Matcha for cafés: cost per drink, equipment and rush-hour prep

What does matcha cost per drink?

We calculate a matcha latte with 2g of matcha. That gives the ingredient cost per drink:

• matcha⁷ organic matcha from Uji: from CHF 0.67 per drink at 2g (net, excl. VAT)
• Cheap matcha: about CHF 0.45 per drink, so only about 22 Rappen less
• Menu price: a matcha latte sells for about CHF 7.50 on Swiss menus
• Yield: 1kg of matcha makes 500 drinks at 2g

At CHF 0.67, the matcha is just under 9 percent of a CHF 7.50 latte. The 22 Rappen difference to cheap matcha is about 3 percent of the menu price. Milk and labour come on top either way.

The difference in the glass is bigger than the difference in purchasing. Good matcha is bright green and forms a fine, stable foam. Lower grade matcha usually comes from a later harvest, is less green and often more bitter. Many cafés cover that with syrup.

When is cheaper matcha fine?

For pastries and creams, cheaper matcha is often a sensible choice. Heat and sugar change the taste anyway, and the colour dulls in the oven.

In a drink, your guests see and taste the matcha directly. That is where the better quality pays off. Why milk does not change this is covered in Ceremonial or culinary for lattes?.

What equipment does a café need?

You need no extra machine for the matcha foam:

• Matcha bowl (chawan): a bowl with enough room to whisk. For several portions at once, a larger one works well.
• Bamboo whisk (chasen): whisks the matcha into a fine microfoam.
• Precision scoop: for dosing, so every drink tastes the same.
• Hot water at 80°C at most: for example from a kettle with temperature control, or from the machine's hot water outlet if its temperature can be set.

For the milk, the regular steam wand on your espresso machine is enough. How the bamboo whisk compares with an electric frother is covered in Bamboo whisk or frother?.

Moisten the bamboo whisk briefly in warm water before every use so the fine prongs don't break. After use, rinse it gently without soap and let it air-dry on its holder.

How do you keep the recipe consistent?

The base never changes: 2g of matcha to 40ml of water, whatever the glass size. Larger glasses get more milk, not more water.

Less water is better than more. You can't make a cappuccino out of an americano, and you can't make a strong latte out of a diluted matcha base.

Our signature latte: 2g matcha, 40ml water at 80°C, whisk, 120ml oat milk over ice, matcha on top.

How do you serve matcha fast at rush hour?

Whisking takes 10 to 15 seconds. When several orders come in at once, whisk several portions in one bowl:

• Put several 2g doses into the same bowl, with 40ml of water per portion.
• Whisk them together in a zigzag until a fine foam forms. Four portions take about 15 seconds.
• Split the matcha between the prepared glasses.

The glasses can be set up while the water comes to temperature. The matcha itself is whisked just before serving.

Why not prepare matcha in advance?

Matcha does not dissolve. The finely ground tea leaves are suspended in the water and settle over time.

Pre-batched matcha loses its foam and goes stale within hours. Matcha that sat in the fridge with water overnight is no longer fit to serve the next day. Whisking in a batch bowl is faster and better than any pre-mixed bottle.

How should a café store matcha?

• Every pack carries a best-before date, one year from sealing.
• After opening, it is best used within 3 months.
• Store it airtight, cool and dark, away from strong smells. That means not right next to the grinder or on top of the machine.
• Whatever you won't use within 3 months belongs in the fridge, not the freezer. There, matcha stays fresh for around 10 months.
• Let chilled packs reach room temperature before opening them, so no condensation forms.

More detail is in How to store matcha.

How do you get started?

• On request, we send a sample with a bamboo whisk and a precision scoop.
• The first order starts at 300g, with no contract.
• Your price level follows your annual volume through our Partner-System.
• Shipping is free and takes 2 to 3 working days. Invoices are payable within 14 days.

We recommend starting with 1kg and then reordering fresh. 1kg makes 500 drinks. At 5 to 6 matcha drinks a day, that lasts about 3 months, which matches the storage window after opening. If you sell fewer, 300g is the right way in.

We buy our matcha directly from a producer family in Uji. It is certified organic and comes from the first spring harvest. Terms and samples are on our page Matcha for cafés.