Matcha vs. coffee is a discussion that most tea lovers will enjoy. However, matcha holds more benefits for tea lovers than coffee, and the reverse is also true.
If you don’t know what matcha is, now’s the time to broaden your horizons. First, discover the background of matcha and its production process.
Then, learn how much coffee and matcha have in common and where the one is better than the other.
Learn whether matcha vs. coffee is a better match for your tastebuds and even if you can drink both.
What Is Matcha?
In case you haven’t heard of matcha, you’re in the right place.
Matcha is a high-grade green tea, typically available in a powder form after being ground.
You make a beverage from matcha by mixing the powder with hot water and whisking it until it froths.
Matcha green tea is often served as a tea latte in restaurants and similar places or boba tea.
Many people use matcha as an ingredient to enhance the flavor of meals. Many people use it in salad dressings or to add flavor to plain ice cream, for example.
Matcha is a tea that is made from the camellia Sinensis plant.
This plant is the same one from which teas such as other green teas are made, including oolong black tea.
History
Matcha has its origins in China, where it formed part of traditional tea ceremonies and still does.
The art of making matcha is therapeutic in the time it takes to prepare and present the tea in rituals or for individual use.
The result is quietly sipping your tea in harmony with yourself and the world.
The Way of Tea is the name of this ceremony which was popular with upper classes in China and Japan since the 12th century.
Originally, Japanese Zen priests studying at a Buddhist monastery in China came across green tea plants.
One of these priests, Eisai, brought the green tea seeds back to Japan, and The Way of Tea took flight.
First known as “beaten tea,” because of the preparation method, making matcha later evolved into the Chinese people preferring to steep the tea. However, Japan continued to use the beating method for their favorite beverage.
After matcha spread throughout Japan, it also became popular with samurai warriors.
They developed an intricate ceremony of making the tea, which included complex hand movements.
The entire process has its roots in Zen Buddhism, providing the warriors with a meditative approach to increase their focus and sense of harmony in preparation for battle.
Today, The Way of Tea ceremony remains an integral part of Japanese culture, and the custom of drinking matcha (if not creating a tradition) has spread to the rest of the world.
Production
The production method of matcha is over 800 years old. It has been cultivated as tea which undergoes a steaming and drying process before drying and milling.
Consequently, it has high levels of minerals and vitamins, which is part of why it remains so popular across the globe.
Following ancient cultivation practices which have survived the test of time, the production process of matcha follows a series of precise steps.
#1 Growing method
Farmers use the shade in which to cultivate the matcha plant. More specifically, farmers use bamboo mats to cover the bushes to protect them from direct sunlight.
Covering the plants with rice or bamboo mats changes nutrients such as flavanols, caffeine, and sugar.
Farmers cover the plants approximately six weeks before harvesting the leaves.
They believe this process ensures an increase in the levels of chlorophyll, which forces this component to the top later of the leaves. Chlorophyll produces a bright green leaf and increases the amino acid content to produce its strong umami taste.
The meaning of umami translates into the delicious or savory flavor and aroma of the matcha leaves.
#2 Harvesting the leaves
Employees harvest the matcha leaves by hand with Hachijuhachiva.
This period occurs in the spring months, from the middle of April to the middle of May, which is the first tea picking period.
The second leaf picking session takes place about 45 days later.
However, experts maintain that the first period captures the best leaves which contain the best flavor and nutritional value.
#3 Steaming and air drying
After harvesting, the leaves undergo an immediate steaming process for about 20 seconds to prevent oxidation.
Steaming maintains the vibrant green color of the leaves and preserves their nutritional value.
The next production step is drying, where a blower dries and extracts excess moisture.
#4 Removing stems before grading
Employees remove the stems and veins from the leaves. Then they separate and grade the leaves before crushing.
Only the highest quality leaves are reserved for matcha. Employees pick the leaves according to their color, vitality, aroma, and texture.
The result is a product known as as tencha, which is the stage before further processing the leaves into powder.
Next, they add the leaves to hot water for grading, after which they label the batch.
Finally, employees use refrigerated storage to preserve the quality of the tea before the final processing stage.
#5 Grinding the matcha
The final phase in processing matcha is to grind the tea into a fine powder.
Next, processers use a stone mill to grind the tencha into a consistent powder, forming ground tea, which is where the name, matcha, originates. Finally, the powder is vacuum-packed and stored before shipping orders worldwide.
What Do Matcha And Coffee Have In Common?
When it comes to matcha vs. coffee, the two share many benefits.
#1 Caffeine content
Matcha usually contains higher levels of caffeine than other green teas and a similar level to black tea.
However, matcha vs. coffee means that matcha contains lower caffeine levels once you brew the coffee.
The shade growing process of the match is the reason for its high caffeine levels.
Another reason that matcha is high in caffeine is that the powder form derives directly from the leaves, which we then drink in their powder form.
#2 Weight loss
Matcha vs. coffee translates into potential health benefits regarding weight loss.
Caffeine influences brown fat (brown adipose tissue) in the body. Consequently, you generate more energy through the metabolization of fat, glucose, and other nutrients.
In the process, your body oxidizes more fat. Metabolic rates can increase by approximately 13% for up to three hours after ingesting matcha, resulting in potential weight loss.
Other factors contributing to potential weight loss include the chlorogenic acid (CGA) in coffee and the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in matcha. Both these factors contribute to weight loss.
#3 Antioxidants
In discussing matcha vs. coffee, both contain plenty of antioxidants. Antioxidants fight oxidation in the body to prevent diseases such as cancer.
Matcha and coffee contain polyphenols (EGCG and CGA). CGA is thought to safeguard against cancer developing in the body, including the liver, mouth, gastro-intestinal areas, colon, esophagus, and fights tumor development.
EGCA protects against tumor formation and helps restrict the growth of blood vessels to tumors.
EGCA also aids in causing the death of cancer cells.
Coffee contains cafestol, which is an antioxidant, whereas matcha contains chlorophyll, vitamin C, and rutin.
All these elements are positive in fighting cancerous growths.
#4 Protection for your heart
The polyphenols in matcha vs. coffee can aid in protecting your heart in the following ways:
- Decreasing the aggregation of platelets to reduce clogging of arteries
- Relaxing blood vessels to limit high blood pressure
- EGCG in green tea can lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol so that less fat is absorbed from the digestive system
As much as matcha vs. coffee has benefits, unfiltered coffee also contains kahweol and cafestol, increasing LDL and triglycerides, which are not suitable for health.
#5 Other shared health benefits
Caffeine in matcha vs. coffee share another benefit which is to improve moods and how your brain functions.
This caffeine further has a positive impact on reaction times, concentration, and memory.
Another shared benefit of matcha vs. coffee is that these beverages decrease the risk of developing fibrosis, cirrhosis of the liver, and fatty liver.
#6 Boosting energy
In the case of boosting energy, matcha vs. coffee means that matcha produces a slower energy boost than coffee.
You can experience a rapid energy boost by drinking coffee as your blood absorbs the caffeine within fifteen minutes after sipping this beverage. Caffeine quickly blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which support sleepiness, which is why coffee keeps you awake.
Matcha gives you a slower caffeine boost due to its L-theanine (amino acid) content.
After drinking matcha, you may feel more energetic after about 30 minutes as the L-theanine has a relaxing effect while the caffeine is a stimulant. Together, these two compounds limit tiredness and promote alertness.
#7 Simplicity of preparation
Matcha vs. coffee is both quick and simple to prepare, giving you a delicious beverage in minutes.
#8 Taste and aroma
Matcha and coffee both have pleasant, stimulating, complex aromas, which are reflected in the taste of these beverages.
Where Is Coffee Better?
Matcha vs. coffee in terms of price translates into the coffee being much cheaper than matcha.
However, the pricing of both products depends heavily on their quality but typically, coffee is more affordable.
Coffee is also more readily available for purchase in stores than matcha. In addition, because coffee is grown throughout the world in the Coffee Belt, there is a relative abundance of beans.
You can also source coffee in various forms such as instant, ground, beans, flavored coffee, and other products from most stores.
You also find readymade coffee beverages in multiple types and flavors. This level of availability makes coffee incredibly convenient to use as a daily beverage.
Coffee has one other advantage over matcha in that it is believed to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
You can aim to lower your risk of developing this disease by 12% if you drink two cups of coffee daily.
Where Is Matcha Better?
Matcha is an excellent stress reliever due to its content of L-theanine. This amino acid induces drowsiness because it promotes alpha brainwave activity without increasing a sense of lethargy.
Another benefit of matcha vs. coffee is that it is suitable for oral hygiene.
Oral hygiene is vital as it is implicated in physical issues such as heart disease as your mouth absorbs most of the things you eat and drink directly into the bloodstream.
Unlike coffee, matcha requires a simple preparation process. All that’s necessary is to add the powder to hot water and whisk to enjoy your frothy drink.
You can prepare instant or pour-over coffee almost as quickly, but other coffee preparations such as drip coffee, espresso, and crème coffee take quite a bit more time.
You also don’t need specific equipment such as a French Press, espresso machine, or an AeroPress to prepare matcha.
Which One Will Suit My Needs Better?
You can only decide whether matcha vs. coffee is better for your needs if you like both flavors.
Remember that matcha is a green tea, which does not go down well with everyone in terms of its taste.
However, if you enjoy the taste of matcha and coffee, which suits you better may be determined by their effects on your health.
If you react better physically to drinking matcha, then you should consider drinking more of this green tea.
The same concept applies to drinking coffee.
Other considerations include the availability and cost of both beverages. If you can easily purchase both, then enjoy them. Otherwise, decide on one and drink the other occasionally, according to your individual needs.
Can I Use Both?
Although the flavor of each differs substantially, many people enjoy the taste of both matcha vs. coffee.
Which flavor you prefer depends on personal preferences. Ultimately, you can use both, but moderation is advisable in drinking both these beverages.
Conclusion
Matcha vs. coffee is a matter of taste, health, accessibility, and price. If you feel that matcha has a good effect on your overall wellbeing, then make it a part of your daily life.
Likewise, if you enjoy drinking coffee and it has no adverse effect on your health, enjoy this beverage.
Most people who like matcha and coffee will keep both in the home for their health benefits, the taste, and because they enjoy both flavors.
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Last Updated on March 1, 2022 by Ashok Parmar
