Coffee vs. matcha

What is matcha?

In case you don't know matcha, let me briefly introduce it. Matcha is a type of green tea that is made from young tea leaves. These are ground into a bright green powder after harvesting.

There are many uses for matcha, apart from drinks it is also used for baking. Thebasic preparation involves whisking the powder with a special whisk in hot water. This is the main difference from regular green tea, where the leaves are steeped in water and then removed.

Matcha is prepared both hot and cold. You will often see acold version, which is usually supplemented with some of the plant milks.

The use of this whisk is very important for preparation, as it is the one that can whisk the powder best. Source: botanic.cz

Benefits of coffee and matcha

Both drinks are very different in taste, but what they have in common is the content of many antioxidants and health benefits. The amount of caffeine in coffee and tein in matcha is almost comparable. Matcha, however, is less acidic, so it may be more suitable for individuals with a more sensitive stomach.

Both matcha and coffee (unless you have it with whipped cream and four teaspoons of sugar) are low in calories.

And now for the antioxidants, which mitigate the harmful effects of oxidative stress in the body. This can lead to the onset and development of various diseases, including cancer.

Polyphenols, which are specifically found in both coffee and matcha, inhibit the growth and spread of tumors, limit the formation of certain blood vessels, and promote the death of cancer cells. The polyphenol, an ester of caffeic acid, also protects against cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, colon and liver.

In addition to physical health, the substances also affect mental health and improve mood. They also have a positive effect on attention, memory and reaction abilities.

Differences between coffee and matcha

Apart from the colour of the drink and, of course, the taste, there are several other differences. Although both drinks contain caffeine/tein and give you energy, the method is not quite the same.

Coffee is known for providing instant energy and reducing drowsiness and fatigue. Thisis because your body quickly absorbs up to 99% of the caffeine, meaning that coffee reaches its maximum concentration in your bloodstream just 15 minutes after drinking it. That is, if you have black coffee without milk. In the case of dairy drinks, caffeine absorption is slower.

Rutin in Matcha

Once caffeine is absorbed, it passes through the brain barrier and can block the adenosine receptors that promote fatigue and feelings of drowsiness, so you stay more alert.

Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid found in the green tea plant that reduces stress by increasing alpha waves in your brain. Like caffeine, L-theanine crosses the brain barrier, but reaches its maximum concentration in about 30 minutes.

Acids in coffee

Coffee, on the other hand, contains large amounts of hydrosulphuric and chlorogenic acids, which are anti-inflammatory and have a positive effect on aging skin. In addition chlorogenic acidimproves mood, reducing feelings of fatigue, nervousness and headaches.

Iced coffee with matcha - recipe

Coffee or matcha? How about coffee with matcha? This is also an option. So let's see how to prepare such a drink.

You will need:

Ice
Plant milk - coconut/soy/oat/peanut
Matcha powder
Cold brew concentrate

Prepare your cold brew concentrate first - cold brew needs to be extracted ideally for 12-16 hours.
To have a stronger coffee use 50g of coffee per 500ml of water. The resulting concentrate can then be diluted with water, used in a variety of drinks or just enjoyed on the rocks.
For an iced matcha with coffee, first prepare aglass full of ice.
Then take the matcha powder, which you whisk with 120 ml of milk.
Pour the finished matcha over the ice and top up with a little more milk so that the glass is about ¾ full.
Finally,pour in about 70 ml of cold brew concentrate.
Now I just wish you a good taste.

Is coffee or matcha better?

Some people love matcha, some people hate it, some people don't like coffee, others can't get enough of it. 100 people have 100 tastes. Both drinks are healthy, so you can't go wrong by alternating.