This article is sponsored by our partner, Monin Americas.
Matcha drinks are on more cafe menus than ever before. According to the food data platform Tastewise, “matcha” mentions on social media have gone up 45% in the last year alone. But the traditional matcha-making technique—weighing out powdered green tea, pouring a set amount of hot water, and whisking for 20–30 seconds by hand—can create workflow challenges for busy cafes. It can also pose issues with consistency, especially since dosing and making matcha relies on precision and accuracy.
Enter Monin’s new Matcha Green Tea Concentrate, which makes classic matcha flavor accessible without the whisk. Made with organic Japanese matcha, pre-sweetened, and ready to use, Monin’s concentrate allows cafes to craft consistent matcha beverages in seconds rather than minutes.
We spoke with Michael Moberly, beverage innovation manager at Monin, to learn how this concentrate solves common pain points for cafes, all while maintaining the integrity of matcha’s distinct flavor profile.
If I’m the beverage director of a coffee shop, why should I use a matcha concentrate versus powder?
Today’s consumer wants a drink that tastes the same every time they come in. With matcha whisked by hand, there’s more room for error or variation, and matcha drinks are often labor-intensive to create in a busy cafe setting. With the Monin Matcha Green Tea Concentrate, you can achieve the same great flavor your customers crave every time with minimal prep.
How do you recommend cafes use Monin’s Matcha Green Tea Concentrate?
We recommend using 1oz of Matcha Green Tea Concentrate to 6oz of your favorite milk, water, or my favorite: lemonade. Depending on the drink you’re making, you can shake, stir, or even blend our concentrate into your preferred recipes.
How does Monin’s Matcha Concentrate impact drink flavor and texture?
Our Matcha Concentrate gives drinks a rich, velvety texture and consistent flavor that is easy to incorporate into any hot or iced drink. In our experience with traditional whisked matcha, it can be a challenge to achieve the same consistent body and flavor in drinks without adding sweetener.
The Matcha Concentrate comes pre-sweetened. How did you determine the ideal sweetness level, and how does that help with drink prep workflow?
Our goal is always to make something that is both easy to use and honors the flavor of the source ingredient. Most matcha drinks created in cafes are sweetened, so our Matcha Green Tea Concentrate cuts down on both prep and the number of ingredients needed to achieve that delicious green tea flavor people love.
What are some ways coffee shops can use the Matcha Concentrate beyond matcha lattes?
Iced matcha, sparkling matcha, matcha lemonade, and matcha-glazed scones are just a few ideas. You can even use the Matcha Concentrate to make matcha-infused juices, like pineapple juice!
Our Matcha Concentrate can be used in countless beverage and culinary applications, from sparkling teas to pancakes.
Do you have a personal favorite matcha drink?
I can never get enough matcha lemonade! The earthy flavor of matcha and tart, refreshing lemonade are just perfect together.
Sponsored by Monin Americas
Monin is the preferred flavor and syrup supplier for thousands of coffee shops, restaurants, and bars in North America.
