Matcha and coffee for that wonderful energy boost at the start of the day
There's no clear-cut answer to the question of which is the right choice: coffee or matcha. There are good reasons to drink both beverages. They both provide an energy boost, but how they do that—and what that does to your body (and mind)—is completely different. We'll explain how your body reacts to matcha and coffee, and let you decide which one you choose.
Energy:
Coffee works quickly, powerfully, and gives you that instant kick. This is thanks to the caffeine, which stimulates your brain and increases your alertness. A single cup of coffee contains an average of 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, depending on how strong you brew it. This caffeine works by blocking your adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a chemical in your brain that promotes drowsiness. By blocking these receptors, you get a temporary energy boost. Unfortunately, the caffeine in coffee wears off after a short time, and you want… coffee to get that energy back.
Matcha also contains caffeine – an average of 30 to 70 mg per cup, depending on the amount of powder you use. But the key difference lies in how that caffeine is delivered. Matcha is packed with L-theanine, an amino acid that slows caffeine absorption.
Instead of the quick spike and deep crash you get with coffee, matcha gives you a steady, long-lasting energy boost that can last up to 6 to 8 hours. You'll feel alert, yet calm.
Sleep
Caffeine stays in your system for 5 to 8 hours. So, if you drink a cup of coffee at 4 p.m., it could easily affect your sleep. Drinking too much coffee can cause sleep problems and make you nervous, irritable, or even anxious, especially if you're sensitive to caffeine. It can also make you feel jittery. With matcha, that risk is much lower because it contains L-theanine, which not only helps delay caffeine release, but also helps prevent it from happening again. release, also has a calming effect. Many people switch to matcha because they feel less stressed in the evening and sleep better, while still having plenty of energy during the day.
Taste
There's no accounting for taste. Coffee and matcha both have their own unique and distinctive flavors. The flavor can be slightly altered, for example, by adding milk.
Good coffee can have flavor notes of nuts, chocolate, fruit (citrus, berries), caramel, or flowers. Good coffee is also a combination of roast, origin, grind, and brewing method.
Good matcha has flavor notes of umami (savory), sweet, grassy, and sometimes slightly bitter. Good matcha is bright green, finely ground, and comes from young shade-grown tea leaves (such as those from Uji or Nishio, Japan). Because of the umami flavor, some people need some time to get used to drinking matcha. It's the fifth taste, along with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. If you'd like to learn more about what matcha is, read Blog 1. .
Costs
Matcha has a reputation for being expensive... but is that true? Yes, compared to a cup of coffee, a bowl of matcha is more expensive. However, to get the energy from a bowl of matcha, you need four cups of coffee. To give you a better idea, we'll do some calculations. We'll use the price of excellent quality for both coffee and matcha:
Coffee – 500 g for €15
- Average use per cup: 10 g beans
-
Number of cups from 500 g:
500 g / 10 g = 50 cups -
Cost per cup:
€15 / 50 = €0.30 -
You drink 4 cups a day:
4 × €0.30 = €1.20 per day
Matcha – 30 g for €30
- Use per bowl (traditional): 1 - 1.5 g
-
Number of bowls from 30 g:
30 g / 1.5 g = 20 bowls - 30 g / 1 g = 30 bowls
-
Cost per bowl:
€30 / 20 = €1.50 per day - €30 / 30 = €1 per day
We wouldn't want to deprive you of a few additional benefits of matcha. Besides caffeine and L-theanine, matcha also contains a wealth of antioxidants (Blog 14: Matcha as an antioxidant powerhouse) , vitamin C, fiber, and chlorophyll. So, matcha isn't just a pick-me-up, it's also a little health boost.
What suits you best?
Matcha might not be for everyone, and coffee doesn't necessarily have to be thrown out. But if you're looking for:
✅ Long lasting energy without crash
✅ More mental focus and calmness
✅ A healthier alternative with extra nutrients
...then matcha is definitely worth a try.
So, replace your coffee with matcha for a while and notice the difference. No stress, just focus!