Matcha vs Coffee: Which Is Better? Caffeine, Health & Focus Compared

In recent years, more people have started making matcha part of their daily routine as an alternative to coffee.

Both matcha and coffee contain caffeine, but they differ in their caffeine content and the other compounds they contain.

So, which should you choose if you drink it every day: matcha or coffee?

✔︎ Which is better when you need to focus on work or studying?
✔︎ How long do the effects of caffeine last?
✔︎ Is matcha a better choice in the evening or before bed?
✔︎ How do matcha and coffee compare when it comes to health?

These are common questions for anyone considering switching from coffee to matcha.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at matcha vs coffee and explain how to choose between them depending on your needs and the time of day, from your morning drink and work or study sessions to afternoon breaks and evenings.

Matcha vs Coffee: Key Differences

First, let’s take a quick look at the main differences between matcha and coffee.

Comparison	Matcha	Coffee
Source	Green tea leaves	Coffee beans
Caffeine	Contains caffeince	Contains caffeine
L-Theanine	Contains theanine	Generally doesn't contain L-theanine
Common Wats to Drink	Matcha, Matcha latte	Black coffee, espresso, cafe latte
Drinking at Night	Caution due to caffeine	Caution due to caffeine

As shown above, the differences between matcha and coffee go beyond caffeine content.

One key difference is the L-theanine found in matcha.

Matcha contains both caffeine and L-theanine, while coffee contains caffeine but generally does not contain L-theanine.

This difference in composition is also worth considering when comparing matcha and coffee as drinks for work or study.

Since both contain caffeine, however, you should not assume that matcha is automatically a suitable choice before bed.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the differences between matcha and coffee.

What Is the Biggest Difference Between Matcha and Coffee?

Matcha is a type of green tea made by grinding specially cultivated and processed tea leaves into a fine powder.

To prepare matcha, the powder is mixed directly with water or milk. Unlike regular green tea, where tea leaves are steeped in hot water and then removed, matcha is consumed as the whole tea leaf in powdered form.

Coffee, on the other hand, is made from roasted coffee beans.

Hot water is passed through ground coffee beans to extract their flavor and compounds, while the coffee grounds themselves are generally not consumed.

In other words, with matcha, you consume the tea leaves themselves, while with coffee, you drink the compounds extracted from the beans.

The compounds found in each drink also differ.

In addition to caffeine, matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid naturally found in tea, as well as catechins. Coffee also contains caffeine, along with polyphenols such as chlorogenic acids.

Which Has More Caffeine: Matcha or Coffee?

When comparing a typical serving, drip coffee generally contains more caffeine than a standard cup of usucha, or thin matcha.

However, the amount of caffeine in matcha depends on how much matcha powder you use, while the caffeine content of coffee varies depending on the amount of coffee beans and the brewing method.

Here is a general comparison of caffeine content in common matcha and coffee drinks:

Drink	Typical Amount / Serving Size	Approx. Caffeine Content
Matcha (Usucha)	1.5~2g matcha	20~70mg
Matcha Latte	2~4g matcha	40~140mg
Drip Coffee	Approx. 240ml	90~100mg
Espresso	Approx. 30ml	60mg
Instant Coffee	Approx. 240ml	60~80mg

Note: Caffeine content varies depending on the type and amount of matcha used, the coffee beans, brewing method, product, and other factors.

As shown above, a standard cup of usucha often contains less caffeine than drip coffee.

However, a strong matcha latte made with 3–4g of matcha can contain about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of drip coffee, or even more.

For this reason, when comparing the caffeine content of matcha and coffee, you should look at the actual amount used rather than simply assuming that one drink always contains more caffeine than the other.

With matcha in particular, checking how many grams of matcha powder are used rather than focusing on the size of the cup makes it easier to estimate your caffeine intake.

Which Is Better for Work or Studying: Matcha or Coffee?

When choosing a drink for work or studying, one of the key differences between matcha and coffee is L-theanine.

Both contain caffeine, which can help reduce drowsiness and increase alertness.

Matcha, however, contains not only caffeine but also L-theanine.

Several studies have examined the effects of consuming L-theanine and caffeine together on attention and cognitive performance.

For this reason, when comparing matcha and coffee for focused work or studying, it is worth looking beyond caffeine content and considering whether the drink also contains L-theanine.

However, this does not mean that drinking matcha will always help you focus better than coffee.

Your response can also vary depending on factors such as the amount of caffeine you consume, your caffeine tolerance, how much sleep you get, what you eat, and the time of day you drink it.

The best choice will therefore depend on whether you want a higher dose of caffeine in a short period of time or prefer a drink that provides both caffeine and L-theanine.

Which Is Better in the Morning: Matcha or Coffee?

For many people, coffee is the first drink they reach for after waking up.

But what happens if you replace your morning coffee with matcha?

Both matcha and coffee contain caffeine, so either can be an option when you want to shake off morning drowsiness and start your day.

The main differences are the amount of caffeine per serving and the other compounds each drink contains.

A typical cup of drip coffee tends to contain more caffeine than a standard cup of usucha. Matcha, on the other hand, provides L-theanine in addition to caffeine.

This means that replacing your morning coffee with matcha does not necessarily give you the same amount of caffeine. Your actual intake will depend on how much coffee you normally drink and how many grams of matcha you use.

There is also a noticeable difference when pairing either drink with breakfast. Coffee offers roasted aromas and bitterness, while matcha brings umami, vegetal notes, and a gentle bitterness, creating a very different morning experience.

If you want to switch from your usual morning coffee to matcha, you do not have to replace it completely from day one.

For example, you can start by swapping your usual café latte for a matcha latte. This allows you to introduce matcha into your morning routine without giving up the familiar experience of a milk-based drink.

 

Which Is Healthier to Drink Every Day: Matcha or Coffee?

When it comes to coffee, several large observational studies and meta-analyses have found an association between regular coffee consumption and a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Coffee has also been studied in relation to cancer. In particular, higher coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of liver cancer and endometrial cancer, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

But what about matcha?

Matcha contains compounds found in green tea, including catechins, L-theanine, and caffeine. A wide range of studies have therefore investigated the relationship between these compounds and health.

However, long-term studies specifically following people who drink matcha every day and examining outcomes such as mortality or cancer incidence are not as extensive as the research available on coffee.

For this reason, the findings reported for coffee, such as its association with a lower risk of mortality, cannot simply be applied to matcha.

When comparing matcha and coffee as everyday drinks, how you consume them also matters.

Unsweetened matcha and a matcha latte made with large amounts of sugar or syrup have very different nutritional profiles.

The same applies to black coffee compared with coffee drinks containing large amounts of sugar or syrup.

So, if you drink matcha or coffee every day, it is worth considering not only the compounds each drink contains, but also your total caffeine intake, the amount of sugar or syrup added, and how many servings you drink per day.

Is Matcha Better Than Coffee Before Bed?

Some people drink coffee in the evening to stay awake while studying or working. Others may choose matcha at night because it has a gentler image than coffee.

However, both matcha and coffee contain caffeine.

For this reason, if you want to minimize the impact of caffeine on your sleep, neither matcha nor coffee is an ideal choice in the evening.

If you want to enjoy a warm drink at night, decaffeinated tea or a caffeine-free herbal tea can be a better third option.

FAQs About Matcha vs Coffee

Q1. Is Matcha Healthier Than Coffee?

One advantage of choosing matcha as an everyday drink is that, in addition to caffeine, it also provides compounds such as L-theanine and catechins.

Coffee, on the other hand, contains polyphenols such as chlorogenic acids, and numerous studies have examined the relationship between regular coffee consumption and health. For this reason, it is not accurate to simply say that matcha is healthier than coffee.

However, if you normally drink several cups of coffee a day, replacing one of them with unsweetened matcha can be an easy way to add matcha to your daily routine.

Q2. Does Matcha Have Less Caffeine Than Coffee?

When comparing a standard cup of usucha with a cup of drip coffee, matcha generally makes it easier to keep your caffeine intake lower.

Another advantage of matcha is that you can control how much powder you use. At home, for example, you could use 2g in the morning and 1.5g in the afternoon, adjusting the amount depending on the time of day.

However, a strong matcha latte made with 3–4g of matcha will contain considerably more caffeine, so matcha is not always a low-caffeine drink.

Q3. Is Matcha or Coffee Better for Studying and Working?

Matcha is worth trying as a drink for work or study sessions.

Like coffee, matcha contains caffeine, but it also contains L-theanine. Research has examined the relationship between consuming caffeine and L-theanine together and factors such as attention and cognitive performance.

So, if you usually drink coffee while working or studying, try replacing one cup with matcha and see how the experience compares in terms of focus and how you feel while drinking it.

Q4. Is Matcha Better Than Coffee Before Bed?

Neither matcha nor coffee is particularly recommended before bed.

Although matcha contains L-theanine, it also contains caffeine. You should therefore not assume that matcha is suitable before bed simply because it contains L-theanine.

If you want to avoid caffeine interfering with your sleep, consider switching to decaffeinated tea or a caffeine-free herbal tea in the evening instead of matcha or coffee.

Q5. Can I Drink Matcha Instead of Coffee Every Day?

Yes. You can replace your daily coffee with matcha.

If you have a habit of making coffee first thing in the morning, an easy way to start is by replacing that cup with matcha or a matcha latte.

You do not have to give up coffee completely, either. You can simply replace one of your usual cups, such as your morning or afternoon coffee, with matcha.

Q6. Can I Drink Matcha and Coffee on the Same Day?

Yes. You can enjoy both matcha and coffee on the same day.

For example, you might have coffee in the morning and matcha while working or during your afternoon break.

However, because both drinks contain caffeine, you should keep an eye on your total daily caffeine intake from coffee, matcha, tea, and other sources.

Rather than adding matcha on top of your usual coffee intake, a simple approach is to replace one of your regular cups of coffee with matcha.

Q7. Which Is Better: Matcha Latte or Café Latte?

If you usually drink café lattes and are curious about matcha, a matcha latte is a great place to start.

A café latte offers the roasted aroma and bitterness of espresso, while a matcha latte combines matcha’s umami, vegetal notes, and gentle bitterness with milk.

Because you can simply swap your usual café latte for a matcha latte, it is also one of the easiest ways to begin shifting your daily routine from coffee to matcha.

When making one at home, choose a matcha with enough body and bitterness to stand up to milk. This will help the matcha flavor remain noticeable in the finished latte.

Our Suggestion: Try Swapping Your Usual Coffee for Matcha

You wake up and make a cup of coffee. You have another before starting work. Then, when the afternoon slump hits, you reach for one more.

For many of us, coffee has long been a natural part of everyday life.

But now, there is another option: replacing one of those cups with matcha.

Like coffee, matcha contains caffeine. However, matcha also contains compounds that coffee does not, including L-theanine and catechins.

Have matcha as your morning drink. Prepare a cup before starting work or studying. Swap your usual café latte for a matcha latte.

Matcha does not have to be a traditional Japanese drink reserved for special occasions. Just like coffee, it can become part of your everyday routine.

Of course, you do not need to give up coffee completely. Coffee has its own appeal, and its relationship with health has been extensively studied.

Still, replacing just one of the cups of coffee you drink every day with matcha can bring something new to your daily routine.

From morning coffee to morning matcha.

Start by swapping just one of your usual cups for matcha and see how this new habit fits into your day.