Just unboxed your first matcha set? Before you start whisking, there’s one important step you need to know: don’t use it straight out of the box.
Why You Should Never Use It Straight Away
When your whisk is new, the prongs are curled inward. Before making your first matcha, wash your matcha set and grab your favourite matcha powder.
New bamboo whisk
Heat Your Water
Heat your water to around 70–80°C. You’re probably thinking, “I don’t even know what 80°C feels like.” Well, boil your water in a kettle, or whatever you have, and let it sit for around 1–2 minutes.
Soak the Whisk
Then, submerge the whisk prongs in the warm water, without submerging the handle, for about 3–5 minutes. This helps soften the bamboo and allows the prongs to open naturally.
Dry & Store Properly
After soaking, and whenever it is not in use, place the whisk on a whisk stand to help keep its shape. Every time you whisk your matcha, use the same method to soften the bristles, but 10 seconds should be enough.
You’re Ready to Brew Your Matcha
You are now ready to brew your matcha. See our 5 tips to create that microfoam.
It took me weeks of experimenting to get consistent microfoam, so I’ve shared everything I learned so you can skip the trial and error.
Read the Microfoam Guide →