a guide to making your own cozy matcha station

tools, cups, matcha powders, and more.

Hello <3

I have been asked many times throughout this year about my favourite nook on earth: my matcha station. It’s a peaceful space I’ve mindfully curated to make my matcha-making process as efficient and joyful as possible.

This is my guide to creating your own cozy matcha nook, so you too can enjoy a cozy, peaceful matcha experience at home.

The Basics

Matcha Bowls

A matcha bowl (or chawan) is an essential starting point for your matcha-making journey. Its wide, curved design not only makes it easier to whisk your matcha into a smooth, frothy consistency but also adds a mindful, traditional touch to the process. Whether you’re a beginner or a matcha enthusiast, using a chawan enhances the experience and helps you connect with the art of matcha preparation.

Textured Glass Matcha Bowl: I use this one the most. The spout makes for a much easier pour, without any spills!

Matcha Kari Matcha Bowl: Very high quality and handmade. It has that imperfect ceramic look I find extremely charming.

Whisks

Bamboo whisks are essential for achieving that creamy, foamy layer while making sure to dissolve any clumps or graininess. I’ve used hand-held electric whisks, but they just don’t compare when it comes to creating the perfect creamy cup of matcha.

Beginners Matcha Whisk: Perfect to start with, I still use these everyday.

Artisan Matcha Whisk: Made from aged dark bamboo, very high quality.

Sifters

Using a sifter is key to creating a smooth and creamy matcha latte, free from any lumps or graininess. Sifting your matcha beforehand ensures the powder blends evenly with water, making the whisking process much easier!

Fine Mesh Sifter: This is the one I use everyday. It’s made of an extremely fine mesh, and always makes the creamiest matcha latte every time.

Ippodo Matcha Sifter: A compact alternative.

The Perfect Teaspoon

If you’re not looking to buy a scale, I recommend getting a specific spoon to measure your matcha powder accurately each time. This is the one I started out with before investing in my current scale:

The Perfect Tea Spoon: This will scoop approximately 2-4g matcha, depending on how heaped it is.

Cups

A pretty glass cup is the perfect way to elevate your finished matcha latte and make the whole experience feel a little bit more special. I am a big advocate for cute and small glass cups, these are a few I love:

Mango Glass Cups: My current favourite! Cute, small, and chubby.

Ribbed Glass Cups: I use these all the time. They’re so pretty and chic!

Extra Special Tools

Kettles

When I first started my matcha-making journey, I used a standard kettle without temperature control and relied on a tea thermometer to measure the water temperature. While this method works, it was quite time-consuming waiting for the water to cool to the right temperature each time. Eventually, I switched to my Stagg EKG temperature-controlled kettle, and now making a matcha latte takes half the time! (It’s also very pretty to look at, and definitely the star of my setup).

Stagg EKG Kettle

Greater Goods Electric Gooseneck Kettle: A more affordable option!

Scales

Before using a scale, my matcha always turned out just a bit different each day. If one morning I had made the perfect matcha latte, I could never replicate it the next. So I think using a scale makes all the difference, and eliminates the need to use separate measuring spoons for the matcha, sweetener, water, and milk.

TIMEMORE Scale: This is what I use. It measures with 0.01g accuracy. Couldn’t recommend it enough!

Salter Ghost Electronic Scale: A more affordable alternative. Less accurate, but gets the job done.

Japanese Ceramics

Japanese handmade ceramic cups are one of my favourite things to collect. Their unique, imperfect look gives them so much character and charm. Some of my favourites are one-of-a-kind pieces I’ve found in Japanese cafes, so I definitely recommend checking out local Japanese cafes to see if they sell any handmade ceramics!

Decor

This is where your own creativity and aesthetics come into play! I went with a white and dark brown colour palette. I wanted to include Japanese tea house aesthetics with the dark woods, but keep it bright and modern with the whites.

Display Stands

Dark Brown Wood Stand: This is the one I use. It is such a beautiful deep brown colour. I haven’t been able to find anything else like it!

Lighter Wood Stand: If you prefer a lighter colour palette.

Your Own Home Cafe Menu

A home cafe menu can bring such coziness to your setup, really making it feel like your own mini café. I’m a graphic and brand designer, so making my own home cafe menu was the perfect creative project for me. It brings such warmth and character to my station, and now I can’t imagine my station without it!

I used Procreate and Adobe Illustrator to design mine, but I’ve recently collaborated with Shining Pins to design mini standee versions of my home cafe menu. These are available to purchase here if you’d like your own little menu <3

Sideboards

If your matcha station won’t be in your kitchen, a sideboard is the perfect place to start. Mine keeps all my tools organised and allows me to have a dedicated space purely for matcha-making. This is the one I use:

White Sideboard: It’s the perfect size, and so so beautiful!

Matcha Powders

A smooth and creamy matcha latte starts with high-quality matcha powder! Many cheaper alternatives are made with low-quality leaves, which can lead to a greyish-green colour and a bitter, astringent taste. Investing in good matcha is essential to getting a vibrant colour and a rich, smooth flavour. (I also have a matcha powder master list coming soon with many more recommendations).

Beginner: These are on the milder side, perfect to start with if you’re new to matcha.

Ippodo Ikuyo: Light and refreshing

Rocky’s Matcha Ceremonial Blend: Creamy and nutty.

Matcha Kari First Harvest: Creamy, bright, and umami.

Advanced: For those of you who require a strong flavour. These are bold with plenty of umami.

Ippodo Ummon: Very rich and umami, no bitterness.

Yamamasa Koyamaen Tennouzan: Rich and creamy, with notes of dark chocolate.

Marukyu Koyamaen Wako: Well-balanced, creamy, less bold than the other two.

Thank you for reading this far. I hope this guide is helpful and inspires you to start making matcha at home <3

⁃ Poppy