Kanda notes that “if your goal is to strictly improve strength and power performance in the gym or outdoors, coffee may be a better option, whereas matcha may be a better alternative if you’re looking to perform more endurance-based exercise.” Coffee is known to help pep you up, while a cup of tea, even though it has caffeine, is often associated with relaxing and unwinding. One cup of matcha contains 10 times the amount of antioxidants as a cup of green tea.” Berkman says that because “matcha contains the whole tea leaf and not just extract like most teas, it contains higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

On the other hand, too much caffeine can make people anxious and unable to sleep. Scientists have also recently found evidence that caffeinated coffee and tea can help protect the heart, brain, and other organs from disease. And if you’re drinking one or the other solely for the health benefits, matcha might give you a bigger bang for your buck. Some studies have shown that caffeine might help people respond to things more quickly and even run longer.

“For those who love tea, but would prefer more caffeine than a standard cup, this may be a better option.” “Matcha contains about three times as much caffeine versus a regular cup of tea, but may have less than a cup of coffee,” Zammit says. “If you would like a hot beverage with caffeine and don’t care for the bitterness of coffee or the jitters it may give you, consider matcha as a substitute,” Zammit says. Berkman agrees, noting that “if your coffee contains several spoonfuls of cream and sugar, matcha mixed with water might provide a lower calorie alternative.” “Keep in mind what you add to your coffee or tea, as that can be counterproductive to your overall caloric intake,” Zammit says.

Coffee buzz versus other caffeine