Caffeine in Matcha vs Coffee: How They Compare

Matcha vs Coffee: How the Caffeine Compares

Caffeine in matcha vs coffee comes down to what's actually in your cup. An 8-ounce brewed coffee has about 96 mg of caffeine, while matcha contains roughly 19–44 mg per gram. That puts a 2-gram serving of matcha at approximately 38–89 mg. So yes, matcha has caffeine. That pretty green color doesn't mean it's decaf.

The trick? Compare the servings, not just the drinks. We're talking ounces of coffee, grams of matcha, and espresso shots. Because "one cup" doesn't always tell the whole story.

How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?

Brewed coffee (8 oz)

According to Mayo Clinic, an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 96 milligrams of caffeine.
Pretty straightforward, right? Until your “one cup of coffee” turns out to be a 16-ounce to-go cup.

A 12-ounce mug holds 1.5 times the standard serving, while a 16-ounce cup holds double. Assuming the same brew strength, that means more caffeine with every extra ounce.
So when you're keeping track of your caffeine, pay attention to the ounces, not just how many cups you've had.

Espresso (1 oz shot)

Espresso might come in a tiny cup, but don’t let the size fool you. According to Mayo Clinic, a 1-ounce shot packs about 63 milligrams of caffeine. Make it a double, and you’re looking at roughly 126 milligrams. And since many espresso-based drinks use two shots, it’s worth knowing what’s actually in your cup.

How much caffeine is in matcha?

Why matcha is counted per gram, not per cup

With coffee, the grounds are left behind. However, with matcha, the entire powder is used to brew, and therefore the amount of caffeine will be proportional to the weight of matcha used.

The 2021 review published in the journal Molecules found that matcha has anywhere from 18.9 to 44.4 milligrams of caffeine for each gram of powder. In addition, the authors of the review also indicated that other green teas contain approximately 11.3 to 24.67 milligrams of caffeine for each gram of tea, so matcha is more caffeinated per gram than the average green tea bag you might have in your kitchen cabinet.

The precise location of where the tin falls within this range will depend upon the leaves and the harvest, both of which are unseen to the eye. You may however determine the amount of grams.

A whisked serving vs a café latte

Start with the serving size on your matcha tin. It might be listed in grams or teaspoons, but here's the thing: teaspoons aren't exactly precision instruments. If you're trying to get an accurate caffeine count, a small kitchen scale is your best friend. Because "a little extra" isn't exactly a measurement.

Then multiply. Using the 19–44 mg per gram range:

1 gram of matcha: about 19–44 mg

2 grams: about 38–89 mg

3 grams: about 57–133 mg

4 grams: about 76–178 mg

A latte with more powdered green tea (matcha) will have more caffeine than a bowl of whisked matcha. If you want to know what you are getting, ask for the amount of powder that goes into your latte.

Matcha vs regular green tea

Green tea and matcha come from the same plant, but their caffeine counts? Not exactly twins.

According to Mayo Clinic, an 8-ounce cup of brewed green tea contains approximately 29 mg of caffeine. A 2-gram serving of matcha, on the other hand, contains roughly 38–89 mg.

The difference comes down in part to how they're prepared. With regular green tea, you steep the leaves and remove them. With matcha, you're drinking the powdered leaf itself. Same family. Different caffeine math.

Matcha vs coffee caffeine: side by side

	Matcha	Coffee
Typical serving	Measured in grams of powder, whisked into water or milk	8 oz brewed, or a 1 oz espresso shot
Caffeine	19–44 mg per gram; 2 g ≈ 38–89 mg	About 96 mg per 8 oz; about 63 mg per espresso shot
What moves the number	Grams of powder, and where the tin sits in the per-gram range	Ounces in the cup, number of espresso shots
How to count it	Weigh the powder, or follow the tin's serving size	Know your cup size in ounces, or count shots

Figures are reference values. Your own cup can land above or below them.

Why does the caffeine in matcha vary so much?

Two matcha lattes can look identical and still have different caffeine counts.
Here's what actually makes the difference:

How many grams you're using. Double the amount of the same matcha powder, and you're doubling the caffeine. Pretty simple math.

The matcha itself. Not all powders are created equal. Matcha can contain 19–44 mg of caffeine per gram, depending on the powder.

How generous your barista is with the scoops. Café lattes can contain more matcha than you'd use at home. When in doubt, ask how many grams go into yours.

Ice, water, and cup size. A giant iced matcha might look like more drink, but the caffeine comes from the powder, not the extra ice.

If you want a steady number from day to day, weigh the same amount each time.

How much matcha equals a cup of coffee?

An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 96 mg of caffeine. Since matcha contains roughly 19–44 mg per gram, it takes approximately 2–5 grams of matcha to get close to that caffeine count, depending on the powder.

In other words, there's no universal "one matcha equals one coffee" rule. Check the grams before you call it a match.

Matcha latte vs coffee: does the milk change the caffeine?

No. The caffeine content of a matcha latte is determined by the amount of matcha powder used, not the type of milk. Therefore, a matcha latte prepared with 2 grams of matcha will have the same caffeine content regardless of whether it was made using dairy, oat milk, or water.

The amount of powder used to make the latte changes the number. When comparing a matcha latte made in a cafe with a coffee made in a cafe, use grams of matcha and ounces of coffee to determine an accurate comparison.

Matcha vs espresso: which has more caffeine?

Single shot vs one whisked serving

A one-ounce espresso shot has approximately 63 milligrams. A two-gram serving of matcha contains roughly 38-89 milligrams based on the per-gram arithmetic. Therefore, a single shot and a standard whisked matcha overlap; whichever option contains more will depend upon the specific powder used.

Double shot vs a double-scoop latte

Double shot has approximately 126 mg. Matcha latte with 4 grams of matcha has approximately 76-178 mg. Once again, there is a crossover and once again, the powder determines how much caffeine you are getting. Practical tip: When moving from double shot to matcha latte, your caffeine intake won't increase or decrease based on the transition alone. Examine the grams.

How do you keep track of your daily caffeine?

The 400 mg reference for most adults

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cites 400 milligrams (mg) per day as the quantity of caffeine that is not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults. Similarly, Mayo Clinic utilizes this 400 mg value as well. Additionally, the FDA indicates that individuals' sensitivity to caffeine and how fast they clear it vary greatly. Therefore, while the 400 mg value serves as a reference, it should not be considered as a goal.

Count servings, not cups

In order to remain within a specific number, you can calculate the total amount of caffeine contained in each item you consume. For example, if you drink four 8-ounce cups of coffee that contain 96 milligrams of caffeine per cup, then you will have consumed approximately 384 milligrams of caffeine. Two 2-gram servings of matcha at the top of the range (about 89 milligrams each) come to about 178 milligrams of caffeine. A double-shot latte plus a 16-ounce drip coffee is already past 300 milligrams.

Write the count down for a few days. You may find one or two servings you had not been counting.

When in the day you drink it

Choose a cutoff time that fits into your daily routine, and maintain that time throughout the week. Many individuals select early afternoon. What is important is to be consistent; a consistent cutoff time will allow you to predict the daily counts, and predicting the counts will enable you to easily track those counts.

What if you lose count?

It happens. You order another latte after a long day, or you get an extra refill without asking for it, or you order a larger size than what you normally would. If this occurs, then have decaf or water as your next beverage and begin to keep track of your daily intake again when you wake up in the morning. Having one day where you didn't count does not mean that you should stop keeping track altogether. Every morning, the number starts over.

If it helps to know your number before you drink it, that's part of why we built Morning Cocktail the way we did. It's a non-alcoholic powdered drink mix you shake up the night before and leave on the nightstand. It features natural caffeine from green coffee beans, with 150 mg of caffeine per serving.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.