcha powder packs a pretty fierce nutritional punch,” dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, LD, told the Cleveland Clinic. It’s packed with antioxidants that can help prevent disease. It also contains catechins, which is a type of polyphenol that’s great for your heart, memory, and skin—not to mention may help prevent cancer.

It also contains less caffeine than coffee, as well as a special amino acid called L-theanine that allows you to increase your energy sans jitters (or a caffeine crash). In addition, L-theanine reduces stress and anxiety and could help increase focus and immunity.

3 Tips for Making a Matcha Latte at Home

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If there’s anyone who knows how to make a perfect matcha latte at home, it’s Remy Morimoto Park, the holistic nutritionist and food blogger behind Veggiekins.

She grew up drinking matcha with her grandma and has learned a lot along the way. Most importantly, that not all matcha is created equal, and knowing the right type to buy—as well as the right technique—is key to getting a great flavor.

Park recently shared her top three tips for making the perfect matcha latte. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

1. Choose Ceremonial-Grade Matcha

There’s a real difference between matcha types. “You want to make sure you’re using a high-quality, ceremonial-grade matcha,” Park explains. “A lot of matcha out there is culinary-grade, which means it’s lower quality and usually more yellow in color, kind of dull in flavor, and a little bit more bitter.”

Ceremonial grade matcha—like Golde Matcha Bloom Tea, the organic, vegan, non-GMO, and FSC-certified option Park buys—will have a more vibrant green appearance than a culinary-grade option.

2. Use the Appropriate Tools

When making a matcha latte at home, a metal spoon just won’t do. “The basic tools I recommend include a matcha bowl, a bamboo whisk, some kind of tea scoop, and a sifter,” Park says. But it’s the bamboo whisk that really makes all the difference in the quality of your latte.

“The most essential tool is the bamboo whisk,” she says. “I don’t recommend using anything else because it helps with the clumps and also aerates the tea and brings out its flavor.”

3. Pick the Right Plant-Based Milk

Drinking matcha alone can be too bitter—especially if you’re not used to it. To upgrade your at-home sip, choose a plant-based milk. “Add your whisked matcha to your plant milk of choice,” Park says. “I really like almond and oat milk, or soy and pistachio milk for the best froth.”

If you prefer your matcha latte on the sweeter side, Park says you can also add a liquid sweetener like maple syrup. There you have it: A delicious homemade matcha latte, no trip to the coffee shop required.

Matcha Latte