Matcha might be a friendlier alternative to sip on before your next smooch sesh. If you’ve ever made out right after a cafe date, you know it all too well: Coffee breath is a thing. If you struggle with ups and downs associated with caffeine, matcha might provide a more even energy boost. That means more energy for longer - without the crash.

The phytonutrients in matcha help your body process caffeine more slowly than you would when drinking coffee. But before you go and order it in bulk, here are the basic benefits. Why switch from coffee to matcha, anyway?īeen sleeping on the matcha trend? It’s def not too late to join the matcha par- tea. But again, scientists think this is due to caffeine, which is also found in matcha in slightly smaller amounts. A 2019 study suggests caffeine might boost the functioning of brown fat (the “good” body fat we all need), which may contribute to weight loss.įurther research found that drinking 4 cups of coffee per day for 24 weeks was associated with a slight weight loss (about 4 percent) as compared to drinking no coffee.

One 2014 review found that adults with overweight or obesity who drank green tea preparations regularly for 12 weeks did not have significant weight loss compared to the control group.Ĭoffee, meanwhile, may have fat-burning benefits of its own, mostly thanks to caffeine. Scientists think EGCG might also reduce inflammation and boost weight loss. More research on humans is needed to confirm the effects. But all these findings are from animal studies. This might be due to the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which green tea contains. One 2013 review noted that many studies have found positive effects of green tea extract on fat metabolism, both during exercise and at rest. While there’s not much research so far on matcha specifically, some studies have suggested a link between green tea leaves and weight loss. If you’re looking to maintain a healthy weight, matcha might be a better morning friend than coffee. Which is better for weight loss: Matcha or a cup o’ joe? As a result, a cup of matcha tends to provide energy without the jitters, racing heart, headaches, or insomnia that coffee might cause. Matcha contains phytonutrients like L-theanine, which helps your body process the caffeine more gradually. The way the caffeine hits you may also be different. But typically a full-strength coffee will beat out matcha. So, depending on how much matcha you use, this green pick-me-up’s caffeine content can rival that of a weaker cup of coffee. But people often use smaller amounts of matcha, so you’re looking at more like 30 to 40 milligrams of caffeine if you use only 1/2 teaspoon of powder. Rely on your midday latte to get you through that afternoon slump? When you switch to matcha, you could get a similar energy boost without crashing and slumping over your keyboard 3 hours later (been there 🙋‍♀️).Ī cup of coffee has 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, which starts pumping through your bod practically immediately.Ī cup of matcha made with 1 teaspoon of matcha powder typically has 60 to 80 milligrams of caffeine. So, how does the caffeine in matcha stack up to coffee? To break it down a little more, here are some other key differences between the two brews: But matcha contains 3 times as many antioxidants as green tea, which makes it the clear antioxidant winner. Coffee typically has more antioxidants than black or green tea, at 200 to 550 milligrams per cup. Healthwise, both bevvies contain antioxidants that provide a slew of benefits. Like coffee, matcha’s not always love at first sip - most people find it’s an acquired taste, especially without the help of some sugar or cream. Matcha on its own has a bold taste, but instead of coffee’s bitterness, it’s more of an earthy, botanical flavor. Simply mix the powder with boiling water and voila! When making matcha, no fancy grinding machine or espresso maker is required. Unlike regular green tea, matcha is crafted by grinding the leaves into a superfine powder. Matcha, meanwhile, comes from green tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis tea plant. The delish coffee beans you grind up and brew are actually roasted seeds from the plant’s fruit.Īs many of us know, there are about a million ways to make coffee, ranging from a simple pour-over to a fancy espresso machine. coffeeĬoffee doesn’t exactly grow on trees, but it does come from a flowering shrub called the coffea plant.

Green tea vs matcha caffeine