Are You a Matcha Man? What This Trend Reveals About You
/
this post contains affiliate links. as an amazon associate i earn from qualifying purchase
Espresso Guy vs. Matcha Man: A Tale of Two Mornings
I used to think mornings were all about impact—snappy, strong, efficient. My double espresso was more than a drink; it was a signal: "I’m present. Let’s get started." Thirty seconds, a bitter sip, and I was off – keys in hand, mind already in fifth gear. Then I began noticing something else. Men stirring green froth in ceramic bowls—slower, softer, almost ceremonial. No urgency. Just whisking. It felt intentional.
So I began sketching them in my head:
Espresso Guy (me)
30-second shot, crema forming like tiger stripes
Energy: fast-hitting, immediate, prone to crash
Mood: alert, efficient, brisk
A hit-and-run kind of ritual
Matcha Man
2-minute ritual: sift powder, whisk in figure-eights
Ceramics, bamboo, oat milk on standby
Energy: calm ascent, focused without the spike
Mood: grounded, aware, unhurried
A mindfulness practice in disguise
This isn’t really about drinks. It’s about two philosophies of presence. Espresso says: act now. Matcha says: be here.
I’m drawn to the contrast not because I want to switch sides, but because it speaks to something bigger happening in how men present themselves. There’s a visible shift from high-stress hustle to curated calm. From performance to presence.
And the Matcha Man is part of that shift.
What Is a Matcha Man, Really?
The Matcha Man is not just someone who drinks green tea. He’s a whole aesthetic. His beard is shaped but not sharp. His hoodie cost more than mine, but it’s probably organic cotton. His listen to podcasts about metabolic health. He might use the word "intention" in everyday conversation.
He doesn’t dominate the room. He calibrates it. His Instagram is neat, filtered in soft tones, often featuring matcha lattes, running shoes, sunlight, and a caption about slowing down.
He’s not trying to prove masculinity. He’s editing it.
And weirdly? I admire it.
I Haven’t Tried Matcha. And I Probably Won’t.
I’m still loyal to espresso. It works for me. It suits my pace, my personality, my mornings with four kids and a dog tugging at the lead. But observing the Matcha Man has made me pause. It’s made me wonder if there’s space for a slower kind of power. One that doesn’t shout. One that doesn’t rely on speed or volume to be felt.
I’m not ready to buy a whisk and a ceremonial-grade tin. But I am ready to admit that being drawn to calm doesn’t make you soft. It makes you smart.
What This Trend Says About Modern Men
There’s a new masculinity emerging. One that drinks green froth from a ceramic bowl, takes its time getting ready, and doesn’t need to dominate a room to own it. One that talks about mental health. That moisturises. That wakes up early not to grind, but to journal or stretch.
The Matcha Man is one face of this new wave. He’s not better. Just different, necessary.
Final Thoughts: I See You, Matcha Man
No, I’m not a Matcha Guy…yet.
But I see you. I see the calm you carry into the café. I see the intention behind your ritual. I see the way you’re redefining how a man starts his day.
So I’ll keep sipping my espresso, fast and hot and just the way I like it. But I’ll also keep watching. Because sometimes, masculinity doesn’t need more caffeine. It just needs a moment to breathe.
Jerome.
Exploring the rise of the Matcha Man in 2025—what this wellness trend says about modern masculinity, from the lens of a loyal espresso drinker.