Understanding Your Buzz: Which Tea Contains More Caffeine Than Coffee?

October 9, 2025 •

4 min read

While an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee generally contains around 95 mg of caffeine, it's a common misconception that no tea can surpass this amount. In reality, certain varieties and preparations of tea can indeed rival or even exceed the caffeine content of an average cup of joe, challenging the classic understanding of our favorite morning stimulants and answering the question, which tea contains more caffeine than coffee?. This nuance is important for anyone monitoring their caffeine intake for health reasons or simply seeking a more controlled energy boost.

Quick Summary

This article explores the average caffeine content of coffee compared to various types of tea, debunking the myth that coffee is always the more potent option. It details the unique tea varieties, like Matcha and Yerba Mate, that can be highly caffeinated due to their preparation methods. The discussion covers influencing factors such as brewing time, leaf type, and processing, providing clarity on how to manage your daily caffeine intake.

Key Points

Matcha is a top contender: Powdered green tea like Matcha can contain a higher caffeine concentration than regular brewed coffee because the entire leaf is consumed.
Yerba Mate packs a punch: This South American beverage is a potent stimulant, with caffeine levels often comparable to or exceeding a cup of coffee.
Brewing matters more than the leaf: Although tea leaves have more caffeine by dry weight than coffee beans, the brewing process extracts a much higher concentration in coffee.
Not all teas are created equal: Caffeine content varies significantly among different types of tea, from low-caffeine white and green teas to higher-caffeine black and Pu-erh varieties.
L-theanine changes the experience: The presence of L-theanine in tea provides a calmer, more focused alertness, which distinguishes the effects of tea's caffeine from coffee's more rapid jolt.
Brewing variables are key: Water temperature, steeping time, and the leaf-to-water ratio all heavily influence the final caffeine level of your cup.

The Classic Comparison: Coffee vs. Tea Caffeine

When comparing the average cup of coffee to the average cup of tea, coffee is the undisputed winner in terms of caffeine per serving. A standard 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee typically contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine, whereas an equivalent amount of black tea offers a much lower 40–70 mg. This is primarily due to the brewing process and the concentration of the final drink. Coffee is generally brewed with hotter water and for a longer duration, extracting more caffeine from the beans. You also use a much larger proportion of coffee grounds compared to tea leaves for a single serving.

However, this simple comparison overlooks crucial factors that can flip the script entirely. The caffeine content in both beverages is highly variable and depends on more than just the type of plant. Factors such as the specific plant variety used, growing conditions, harvest time, and processing methods all play a significant role. This is where the world of tea reveals some surprising contenders that can pack a serious punch.

The Brewing Difference: How Extraction Matters

It's a fascinating fact that by dry weight, tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant often contain more caffeine than coffee beans. The ultimate caffeine level in your cup, however, is a result of the extraction process. Here’s a look at how different factors influence the final brewed result:

Water Temperature: Hotter water extracts caffeine more efficiently. Since coffee is brewed at higher temperatures than many delicate teas (like green and white), it typically yields a higher caffeine content.
Steeping Time: The longer the leaves or grounds are in contact with water, the more caffeine is released. A long-steeped cup of black tea can have a much higher caffeine level than a quick-brewed one.
Leaf/Ground-to-Water Ratio: Using more tea leaves or coffee grounds per cup increases the potential for higher caffeine concentration. With coffee, the ratio is typically much higher, leading to a stronger final product.
Processing: The level of oxidation and processing can influence caffeine levels. For example, shade-grown green teas like Gyokuro can have higher caffeine levels than their sun-grown counterparts.

High-Caffeine Teas: The Unexpected Contenders

While brewed black tea falls short of coffee, a few specific tea types are known for their high caffeine content due to their unique preparation. The most prominent of these are Matcha and Yerba Mate.

Matcha: The Green Tea Powerhouse

Matcha is a powdered green tea where you consume the entire tea leaf, not just the brewed water. Because of this, its caffeine content is significantly more concentrated than regular steeped tea. A typical 8-ounce serving of matcha can contain between 60–80 mg of caffeine, putting it on par with a strong black tea and closer to coffee's average. Matcha's caffeine experience, however, is often described as a more sustained and calm alertness, thanks to its high concentration of L-theanine, an amino acid that modulates the effects of caffeine.

Yerba Mate: A Coffee Alternative

Though not from the traditional Camellia sinensis plant, Yerba Mate is a popular South American beverage brewed from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis shrub. Its preparation typically involves steeping a generous amount of mate leaves, resulting in a caffeine content that often rivals and sometimes exceeds that of coffee, with some cups containing as much as 80 mg or more. For those seeking a strong stimulant effect, Yerba Mate is a well-regarded and potent option.

The Soothing Effect of L-Theanine in Tea

One of the most important distinctions between the caffeine in coffee and tea lies in the presence of the amino acid L-theanine, found almost exclusively in the tea plant. In contrast to coffee, which can cause a rapid, sometimes jittery energy boost followed by a crash, tea’s L-theanine content promotes a state of relaxed awareness. It works synergistically with caffeine to provide a smoother, more prolonged sense of focus and alertness, mitigating the potential anxiety and restlessness some people feel from coffee.

Caffeine Comparison Chart: Tea vs. Coffee


Beverage	Serving Size (approx.)	Average Caffeine Content	Notes
Brewed Coffee	8 oz	95 mg	Can vary significantly based on roast, grind, and brewing method.
Matcha Green Tea	8 oz	60–80 mg	Consuming the whole leaf powder leads to higher concentration.
Yerba Mate	8 oz	~80 mg	Can be highly caffeinated depending on brewing strength.
Black Tea	8 oz	40–70 mg	Varies by cultivar, processing, and steep time.
Oolong Tea	8 oz	30–50 mg	Often falls between black and green tea caffeine levels.
Green Tea	8 oz	20–45 mg	Generally lower in caffeine than black tea, but shade-grown varieties can be higher.
White Tea	8 oz	15–30 mg	The least processed and typically lowest in caffeine among true teas.
Herbal Tea	8 oz	0 mg	Naturally caffeine-free, derived from herbs and spices.

Conclusion

While a standard cup of brewed coffee typically contains more caffeine than most traditional teas, it is not universally true that all teas are lower in caffeine. The myth that no tea can be stronger than coffee is easily disproven by looking at specific varieties like Matcha and Yerba Mate, whose preparation methods result in a potent, high-caffeine beverage. Ultimately, your choice depends on your personal preferences and desired effect. If you need a quick, strong jolt, coffee is a reliable choice. However, if you prefer a smoother, longer-lasting energy boost without the jitters, a high-caffeine tea like Matcha or Yerba Mate, rich in L-theanine, offers an excellent alternative. Understanding the nutritional nuances of your chosen drink allows you to make an informed decision for your diet and daily energy needs. You can read more about the health benefits of different teas and coffees from authoritative sources like Harvard Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, certain types of tea can have more caffeine than an average cup of brewed coffee. Matcha green tea is a prime example, as you consume the entire powdered leaf, resulting in a higher concentration of caffeine per serving. Yerba Mate is another high-caffeine beverage that can surpass coffee.

The difference is in the brewing process. Coffee is typically brewed with a higher concentration of grounds, using hotter water for a longer time, which extracts more caffeine into the final beverage. With tea, the leaves are often steeped for a shorter period, extracting less of their potential caffeine content.

L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea that works with caffeine to provide a state of calm alertness. It slows the absorption of caffeine, creating a smoother, more sustained energy boost and mitigating the jitteriness and anxiety often associated with coffee.

Among traditional teas, black tea generally has the highest caffeine content due to its processing and the typical brewing method. However, some specific high-quality, early-harvested white or green teas can also be quite high.

Yes, shade-grown teas, such as Gyokuro and the leaves used for Matcha, can have higher caffeine levels. The plant increases its caffeine production in a survival response to growing with less sunlight.

The longer you steep tea leaves in hot water, the more caffeine is extracted. Therefore, a longer steeping time will result in a more caffeinated cup of tea.

Yes, most herbal teas (also known as tisanes) are naturally caffeine-free as they are not made from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, some exceptions, such as Yerba Mate and Guayusa, are potent stimulants.