4 Ordering Tips For The Best Starbucks Matcha Latte

If you've done a few turns around the sun, you may remember a time when people with "fussy" orders at Starbucks were subtly mocked for being high maintenance. Well, times have changed, and the Seattle-based institution has embraced customizing coffee however the customer wants. And boy, are there options — especially when it comes to the super-trendy matcha lattes.

Online, there are discussions devoted to the best way to order your drink, from the order in which you should say the request (starting with the actual item you want before you jump into customization), to suggestions about ordering hyper-customized drinks on the app to avoid scorn from the people in line behind you. But beyond those tips, there's also a plethora of advice on how to take a matcha latte from a basic order to Instagram-worthy. From hot vs. cold, to milk preference, to flavorings and sweeteners, there are umpteen ways to make a matcha just right. Here are ordering tips for the best and most creative matcha drink to try with your next Starbucks order.

The standard Starbucks Matcha Latte comes with a hefty dose of 2% milk. Some buyers opt to swap out one of the other milk offerings, such as soy, oat, almond, or non-fat, based on dietary requirements, while others are looking for a different taste, mouthfeel, or foam level. Classic whole milk is considered the ideal combination for taste and creaminess. But as with most things Starbucks, there are plenty of other options to consider.

Oat milk is a popular pairing with matcha, as it lends a smooth consistency. One person on Facebook even recommended oat milk with apple brown sugar as a sweetener, a combo that would bring on autumnal apple crisp vibes. We rated oat milk as the best milk for your matcha to make its flavor shine because it's sweeter and balances the earthiness of the matcha while creating a creamy texture.

Another Starbucks customer on Facebook suggested half almond milk and half sweet cream as their matcha milk of choice. Though they didn't mention why, it could be that you get the luscious creaminess from the sweet cream, while cutting calories and letting the matcha taste shine through with the almond milk. And if you prefer something less frothy, coconut milk is the hack to try if your Starbucks Matcha Latte is too foamy. Also, if you want a dairy-free alternative that's also gluten-free, coconut is a creamer alternative that gives your matcha latte a lighter texture.

While it all boils down to personal preference, there are things to consider with both a hot and an iced Starbucks matcha latte. It may come down to seasonal preference, with people enjoying a cozy mug in cooler temps, while an iced matcha is refreshing when it's sweltering. However, aside from the temperature difference, the two options also have distinct differences in taste. In general, the iced version seems to be more popular, as it's often smoother and less bitter. The reason for that, according to many matcha fans, is that intense heat can bring out the bitter compounds that give that intense, earthy taste. So if you're new to matcha, iced may be the best entry point. But if you've been a green tea drinker for years, a hot latte might satisfy your palate more.

Although it doesn't have to be an either/or. As this fan on Facebook posted, "I get a venti ice matcha latte, but it's also good as a hot drink." They also add four pumps of white mocha syrup, whether it's hot or cold.

In January 2025, Starbucks announced that it had gone from using a pre-sweetened matcha powder as the base of its matcha latte menu items to an unsweetened one. Happy days for those wanting less sugar in their beverages, and a blank canvas for those who want to add it right back in. So what do the Starbucks cognoscenti recommend?

One Facebook user suggests, "a couple pumps of honey blend" to give extra sweetness without a refined sugar hit. It's also been noted that the floral notes of honey complement matcha well. More than a few Starbucks pundits on Reddit recommend brown sugar syrup because the molasses hint reportedly counterbalances the earthiness of the matcha if you're not into that grassy flavor as much. 

On the other hand, one Reddit user advises the classic cane syrup, "if you'd like it sweeter without compromising the matcha flavor." Meanwhile, another person said, "I love it with just one pump of toffee nut! It's the most underrated syrup IMO." And in the same thread, this sweetener suggestion sounds divine: "If you add hazelnut, it tastes like [a] shortbread Christmas cookie."

This is where things get really fun with a Starbucks matcha latte: the extras that you can add in, be it syrups, powders, crunchy toppings for texture, spice sprinkles, and much more. Starbucks has created flavor combinations with its matcha lattes, such as the seasonal pumpkin cream, Dubai chocolate, orange cream, mango cream, banana bread, lavender, and double nerry. There are also sugar-free vanilla and sugar-free caramel options for the protein matcha lattes.

As exotic as many of these flavors may seem, customers still prefer to go off-piste with their orders. One of the most frequently recommended add-ins on Reddit is the white chocolate mocha sauce, which folks say pairs nicely with the matcha. Other recommendations include a pump of peppermint syrup with coconut milk, with another calling the peppermint a refreshing match with matcha. Another order to consider from one recommendation: matcha Frappuccino with three pumps white chocolate mocha sauce, and a caramel drizzle. Another Instagram user suggests two pumps of chai and a vanilla sweet cream cold foam on top. Meanwhile, many others swear by vanilla bean powder with strawberry cold foam on top. Here's one Reddit user's nut-forward order to possibly try: an iced matcha latte, toffee nut syrup, light ice, and pistachio cold foam. We'd also add a caramel crunch topping to that for good measure.