Does Matcha Have Caffeine? How Much vs Coffee and Tea
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Matcha is made from whole, stone-ground green tea leaves, so it naturally contains caffeine. The question most people actually want answered is simpler: how does a cup of matcha compare with the coffee or tea they already drink? The short answer is that it usually sits somewhere between the two, and the amount you use matters more than anything else.
The short answer
Yes, matcha has caffeine. There is no single caffeine figure for "matcha", because the caffeine in your cup depends on how much powder goes into it and which leaves it was made from. What we can give you is a like-for-like comparison per cup, using UK figures:
- Cup of instant coffee: about 100mg (NHS)
- Cup of filter coffee: can contain more than instant (NHS)
- Cup of tea, black or green: about 75mg (NHS)
- Can of cola: about 40mg (NHS)
- One 10g serving of Mind Full Matcha: 40mg (from our pack)
Mind Full Matcha: ceremonial matcha, lion's mane and coconut cream in one creamy latte powder. 30 servings per 300g pouch.
The NHS figures come from its guidance on caffeine. Our 40mg figure is per 10g serving of the finished blend, which contains ceremonial matcha alongside oat milk powder, coconut powders and lion's mane, rather than pure matcha.
Why matcha's caffeine varies
With brewed tea you steep the leaves and throw them away, so only part of their caffeine ends up in the cup. With matcha you whisk the ground leaf into the water and drink all of it. That makes the serving size the biggest factor: a generous scoop of pure matcha contains more caffeine than a small one.
The leaves matter too. Matcha is made from tea plants that are shaded before harvest, and the youngest leaves tend to be used for the highest grades. Growing conditions, harvest and processing all shift the final figure, which is why pure matcha brands often quote a range rather than a single number.
Matcha latte blends vs pure matcha
A matcha latte blend is a different thing from a tin of pure matcha. In a blend, the matcha is one ingredient among several, so a spoonful of blend contains less matcha (and less caffeine) than the same spoonful of pure powder. That is why it is worth checking the caffeine per serving on the pack rather than assuming.
For Mind Full Matcha, one heaped tablespoon (10g) is a serving and contains 40mg of caffeine. Made with water it is 50kcal per serving; topped up with milk it becomes a creamy latte. You can see the full ingredients and nutrition on the product page.
How much caffeine is too much?
The European Food Safety Authority says that, for healthy adults, intakes of up to 400mg a day spread through the day do not raise safety concerns, and single doses of up to 200mg do not either. The NHS advises that if you are pregnant you should not have more than 200mg a day.
Those totals cover every source: coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate and matcha. If you are swapping one coffee for one matcha, you are not adding caffeine to your day; you are replacing one source with another.
Matcha vs coffee: what changes in the cup
Beyond the caffeine number, matcha and coffee are simply different drinks. Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in tea leaves, and it brings a grassy, gently sweet, savoury flavour rather than coffee's roast bitterness. For a fuller side-by-side, read matcha vs coffee.
Getting a consistent cup
- Measure the powder. Use the same spoon every time so the caffeine stays predictable.
- Avoid boiling water. Around 80°C keeps the flavour smooth.
- Whisk or stir well. Our guide to whisking matcha covers getting it smooth with no clumps.
FAQs
Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?
Usually not, cup for cup. NHS figures put a cup of instant coffee at about 100mg, and filter coffee can contain more. A 10g serving of Mind Full Matcha contains 40mg. Pure matcha varies with how much powder you use.
Does matcha have more caffeine than green tea?
With matcha you drink the whole ground leaf rather than an infusion, so a generous serving of pure matcha can contain more than a cup of brewed green tea. A blend contains less matcha per spoon, so check the figure on the pack.
Is 40mg of caffeine a lot?
It is about the same as a can of cola, according to NHS figures, and well below the 200mg single-dose level EFSA describes as not raising safety concerns for healthy adults.
Can I drink matcha if I'm pregnant?
Matcha contains caffeine, and the NHS advises no more than 200mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy, from all sources. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, check with your doctor.
Is matcha stronger than coffee?
Cup for cup, usually not in caffeine. NHS figures put a cup of instant coffee at about 100mg, while a 10g serving of Mind Full Matcha has 40mg. Pure matcha varies with how much powder you use.
Can matcha keep you awake?
It contains caffeine, so it can if you drink it late in the day. If caffeine affects your sleep, keep matcha to the morning and early afternoon.
Mind Full Matcha: ceremonial matcha, lion's mane and coconut cream in one creamy latte powder. 30 servings per 300g pouch.
