JOURNAL · CAFFEINE
Matcha vs coffee: what is the actual difference?
A bowl of matcha contains less caffeine than a typical coffee, and it arrives differently. Matcha also contains L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea, and most people describe the result as steadier than coffee rather than sharper.
Updated October 2026
How much caffeine is in matcha?
A standard 3g bowl holds roughly 70mg to 90mg of caffeine, a little below a typical cup of filter coffee at 90mg to 110mg. Exact figures vary with the leaf, the dose and how strong your coffee is, so treat them as ranges. Because you drink the whole leaf rather than an infusion, you get everything in it. The full figures are in how much caffeine is in matcha.
The L-theanine part
L-theanine occurs naturally in tea, and shade-growing increases it, which is one more reason those three weeks under cover matter.
Alongside caffeine it tends to make the lift feel more level. That is the honest version: not that matcha is a health product, but that most people find it less spiky and less prone to a mid-morning drop.
Taste, and the bitterness question
Coffee is roasted, so its bitterness is a roasting flavour. Matcha is not roasted, so bitterness in matcha usually means something went wrong: late-harvest leaf, old stock, or water too hot.
Good matcha made properly tastes sweet and savoury before anything else. If yours is harsh, try 80°C water before blaming the tea.
Which should you drink?
Both, probably. Plenty of people keep coffee for the morning and use matcha in the afternoon, when a second coffee would cost them the evening.
If you want the steadiest option, Hōjicha is roasted and naturally low in caffeine, about a quarter of what you would find in a bowl of matcha, which makes it the one to drink late.
If you are switching, start with Hikari. It is the sweetest of the three and the least likely to taste like a compromise in your first week.
Questions people ask
Is matcha healthier than coffee?
We do not make that claim. Both are fine for most healthy adults in moderation. Matcha has a little less caffeine and contains L-theanine.
Can I drink matcha in the afternoon?
Many people do, when a second coffee would cost them the evening. For later in the day, Hōjicha is lower in caffeine.
Why does matcha taste bitter sometimes?
Matcha is not roasted, so bitterness usually means late-harvest leaf, old stock or water that is too hot. Try 80°C water first.
Sources
- Kochman, Jakubczyk, Antoniewicz, Mruk and Janda. Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules, 2021.Open access review. Caffeine and L-theanine content in matcha.
- USDA FoodData CentralUnited States Department of Agriculture food composition database.