Matcha Koffein: Warum Matcha Tee die sanfte Alternative zu Kaffee ist

Matcha tea as an alternative to coffee

How does the green tea powder from Japan fare against coffee, the Germans' favorite drink? Find out more about the differences between the effects of matcha and coffee here.

Laura · Tea Encyclopedia & Japan Fan
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 24. Juli 2026 · Lesezeit ca. 4 Min.

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Coffee is the most popular drink in Germany and is particularly popular for its stimulating effect due to the high caffeine content appreciated. It is therefore indispensable at breakfast and at work. Possible side effects such as a sour stomach and an unpleasant nervousness and tenseness with excessive consumptionare often accepted. But is matcha tea a real alternative to coffee? Does the green powder make you just as alert as our favorite brown drink? Let's find out.

Matcha and coffee heaps in petri dishes

Matcha tea vs. coffee - enjoy coffee with caution

The majority of us will certainly not drink the black filter brew in the office because it tastes so wonderfully aromatic, but primarily to wake us up. Monday mornings in particular can be frighteningly long without any caffeine doping. And coffee is known for its wake-up effect. The caffeine is quickly absorbed by the body and stimulates the circulation.

Matcha with jug

However, the caffeine also causes adrenaline to be released. With increased consumption, this leads to a stress reaction of the body, which promotes nervousness and a general feeling of discomfort. The stimulating effect also only lasts for a short time. The rapid depletion of adrenaline can lead to tiredness, headaches and a general malaise. slight irritability irritability. Together with the caffeine, the acid and coffee oil it contains stimulate stomach acid production, which leads to stomach pain and heartburn. So if you have a sensitive stomach, you should be careful with coffee. Ultimately, however, everyone has to make their own Experience with matcha for yourself. However, you can find out about the basic advantages and disadvantages in advance.

Matcha Mittsu with cup

Matcha as an alternative pick-me-up

Unlike coffee, the caffeine in matcha powder is in a bound form. It is therefore not released in the stomach as with coffee, but only in the intestines. As a result, the effect unfolds more slowly but longer lasting. There is no strong stimulation, but a gentler effect. As there is no sudden drop in the adrenaline level side effects such as discomfort and tiredness tend to be avoided.

Hitotsu set

Best organic Matcha Hitotsu
Handmade bamboo whisk (chasen) and bamboo spoon
Original Japanese matcha bowl

Ideal for the traditional preparation of matcha tea.

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Matcha tea also contains neither strong acids nor oils that additionally stimulate the production of stomach acid. With its abundance of nutrients Matcha has a lot more to offer the body than coffee, even on paper. The forms of preparation are just as varied as with coffee: it can not only be traditionally prepared traditionally, but also as matcha latte or cold lemonade in summer.

Matcha bowl, powder and bamboo whisk

Matcha tea vs. coffee - the ingredients

The most interesting aspect of this comparison is probably the caffeine content. Calculated per gram, matcha green tea has almost 6 times more caffeine than coffee. However, since you need average Matcha only requires 2 grams of powder and a cup of coffee approx. 12 grams, this value only has a limited significance. However, a simple rule of three quickly shows that the finished drinks are very close to each other in terms of caffeine content (60-80mg). Of course, this always depends on the particular preparation. With a strong espresso the caffeine content can be twice as high as with conventional filter coffee.

Matcha Usucha with cloth and bamboo spoon

Matcha, on the other hand, prepared as koicha (a little water on a lot of matcha) is much more concentrated than a normal usucha (light tea). In total, no more than 3-5 bowls should be drunk throughout the day. And increased consumption is particularly inadvisable during pregnancy.
In addition to caffeine, matcha powder has a number of other ingredients to offer. In addition to a variety of vitamins and minerals, the tea also has a very high proportion of amino acids and antioxidants.

Matcha Mittsu contents powder

Matcha vs. coffee - the bottom line

Although both drinks have a high caffeine content and therefore serve as a stimulant, they have different modes of action. If the coffee kicks in quickly, the invigorating effect wears off just as quickly and can be unpleasant side effects can have unpleasant side effects. Due to the stomach acid stimulating substances in coffee, excessive consumption can also lead to heartburn and discomfort. Matcha tea, on the other hand, unfolds its effect gently and long-lasting and probably has less of an impact on the body's normal function than coffee. Through an abundance of healthy ingredients (minerals, antioxidants and amino acids), matcha green tea has a lot to offer our body. Therefore, not only people with a sensitive stomach, but all those who do not want to give up the positive effects of Matcha should see the tea as a real alternative to coffee. You can find out the best way to prepare matcha latte, the alternative to cappuccino, in our blog post: "Matcha latte - the creamy alternative to cappuccino".

Frequently Asked Questions

Wie viel Koffein hat eine Schale Matcha?

Eine Standardschale mit 2 g Matcha auf 70 ml Wasser enthält je nach Qualität etwa 28 bis 70 mg Koffein. Pro Gramm liegt Matcha bei rund 20 bis 45 mg. Eine Tasse Filterkaffee kommt auf etwa 95 bis 100 mg. Der Gehalt schwankt mit Erntezeitpunkt, Sorte und Anbauregion.

Hat Matcha mehr Koffein als Kaffee?

Pro Gramm ja, pro Tasse nein. Matcha enthält rund 20 bis 45 mg Koffein pro Gramm Pulver, Kaffeebohnen nur etwa 10 bis 12 mg pro Gramm. Da man aber nur 1 bis 2 g Matcha verwendet und rund 12 g Kaffeebohnen aufbrüht, liegt eine Schale Matcha meist unter einer Tasse Filterkaffee.

Wie lange wirkt Matcha Koffein?

Die Wirkung baut sich langsamer auf als bei Kaffee und trägt typischerweise vier bis sechs Stunden. Verantwortlich ist das L-Theanin, das die Koffeinspitze glättet. Kaffee erreicht seinen Höchstwert dagegen schon nach 15 bis 45 Minuten. Wer abends gut schlafen möchte, trinkt Matcha besser vor dem späten Nachmittag.

Wie viele Schalen Matcha sind pro Tag unbedenklich?

Die EFSA stuft bis zu 400 mg Koffein pro Tag für gesunde Erwachsene als unbedenklich ein, das entspricht je nach Dosierung etwa drei bis fünf Schalen Matcha. Schwangere und Stillende sollten 200 mg nicht überschreiten, also rund zwei bis drei Schalen. Bei Schwangerschaft oder Medikamenteneinnahme ist ärztlicher Rat sinnvoll.

Macht Matcha nervös wie Kaffee?

Viele Menschen vertragen Matcha besser. Rogers et al. zeigten 2008, dass L-Theanin den blutdrucksteigernden Effekt von Koffein abschwächt. Studien deuten darauf hin, dass die Kombination aus Koffein und L-Theanin Aufmerksamkeit fördert, ohne das nervöse Auf und Ab von reinem Koffein. Die Verträglichkeit bleibt aber individuell und hängt auch von der Dosierung ab.