There are the caffeine junkies who are best not approached before the first cup of coffee in the morning and there are the convinced tea drinkers who prefer to start the morning with a cup of green tea to wake up. Regardless of which category you place yourself in, both have their pros and cons.
The common denominator: caffeine
Both matcha and coffee both contain the infamous wake-up substance caffeine. Caffeine has a stimulating effect on your brain and central nervous system. The substance makes you feel more awake, alert, fresh, fit, focused and generally energized. Pulse and blood pressure also increase through the consumption of caffeine. In addition, caffeine is mildly diuretic, stimulates the bowels and makes you feel euphoric. In fact, the word caffeine junkie is not that far-fetched, because caffeine does indeed develop an addictive potential. So no caffeine can then really lead to withdrawal-like symptoms, such as nervousness, irritability and listlessness. In addition, practiced caffeine consumers develop a tolerance to the substance when consuming it regularly. The body adjusts to a certain level and also demands it regularly. If too little or no caffeine is consumed, withdrawal symptoms occur.
Matcha tea and coffee - differences & similarities
Now that you know what caffeine does, the question naturally arises: does it matter whether you drink coffee or matcha tea, or are there actual differences here? And what do the two have in common?
Basically, both wake-up drinks differ in their ingredients. While classic coffee is made from the ground coffee bean, matcha is a type of green tea made from the ground leaves of the matcha plant.
Matcha and coffee also differ in origin. While coffee is grown in many parts of the world, but mainly in Africa and South America, the origin of matcha is still exclusively in Asia, namely in Japan and now also in China.
The preparation is equally uncomplicated. Both are traditionally infused with hot water and brewed. Matcha tea, however, must be left to steep for a while, while coffee can be enjoyed immediately after brewing. Moreover, since coffee is much more common in our country, there is a much wider selection of varieties, roasting degrees, aromas and flavors. In this country, the matcha selection is much smaller. However, a distinction can be made between cooking matcha and drinking matcha. The former tea powder is more tart and is used more for cooking, baking, desserts and as a spice - as a drink, it is too bitter for many people. Drinking matcha brings a more subtle, less intense flavor and is therefore more suitable for the teacup.
Matcha tea and coffee - mode of action
Do both drinks have the same effect? No! Although both contain the substance caffeine, coffee with a caffeine content of about 120 mg caffeine per 240 ml cup has significantly less caffeine than the same amount of matcha tea - here it is almost 300 mg!
Furthermore, coffee is very acidic, while matcha is rather milder.
So which is better?
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Both matcha and coffee are excellent means to be fit and concentrated in everyday life. Of course, you should not overdo it, but in moderate doses both drinks are welcome helpers in the morning or in stressful situations. Ultimately, you should choose the variant that tastes better to you. Matcha has a sweetish-bitter and subtly tart taste, which is sometimes perceived as creamy. If the taste is too intense for you, you can add a little soy milk. This turns matcha tea into a matcha latte that not only looks great, but also tastes great. Coffee, on the other hand, offers numerous variations, from tart to bitter to mild. Here, too, you can influence and vary the taste with milk, cocoa powder or xylitol. So no matter what you choose, the main thing is: it makes you awake and tastes good!
.jpg?w=3000&auto=format,compress&fit=max&cs=srgb&w=400&blur=200 "Hazelnut coffee 250 g")
