THE CAFFEINE QUESTION
Caffeine’s popularity as a natural stimulant is unparalleled. It’s found in over 60 plant species and enjoyed across the globe, notably in coffee, chocolate, and tea.
No matter your preferred method of getting your caffeine boost, the question of caffeine levels is always prevalent.
Did you know?
Tea actually contains more caffeine than coffee. Yes! Tea leaves have around 3.5% caffeine in them whereas unbrewed coffee beans have only around 1.1-2.2% caffeine. So, technically there is more caffeine in tea than coffee per mg but it’s all in how you brew up as to how much caffeine you actually drink in your morning (or afternoon) cup.
The amount of caffeine changes once you start to add hot water and brew your coffee beans or your tea leaves. This happens because the hot water extracts the caffeine from the coffee beans and it’s more concentrated than when you brew a cup of tea.
It becomes obvious why coffee is the more preferable choice when it comes to getting that much-needed caffeine fix. It’s the first thing that comes to mind! But, if you want to get a stronger concentration of caffeine from your cup of tea, then keep steeping it for longer.
How Coffee compares to Matcha
Think of caffeine in coffee like a short, sharp hit and caffeine in tea like a slower releasing boost. This is also why you get a crash after coffee and not so much after tea.
Coffee contains around 96 mg of caffeine per a standard 8 oz cup, while matcha contains 19-44 mg per gram - equaling 38-88 mg in just a 2-oz serving if prepared the standard way, because you only need 2 grams of matcha per cup!
Coffee is known for providing an instant energy kick that reduces sleepiness and fatigue. This happens because your body rapidly absorbs up to 99% of its caffeine and increases the brain’s beta waves, meaning that the compound may reach peak blood concentration levels as soon as 15 minutes after intake.
Another reason why you get a jolt of energy is becuse caffeine acts as a block to the portion of our brain that recognizes fatigue.
Matcha, which contains L-theanine, can reduce stress by increasing alpha waves in your brain. This amino acid found in the green tea plant slows down the effects of caffeine, helping you reach peak concentration levels in 30 minutes. Instead of getting the coffee jitters, L-theanine relaxes the mind without causing feelings of drowsiness.