Coffee and matcha are two powerful caffeinated drinks. The popularity of caffeinated drinks will never cease considering the wide range of health benefits offered by such drinks.
The shared benefits of both the drinks include:
- Better physical performance
- Improved mood
- High in antioxidants
- Weight loss
Though both of the drinks are good, people react to caffeine differently and this is why one variety can work well for them than the other.
With all those reviews on your feeds regarding the effectiveness of both, you might be wondering to separate the facts from the friction.
Coffee is bold, rich, and tasty. But as widely popular and loved it seems, does it work better than other caffeinated sources like matcha? Or should matcha be the new pick-me-up caffeine choice for people?
Short answer: Coffee and matcha both are extremely good for your body considering the nutritive values. The overall impact of the drinks will depend on how your body is metabolizing the drink and which one gives you the desired feeling of satisfaction.
The following sections contain an in-detailed review of the two goods.
Benefits of Coffee
A cup of coffee not only helps you in feeling more energized but can also boost longevity.
Science has revealed that coffee helps in stimulating the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine that produces pleasant feelings. This is why a cup of coffee every morning gives the euphoria people talk about.
When we’re talking about the benefits of coffee, we’re talking about the right amount of coffee that your body can tolerate. Beyond the healthy amount, no cup of coffee can give you any additional benefits.
- The body may process glucose better
- Reduces the chance of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
- Protects liver
- Protects from stroke and diabetes
- Improves physical cognition
- Can fight depression
Not all bodies react to caffeine similarly. Caffeine will work best for your body only when you’re ingesting the right amount for yourself and following a healthy lifestyle habit.
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Benefits of Matcha drink
Matcha has been extremely popular these days due to its appealing forms and profound health benefits. Lately, matcha shots, lattes, and even desserts are appearing in the shops due to their extreme demand.
Matcha contains important nutrients from the green tea leaf that helps in protecting the heart, liver and promoting weight loss.
It is high in antioxidants that help in stabilizing harmful free radicals and prevent chronic disease.
Adding match powder to warm water ensures all the nutrients from the tea leaf and has more catechins and antioxidants.
Among several wonderful health benefits provided by the matcha drink, some of the notable mentioned include:
- Increased and sustained energy
- Improved sleep
- Improved relaxation
- Increased production of serotonin levels
- Reduced blood pressure
- Improved cognitive functions
Not to forget, the L-theanine helps in promoting alertness and helps the body to avoid the unwanted crash of energy abruptly.
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The Nutritional Differences between the both
Coffee and matcha both have minimal calories, zero sugar, and work amazingly for your body.
A standard cup of black coffee contains just water and coffee grounds. A cup of matcha is prepared by mixing matcha powder with water.
| Basis of comparison | Coffee (8 ounces) | Matcha (2 ounces) |
| Plant origin | coffee beans | fine-ground green tea leaves |
| Caffeine | 96 mg | 19-45 mg |
| Carbs | 0 gram | 1 gram |
| Taste | acidic, dark, bitter | botanical |
| Calorie | 2 | 5 |
| Fat | 0-0.5 grams | 0 |
The caffeine content in the matcha is lower than that of the coffee. The caffeine depends on the source they are extracted from.
Coffee contains chlorogenic acids and matcha contains epigallocatechin gallate. Both of these have potential health benefits. However, both of the drinks work differently.
Coffee is more like an energy booster whereas matcha gives a more calming after-effect. Both of these do have satisfying nutritive value. If you’re preferring more caffeine then coffee is the one to-go.
For long-run health-boosting effects, matcha can have profound benefits. Though more research needs to be done, still it’s better to choose the caffeinated drink wisely as caffeine comes with unwanted side effects.
Which is better for weight loss?
Both coffee and matcha promote weight loss. You can read about how coffee promotes weight loss in my other article for a deeper dive. The effects of matcha seemed to be more beneficial in this regarding.
Matcha contains a ton of polyphenol antioxidants. The epigallocatechin gallate present in the matcha is responsible for increasing the body’s ability to burn fat and help in losing weight.
However, there are very few researches that showed the association between weight loss and matcha. Studies have suggested that there is a link between green tea leaves and weight loss.
A 2013 review showed that green tea extracts can help induce adaptations to fat metabolism. Well, for the signaling molecules to get activated, you need to take good exercises regularly. Experts believe this happens due to the presence of epigallocatechin gallate in green tea.
The antioxidants can also help in reducing inflammation and thus boosting weight loss.
Take notes that coffee also promotes weight loss, thanks to caffeine. But, to get the desired amount of weight loss, a significantly larger dose of caffeine is needed for the body. This high amount of caffeine comes with unwanted withdrawals and overdosage symptoms.
So, even if both coffee and matcha helps in losing weight, matcha has more health-boosting antioxidants that can activate fat oxidation relatively faster.
Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?
Matcha has less amount of caffeine compared to coffee. Both of them are caffeinated, but coffee contains more caffeine per serving.
Coffee is prepared by brewing roasted and ground coffee beans. The coffee beans contain a relatively higher amount of caffeine content. These are the seeds of berries of certain Coffea species such as arabica and robusta.
On the other hand, matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea leaves that is steamed dried, and destemmed. Even if it is caffeinated, it does provide a relaxing tone compared to coffee.
Typically, an 8-ounces cup of coffee contains 95-96 milligrams of caffeine on average. Conversely, 2 or 3 ounces of matcha green tea contains 19-68 milligrams of caffeine.
What are the differences between the functionality?
Both coffee and matcha contain caffeine and perform well to give an energy boost. Both of these are healthy and you can’t go any wrong while consuming one or both. Though both of them are caffeinated, they work differently.
The boost provided by coffee is instant and rapid. Conversely, matcha offers a slower and milder boost.
Coffee is a natural stimulant. It is known for providing an instant boost to get rid of the morning laziness or the afternoon slump.
The effectiveness of the caffeine starts immediately within 10-15minutes of coffee consumption. When 99% of the caffeine is absorbed, the stimulant reaches the peak blood concentration levels and you’ll be getting the best jolt throughout this period.
Similarly, matcha also contains caffeine but the functionality is slower than the coffee. The L-theanine found in it can help in reducing stress by increasing alpha waves in the brain. It can take up to 30 minutes to reach the peak concentration level.
Pros and Cons
Both matcha and coffee have a sheer share of pros and cons that makes them healthy in certain ways. However, everything comes down to personal preference so your body knows best which is better for you.
Pros of Coffee
- More caffeine
- Instant boost
- Acquired taste
- Variations
- Budget-friendly
- Fights diabetes, stroke, and heart diseases
- Appetite suppressor
Cons of Coffee
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Creates a sense of dependence
- Causes enamel erosion
- Leech calcium from the bones
Pros of Matcha
- Easy to prepare
- Promotes more relaxation
- Promotes oral health and hygiene
- Contains important phytonutrients
Cons of Matcha
- Quality matcha can be pricey
- Less caffeine
- Risk of liver toxicity
- Limited variations
Is matcha better than coffee?
It depends on how you’re consuming it and what your goals are. Matcha and coffee both are part of a healthy diet. The health benefits offered by both are beneficial in certain ways.
There’s no right or wrong to choose between the both. While choosing your preferred drink, you may consider some of the following key points:
- The effectiveness of either of the drinks depends on what else you add to the cup. Additives like sugar or cream can be counterproductive to your overall calorie intake. So in case, you’re someone who prefers coffee with sugar or milk, matcha mixed with water can be the better alternative.
- Matcha contains more caffeine than tea but less than a cup of coffee. For more caffeine preference, a standard cup of coffee could perform better.
- Coffee is better for those who are looking for an instant energy boost and something that strengthens their power. On the other hand, matcha delivers more endurance-based exercise.
- Coffee beats almost all of the drinks in case of flavor and texture. The intense nutty-chocolatey notes not only change the experience of energy-fix but also give a range over different fusion bean notes.
Final thoughts
I feel both are winners in their way. Matcha and coffee have got great nutritive values, high antioxidants levels, and amazing boosting effects.
The functionality of the drinks is somewhat different but both work great considering the caffeine amount kept in moderation. The final overall impact of the drinks depends on how well your body metabolizes the drink’s nutrients and at what healthy amounts you are consuming it.
For a quicker energy-fix, you can go for a cup of coffee, and for a relaxing-calming effect go for a matcha tea.
So you do you and choose the caffeinated dose according to your preference.
Other Articles
- Coffee VS Soda (Which Is Better For Your Health?)
- Mocha VS Latte (Which Drink Should You Choose?)
- Mocha VS Red Bull (A Thorough Comparison)
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