The short answer
- Yes, matcha has caffeine. A 2 g serving has roughly 60-70 mg, depending on the matcha.
- That is less than a cup of filter coffee (about 90 mg) and more than a cup of tea (about 50 mg).
- A matcha latte has the same caffeine as the matcha in it. Milk adds none.
- There is no caffeine-free matcha that is still matcha.
Yes, matcha has caffeine. A 2 g serving, about one heaped teaspoon, has roughly 60-70 mg, depending on the matcha. Published measurements of matcha powder range from about 19 to 44 mg of caffeine per gram, so one serving can be anywhere from 40 to 90 mg.
Matcha caffeine compared
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Matcha | 2 g (1 heaped tsp) | about 60-70 mg |
| Matcha, strong | 3-4 g | about 90-140 mg |
| Matcha latte | made with 2 g | about 60-70 mg |
| Filter coffee | 200 ml cup | about 90 mg |
| Espresso | 60 ml double | about 80 mg |
| Tea | 220 ml cup | about 50 mg |
The coffee and tea figures are from EFSA, the EU food safety authority. Every cup varies with the beans, the leaf and how it is made, so read these as typical amounts, not exact ones.
Why matcha has more caffeine than green tea
With most green tea, you steep the leaves in water and throw them away. With matcha, the leaves are ground into a fine powder and you drink all of it. So everything in the leaf, the caffeine too, ends up in your cup.
What changes the caffeine in your cup
- How much matcha you use. This matters most. 2 g has about half the caffeine of 4 g. For most drinks, 2-3 g is plenty.
- The leaf. Young leaves from the first harvest of the year tend to have more caffeine than older ones.
- The matcha itself. Every matcha is different, which is why the figures above are ranges.
Milk, ice and syrups do not change the caffeine. A matcha latte has exactly what the matcha in it has.
How much caffeine in a day
EFSA considers up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, and up to 200 mg at a time, safe for healthy adults. That covers all your caffeine together: coffee, tea, matcha, cola and chocolate. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or midwife what is right for you.
Can you get caffeine-free matcha?
Not really. Matcha is the whole tea leaf, ground, and the caffeine is part of the leaf. If you want less caffeine, use a little less matcha: 1-1.5 g still makes a good latte.
Matcha is made for slowing down, so take your time with it. For the full method, see how to make matcha. To learn about the leaf itself, read where matcha comes from.
Questions
Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?
Usually less. A 2 g serving of matcha has roughly 60-70 mg, against about 90 mg in a 200 ml cup of filter coffee. A 4 g serving can match a cup of coffee.
Does matcha have more caffeine than green tea?
Yes. With matcha you drink the whole ground leaf, not water the leaves were steeped in, so more of the caffeine ends up in the cup.
How much caffeine is in a matcha latte?
The same as the matcha in it: roughly 60-70 mg for a latte made with 2 g. Milk and syrups add no caffeine.
Is there decaf matcha?
Not really. Matcha is ground tea leaf, and the caffeine is part of the leaf. Some decaf green tea powders exist, but they are not made the way matcha is.
How much caffeine is too much?
EFSA, the EU food safety authority, considers up to 400 mg a day, and up to 200 mg at a time, safe for healthy adults. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or midwife.
