Matcha Latte Recipe: A Calm Coffee Alternative for Sustainable Energy
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I don’t remember my first cup of coffee, but I remember my mom telling me, “Drink it so you can wake up in the morning.” That advice stuck — the purpose, not the dosage. During my freshman year of college, coffee became my alarm clock, my study buddy, and eventually, my crutch.
Two years later, I was working overnight retail shifts, waking up early for morning classes, and juggling two jobs while attending college full-time. Coffee wasn’t just a drink anymore; it was my lifeline.
When Energy Became Survival Mode
Before coffee, there was Monster Energy.
Freshman me thought two cans back-to-back meant twice the productivity. What I didn’t understand back then was balance; I had none. I was taking nine classes that first year because I didn’t know I could drop them without hurting my grade. Nobody explained how to pace myself or build a healthy start in college, so I learned the hard way, by burning out early.
That same lack of balance showed up in other ways. After those two cans, my heart raced, my hands shook, and I felt like my body was short-circuiting. Within hours, I crashed so hard I couldn’t keep my eyes open, but my head wouldn’t stop pounding. The migraine that followed was so intense that I ended up at the school clinic. That was my first real energy drink crash, and my body’s first red flag.
About four years later, C4 pre-workout nearly led me down the same path, but this time, I caught myself. When my boss casually mentioned, “You know that already has caffeine, right?” it clicked. His warning stopped me from repeating history. That moment taught me what I wish I’d known all along: Energy drinks are just a tool to mask your body’s exhaustion.
The Pandemic Years – When “Clean Energy” Met Chaos
Fast-forward to 2020. Like many of us, I was running on stress and caffeine. That’s when I discovered Celsius Energy Drink, the so-called “clean energy” everyone was talking about.
I started drinking it steadily, mostly before workouts. It worked at first; one can gave me the rush I needed to push through my day. But as the months went on, my stress levels skyrocketed from my job and the uncertainty of the pandemic. Those hormonal changes didn’t mix well with daily caffeine.
I don’t remember much of what I was feeling physically then; I was too focused on the acne and hair loss I was dealing with from stress. (You can read more about that in my Hydrafacial for Acne article and my big chop story, where I talk about how that season changed me.) But deep down, I knew I needed to cut back. My body had been trying to tell me that for years; I just wasn’t ready to listen.
Motherhood & The Wake-Up Call
By the time I became a mom, I had lost sight of everything I’d learned about balance. My main priority was being present for my son and husband, but somewhere along the way, I slipped back into survival mode.
Celsius drink side effects might not hit everyone the same way, but for me, they triggered the same hormonal chaos I’d fought through before. I was dealing with stress, exercising, breastfeeding, and now weaning — and my body was done being pushed to its limit.
By the end of 2024, I finally admitted that I was overloaded.
Now, at 33, I’m two weeks into intentionally cutting back on caffeine. I’m not quitting coffee completely — I still love it — but I want to drink it the way my family does back home in the Dominican Republic: small, simple, and social. Not the oversized American portions that keep you wired for hours.
Right now, I’m feeling sluggish, yawning more, and noticing some aches as winter sets in, but I also feel calm. No racing heart. No jittery crash. Just slower mornings that actually feel like mornings.
Gentler Morning Alternatives That Help Me Reset
These days, I start most mornings with 8 ounces of cold water, which wakes me up naturally before anything else. I’ve learned that not every morning needs caffeine, just hydration and intention.
When I’m easing off completely, or when my body feels off balance, these are my go-to options:
- Warm lemon water – gently boosts digestion and helps me feel awake without caffeine.
- Spearmint or tulsi tea – both support hormones, ease tension, and calm stress.
- Coconut water – my favorite post-workout drink for hydration when I skip caffeine.
On days when I crave coffee, I reach for matcha instead; it satisfies that ritual without the crash. I also like ending my evenings with a calming tea, especially Traditional Medicinals blends like chamomile, peppermint, or their detox formulas.
They don’t give the same jolt as coffee or Celsius, but they give me something better: stability.
Matcha Latte Recipe with Milk Frother
Iced or Hot Jade Leaf Matcha Latte (Using an Instant Milk Frother)
Equipment
- Instant Milk Frother
Ingredients
- 2 Scoops Jade Leaf Matcha Latte Mix
- 1 Cup milk (regular, oat, or almond)
- 1/4 Cup water
- 1 tbsp Torani vanilla syrup (or less, to taste)
Instructions
- Add milk, water, and matcha powder to your instant milk frother.
- Turn it on to heat and mix until the texture is smooth and frothy.
- Pour into a mug (or over ice for an iced version).
- Add Torani syrup for sweetness and stir.
- Enjoy your calm, focused energy boost.
Notes
- Try adding cinnamon or collagen for an extra flavor and wellness boost.
- For iced matcha, use the cold froth setting (no heating) and add ice cubes after frothing.
- If using the Instant Milk Frother, note that the internal fill lines differ for hot and cold settings — add liquid below the max line to prevent spills.
- I use the Instant Milk Frother with the heat-and-froth option for this recipe.
Shop the Items Mentioned
Want to try my matcha routine? Here are the exact products I use:
Instant Milk Frother — Amazon | Target
Jade Leaf Matcha Latte Mix — Amazon | Jade Leaf | Walmart
Torani Vanilla Syrup — Amazon | Walmart
Links below are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog!
What I’ve Learned About Energy and Control
After years of chasing energy in cans and cups, I finally understand what my body’s been trying to tell me.
Energy drinks gave me instant productivity but long-term exhaustion.
Coffee gave me focus, but dependency.
Matcha gives me balance — and that’s what I need most right now.
I’ve learned that there are only 24 hours in a day, and we don’t have to spend each one performing as if we’re running out of time. These small moments — when we pause, breathe, and stay self-aware — are what allow our bodies to function the way they’re naturally meant to.
For the first time in years, I’m realizing that real energy doesn’t come from caffeine; it comes from within.
Have you ever felt overloaded from coffee or energy drinks too?
Tell me about your experience in the comments — I’d love to hear how you’ve managed your own “quit or cut back” journey.
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