Does Matcha Have Caffeine? How Much Is In Each Cup, and How It Compares to Coffee
Matcha does have caffeine — usually about 30–70 mg per cup. Here is exactly how much, how it compares to coffee, and why people say it feels different.
Written by UnityLife Admin
Edited by the UnityLife editorial team
Yes, matcha has caffeine. It’s the second-most-common question in Canadian cafés after “is it sweetened?” A standard one-gram matcha serving contains roughly 30 mg of caffeine; a two-gram serving contains about 70 mg — about two thirds of a small drip coffee.
The numbers, by serving
One small teaspoon (about 1 g) of ceremonial-grade matcha: 30–40 mg caffeine.
Two small teaspoons (about 2 g, typical café latte): 60–70 mg caffeine.
A small (8 oz / 237 mL) drip coffee: 95–120 mg caffeine.
A single espresso shot (30 mL): 60–80 mg caffeine.
Why matcha “feels” different than coffee
Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid that crosses the blood-brain barrier and increases alpha-wave activity. L-theanine takes the edge off caffeine’s stimulant effect, which is why people describe a matcha lift as “alert but calm”.
You also drink matcha as a fine powder, not an infusion — so you get the caffeine plus every other compound in the leaf. That slower release further smooths the curve.
Health Canada’s caffeine limits
Healthy Canadian adults: up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is considered safe.
Pregnant or breastfeeding Canadians: Health Canada limits caffeine to 300 mg per day.
Teens (13–17): no more than 2.5 mg per kg of body weight per day.
Practically: you can drink 3–4 small matcha lattes daily and stay inside the general adult limit.
What about ceremonial vs culinary matcha?
Ceremonial-grade matcha (bright green, sweet, made for whisking into water): highest L-theanine, smoothest flavour. Most expensive.
Culinary-grade matcha (duller green, more bitter): fine for lattes and baking. Similar caffeine, slightly less L-theanine.
If a product is labelled “barista” or “premium latte-grade”, it’s effectively culinary.
Good Canadian matcha sources
Matchaful, David’s Tea Matcha Love, Mizuba Tea Co., Ippodo Tea (imported). Keep matcha sealed and refrigerated — it oxidizes quickly and loses its colour and flavour within a month of opening.
The bottom line
Matcha is moderately caffeinated — about half to two-thirds of a coffee per typical café serving — with a smoother, more sustained lift thanks to L-theanine.
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The bottom line
Matcha is moderately caffeinated — about half to two-thirds of a coffee per typical café serving — with a smoother, more sustained lift thanks to L-theanine.
Frequently asked questions
Neither is objectively better. Matcha is gentler and has L-theanine; coffee has more caffeine per cup and more antioxidants by volume. Pick whichever you tolerate best.
Sources & further reading
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