The ultimate beverage battle: coffee vs. matcha. Scroll for the caffeinated 411!
Health benefits
Both coffee and matcha have some serious health benefits. They’re rich in antioxidants like polyphenols, which are compounds that protect against oxidative stress. This makes them anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-heart disease – you get it – basically anti-anything bad.
Matcha, made from ground green tea leaves, has some bonus benefits, since you consume the entire leaf when drinking it (rather than steeping it in water). It’s richer than coffee in Vitamin C, which can help boost collagen production and help your skin glow, and chlorophyll, which is a natural detoxifier.
Energy boost
While their health benefits are many, coffee and matcha are more well-known for their caffeine content! The average matcha has approximately 72 mg of caffeine, which is more than a single shot of espresso (64 mg), but less than the average cup of brewed coffee (95 mg).
Coffee is the OG energy booster for a reason: it gives an almost instant dose of caffeine, with blood levels peaking after only 15 minutes. It’s great when you need that quick hit, but the crash can come hard and fast, a pattern that can interfere with sleep, cause jitters, and worsen anxiety.
Matcha, on the other hand, is naturally rich in l-theanine, an amino acid that prevents stress in the brain. L-theanine makes matcha healthier for the nervous system, and, when combined with caffeine, promotes clear focus while curbing any jitters. The caffeine in matcha is also absorbed much slower, providing calmer, sustained energy.
Our caffeine routine
We love coffee for its taste, benefits, and energy, but we love boosting it with superfoods even more – especially with functional mushroom reishi and calming cacao, which can help curb the jittery effects of coffee. Our favorites are Shroom Shield and Cacao Turmeric Latte Blend for a chocolatey mocha moment with benefits!
If you can’t already tell, we’re also big matcha people over here. We love a classic Pure Matcha latte for a midday pick-me-up! Want to make your own? Watch our tutorial here.
We’ve got tons of recipes with both caffeine-boosters on our Pinterest and TikTok. Don't forget to tag us if you try them!
