A few times a year we host Cafe Day at our Roastery. It’s an opportunity for our Roastery Team to down tools, come together and share some delicious coffee. We transform our Training bar into a space not too dissimilar to one of our thriving cafe partners. Each Cafe day, we set out to create coffee-based beverages that are designed to push the boundaries and help our Team experience our coffee in a different light. This time, the focus landed on an unexpected pairing of matcha and banana bread, reimagined as a signature drink.
A modern twist on two cafe staples, crafted into one signature drink
There’s something about matcha that feels like a small luxury in the middle of everyday chaos. For me, it started as a quick caffeine alternative, but over time, it’s become a ritual. A moment to pause, whisk and reset. That’s also what inspired us to create our own signature matcha drink: a recipe that blends nostalgia with a little flair.
Why Matcha?
Matcha has been around for centuries, first embraced in Japanese tea ceremonies for its grounding and meditative qualities. Unlike regular green tea, you’re actually drinking the whole tea leaf in powdered form, which means you get a boost of antioxidants, calm energy from L-theanine and a smooth focus that coffee sometimes can’t deliver. It’s earthy, vibrant and versatile which is why it’s become the base for so many creative drinks today. It’s arguably one of the biggest cafe trends of 2025.
The Inspiration
Every cafe regular knows the ritual: you grab your morning pick me up, and if you’re treating yourself, maybe a slice of banana bread sneaks into your hand too. That little combo that's rich, comforting and a bit nostalgic, was exactly what we wanted to capture in one cup.
So instead of pairing a drink with banana bread, we thought: why not make the drink itself taste like banana bread? That idea became the Matcha Banana Bread Latte. A twist that highlights the earthy depth of matcha while layering in warm, bready sweetness. It’s a cafe classic, but with a playful, matcha-forward upgrade.
Read How cafes can truly stand out
The Recipe
Ingredients:
30g matcha shot
50g banana syrup
150g oat milk
20g cinnamon cold foam
The process is super simple! Add banana syrup and oat milk to a glass. (You could swap this out for a milk of your choice, but we found in recipe testing that oat milk really helps boost the breadiness of the drink.) Stir together and top the glass halfway up with ice. Add in your matcha shot and top the drink off with your cinnamon cold foam.
Matcha shot:
3g premium grade matcha powder
30g water, 80 degrees Celsius
Matcha whisk (pre-soaked in warm water) or electric hand whisk
Matcha bowl
Add your favorite matcha powder to your matcha bowl or any small, wide and high-walled bowl will work just fine. Add in 10g of water and combine with your whisk to create a paste. Then add in the remainder of your water and whisk vigorously for at least 30 seconds to create a creamy microfoam.
Banana Bread Syrup:
2 ripe bananas, mashed (approx 300g)
60g brown sugar
250g water
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract or essence
Simmer everything together on low heat until the sugar dissolves and the banana softens. Once off the heat, stir in vanilla and strain banana solids through a sieve. Let the syrup cool.
Cinnamon Cold Foam:
20g thickened cream
10g milk
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Developed by our Coffee Specialist Team, this recipe comes together by frothing the ingredients in a blender or with an electric hand whisk until soft peaks form. The result should be a cold foam with structure, yet light and pourable.
Feeling inspired to craft your own creations? Our Coffee Concentrates may be the perfect place to start and will also taste delicious with the banana bread cream.
