C A F F E I N E : Matcha vs. Coffee

I am often asked about caffeine levels in different drinks. One common inquiry is regarding matcha. Matcha, for those of you who do not know, is a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves. Matcha does contain caffeine, but quite different than caffeine found in coffee. A matcha hit (1 tsp of matcha mixed with approximately 3oz of water) provides about half the caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee. But theres is something to keep in mind...unlike the buzz from coffee caffeine, matcha’s buzz lasts longer and is much more energizing. The reason for this different type of buzz is matcha contains amino acid L-Theanine, which slows the release of caffeine and has a calming, relaxing effect. Matcha provides a less jittery, more sustained energy boost, with no “crash” at the end.

But what about taste? Matcha is definitely an acquired taste. But I do always say, if you like green tea, you will probably love matcha. Quoting one of our baristas, "it tastes like grassy marshmallows!" Perfectly stated Hannah! That is exactly what it tastes like!

For those that stop in to my shop and are not coffee drinkers, this is a great alternative! Or even if you are a coffee drinker and want to try something new. I typically have my coveted coffee in hand in the morning and enjoy a matcha mid-afternoon to give me a bit of a boost.

So the next time you are at Stillwater Coffee Company and you'd like to try one of our matcha drinks, be sure to let them know whether you'd like sweetened or unsweetened. We can also ice or blend your matcha drink! Or try it with a little peppermint! So much happiness in a matcha 💚

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Hey, thanks for reading my first blog post! This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and hope to get one out each week. Have a beautiful day! -Karen