Caffeine in matcha vs coffee: how much is in each?
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Matcha contains about 19–44 mg of caffeine per gram of powder. A typical serving uses 1–2 g, so a cup of matcha has roughly 19–89 mg of caffeine. A cup of instant coffee has about 100 mg, according to the NHS. The exact amount depends on the matcha, how much powder you use and the size of the cup.
Key points
• Matcha: about 18.9–44.4 mg of caffeine per gram of powder.
• 1 g of matcha (about half a teaspoon): roughly 19–44 mg. 2 g: roughly 38–89 mg.
• Instant coffee: about 100 mg per cup (NHS). Filter and coffee-shop coffee can contain more.
• With matcha you drink the whole ground leaf, so it usually has more caffeine than regular green tea.
Table of contents
- How much caffeine is in matcha?
- Matcha vs coffee: caffeine compared
- Matcha vs green tea
- What else is in matcha?
- Matcha and your daily caffeine total
- FAQ
How much caffeine is in matcha?
Matcha is green tea leaf ground into a fine powder. You whisk the powder into water or milk and drink all of it, rather than brewing leaves and throwing them away.
A study of matcha samples measured 18.9 to 44.4 mg of caffeine per gram of powder (Koláčková et al., 2020, cited in a 2021 review in the journal Molecules). So the caffeine in your cup depends mostly on how much powder you use:
| Matcha powder | Approximate caffeine |
|---|---|
| 1 g (about ½ teaspoon) | 19–44 mg |
| 2 g (about 1 teaspoon) | 38–89 mg |
| 4 g (a double serving, as in some café lattes) | 76–178 mg |
Work out your own total: caffeine calculator.
Calculated from 18.9–44.4 mg per gram. Teaspoon weights are approximate.
Matcha vs coffee: caffeine compared
| Drink | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| Matcha, 1 g | about 19–44 mg |
| Matcha, 2 g | about 38–89 mg |
| Instant coffee, 1 cup | about 100 mg |
| Tea (black or green), 1 cup | about 75 mg |
| Espresso, 60 ml | about 80 mg |
Coffee and tea: NHS. Espresso: EUFIC.
A standard 1–2 g cup of matcha usually has less caffeine than a mug of instant coffee. A large café matcha latte made with a double scoop can have as much as a coffee, or more. Coffee varies too: filter coffee and coffee bought from coffee shops can contain more than instant. More: How much caffeine is in an espresso?
Matcha vs green tea
Matcha and green tea come from the same plant. The difference is that with green tea you brew the leaves and remove them, so only part of the caffeine ends up in the cup. With matcha you drink the whole leaf. That is why matcha usually has more caffeine per cup. For tea and coffee figures side by side, see caffeine in coffee vs tea vs green tea.
What else is in matcha?
Like other teas, matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea leaves. It is one of the ingredients in Optimal Native Morning Energy and Daily Flow, at 50 mg per pouch. More: L-theanine and caffeine: what they are and where you find them.
Plain matcha made with water has no sugar. Sweetened matcha drinks and lattes can contain added sugar, so check the label or the café's nutrition information.
Matcha and your daily caffeine total
The UK food safety agencies say up to 400 mg of caffeine a day from all sources is unlikely to cause adverse effects in healthy adults, and 200 mg a day for pregnant women (Food Standards Scotland and the FSA, 2024). Matcha counts towards that total like any other caffeine. More: How much caffeine is too much?
If you want to know the exact amount, a product that states its caffeine per serving on the label makes counting easier. Optimal Native caffeine pouches state it per pouch: Morning Energy 200 mg, Daily Flow 75 mg and Evening Relax 0 mg, with no sugar. More: Caffeine pouches in the UK.
FAQ
Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?
Usually not per cup. A 1–2 g cup of matcha has about 19–89 mg, a cup of instant coffee about 100 mg. A double-scoop matcha latte can match or exceed a coffee.
How much caffeine is in a teaspoon of matcha?
About 38–89 mg for roughly 2 g of powder, depending on the matcha.
Does matcha have more caffeine than green tea?
Usually yes, because you drink the whole ground leaf instead of a brew.
Is there caffeine-free matcha?
Matcha is made from tea leaves, which naturally contain caffeine.
Read next: Caffeine in coffee vs tea vs green tea · Caffeine in an espresso · How much caffeine is too much?
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