Australia is a nation of coffee drinkers, with some of the highest coffee consumption per person in the world. Matcha is a different drink, with a different character. This is a straightforward comparison of what each one is, how they are made, and how much caffeine they contain, so you can decide what suits you.

What they are

Coffee is brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Matcha is made from green tea leaves that are shade grown, steamed, dried, and stone milled into a fine powder. With matcha you whisk the whole powdered leaf into water, rather than steeping leaves and discarding them as you would with brewed tea or coffee.

What is L-theanine?

Matcha, like all green tea, naturally contains an amino acid called L-theanine. Because Aceae's matcha is shade grown for several weeks before harvest, the leaves develop more L-theanine than tea grown in full sun.

Taste and ritual

The two drinks are simply different to make and to drink. Coffee is quick, bold and roasted. Matcha is whisked fresh, vivid green, vegetal, and lightly sweet when it is good quality. Many people enjoy the few minutes of preparation as much as the drink itself.

Which is for you?

If you love the taste and routine of coffee, there is no need to change. If you are curious about a drink with a gentler caffeine level and a slower preparation ritual, matcha is worth trying. A common way to start is to keep your morning coffee and swap your afternoon cup for a matcha for a couple of weeks, then see which you prefer.