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Matcha vs. Coffee | 11 Health Benefits of Drinking Matcha Instead of Coffee

by Elara Hadjipateras

Is matcha better than coffee? Studies point to yes! Coffee and matcha are both excellent sources of caffeine, but matcha is a type of Japanese green tea powder that has recently skyrocketed in popularity.

Matcha green tea powder, like coffee, contains caffeine, but it won't make you crash or experience the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms commonly associated with coffee.

You've probably heard about the long-list of promising heath benefits of matcha and are keen to find out other ways it's similar and different to coffee. Keep reading to find out the main differences between matcha vs. coffee, and how you may benefit from drinking matcha tea instead of coffee.

matcha vs. coffee the 11 benefits of matcha instead of coffee

Matcha vs. Coffee | 11 Benefits of drinking matcha instead of coffee

1) There’s no caffeine crash with matcha | matcha green tea powder is a better caffeine high than coffee

The energy boost that comes with coffee is brief, can often wreak havoc on your body, and starts to wear off in 1-3 hours, leaving you feeling more tired than before. In contrast, high-grade matcha contains roughly a half of the caffeine content as compared to coffee and lasts 6-8 hours.

Why is this? This is due to the L-theanine found in matcha. L-theanine causes matcha caffeine to be released at a much slower pace and has even been studied to reduce the levels of cortisol in the body by creating alpha waves in the brain to produce a state of calm yet relaxed alertness. So in a way, matcha tea powder is a sort of an anti-cortisol. It helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels while alleviating stress on your adrenal glands. (14) (4)

2) Matcha promotes relaxed alertness while coffee makes you crash and can trigger anxiety.

Matcha has been shown to improve memory, attention, and reaction time. It also contains caffeine and L-theanine, which have been well-documented to boost brain function after just two months, even in older adults. (5) (9)

On the other hand, regular and high amounts of coffee consumption is associated with heightened levels of anxiety.

matcha vs coffee: matcha has relaxed alertness, vs coffee makes you crash. find out other benefits of matcha vs. coffee here.

3) Matcha gives you better, clear skin while coffee drys out your skin and reduces collagen production.

Adding matcha to your daily routine may also give your skin health a huge boost, helping clear up old acne scars and boost your natural glow.

Matcha is packed with antioxidants, making it a powerhouse at combating skin inflammation, redness, and irritation. It's also been shown to fight hormonal acne and help arm the skin against pollution, sun damage, and environmental stress. Plus, matcha green tea powder has methylxanthines, which have been shown to help boost microcirculation, giving you more healthy, radiant skin. (22) (13)

Coffee, on the other hand, has been shown to reduce collagen production in the skin and lead to skin dryness. (source)

4) Matcha is better oral hygiene and teeth health while coffee is known to stain your teeth and give you bad breath.

Unlike coffee, matcha doesn't stain your teeth. In fact, in does the opposite! Matcha is incredibly beneficial for your oral health.

Matcha can have a considerably positive impact on your oral health, combating tooth decay and decreasing your chances of oral cancer. Matcha doesn't stain your teeth like a cup of black coffee does, and studies have also shown that improving your mood with matcha also helps mouth health. Studies show that depression and anxiety elevate the risk of cavities, losing teeth, dry mouth, and bleeding gums. (16) (1) (21)

5) Matcha may help promote weight loss.

Multiple studies have shown matcha may help promote healthy weight loss. Compared to coffee, there are a lot more studies around the various benefits of matcha for weight loss than compared to coffee.

The connection between green tea and weight loss has been well-researched. A review of 11 studies showed that green tea helps reduce body weight and maintain a healthy weight. One small study even found that taking green tea extract during moderate exercise can increase fat burn by 17%. (8) (27)

6) Matcha has more antioxidants and a much longer list of studied health benefits than coffee.

Matcha is one of the highest natural sources of antioxidants on the planet. Did you know that researchers have found that one cup of matcha has 10 times the antioxidants as one cup of green tea and far more antioxidants than coffee? One study conducted in 2003 even found that matcha has 137 times the EGCG (catechins) levels of green tea. (14) (28) (10) Plus, did we mention matcha has over 33 well-studied health benefits? Coffee just can't keep up.

7) Matcha could help boost your heart health.

Matcha tea powder is full of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which supports fighting plaque from building up in your arteries. As a result, matcha has been shown to help lower blood pressure. Several studies have shown that when consumed over a long period, 1-2 cups of matcha day may help reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes by 10–20%. (2) (23) (29)

Drinking too many cups of coffee, on the other hand, could be detrimental to your heart health, impacting our cholesterol levels and heart rhythm. 

matcha has better health benefits than coffee

8) Matcha may support your liver health

Multiple studies have found that drinking matcha regularly may help support your liver and lower your risk of liver disease. A meta-analysis found that people who drank green tea had a lower risk of liver cancer. Furthermore, the longer people had been drinking green tea in the study, the lower their risk was observed to be. (14) (3) (20) (18)

9) Matcha may improve physical performance

Is matcha powdered green tea your sports drink of choice? Studies have shown that matcha can help you recover faster from a hard workout, it may keep your immune system strong, act as a mood stabilizer to improve athletic focus while exercising, and may help boost performance during a workout. (14) (11) (17) Matcha makes for a great and natural pre-workout or post-workout fuel and recovery source.

10) The green color of matcha evokes joy

The vibrant chartreuse color of matcha is not only beautiful, but it also sparks joy. Scientific studies have shown that the color green is associated with positive and happy emotions. One study even found that the color green enhanced participants' ability to recognize happy facial expressions on others. (7)

quality matcha is vibrant green

Quality Matcha with higher amounts of caffeine is a vibrant green. The greener the better!

11) Matcha is quick and easy to enjoy

Getting so many added health benefits has never been as simple and delicious as preparing a traditional cup of matcha. And if you are feeling creative in the kitchen, you can even try whipping up matcha chocolate, cakes, or protein smoothies to boost the nutrient content of your favorite recipes. 

Coffee, on the other hand, can take a while to prepare -- especially if you are enjoying slow-drip, or you happen to be the last one into work when you need caffeine the most and the coffee pot is empty. It can also tend to be a bit pricey with all the fancy equipment and single origin beans needed. 

Make the switch from coffee to matcha

In fact, you can avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms by slowly switching over to matcha from coffee. Drinking a combination of both coffee and matcha over nine days is an ideal way to wean yourself off of caffeine. For example, you can start out drinking equal amounts of coffee and matcha, and then by day nine, coffee can be replaced entirely with matcha green tea powder. Matcha also offers a more relaxing caffeine source with a long list of added health benefits. 

Read our whole article on how you can seamlessly switch from matcha to coffee here.

Bottom line | Matcha is a healthier choice than coffee as a daily habit

So which is better for you? We say matcha! Matcha and coffee both contain caffeine, but matcha green tea powder has much higher levels of antioxidants and also contains the amino acid l-theanine, which gives matcha its relaxed yet focused effect when consumed. 

Follow these six steps to make the perfect bowl of Matcha (AKA green liquid magic):

Whenever you make a change, even when it's new and healthier choices, your body needs time to adjust. Giving your body time to adapt by making a slow transition over nine days can make it easier to switch to matcha tea powder. Looking for more delicious ways to incorporate matcha in your diet? Check out our post on what to add to matcha to make it taste better.

–Team Matcha.com

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EXTRA RESOURCES

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Disclaimer*

These statements in this blog post have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It's essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any dietary or lifestyle changes

References

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More resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206198/

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4668773/

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