matcha has more caffeine than brewed black tea: 60mg vs 47mg in the same 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g). That is a 13mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
matcha vs brewed black tea: the numbers
| matcha | brewed black tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) | 47mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 7.5mg | 5.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 6.7 | 8.5 |
Sources: matcha's figure is verified in our matcha caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (per-gram) / compiled (source); brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick brewed black tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and matcha when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.
For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.
Related reading
- matcha: the full caffeine guide
- brewed black tea: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does matcha or brewed black tea have more caffeine? matcha: 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? matcha, at about 7.5mg per fluid ounce versus 5.9mg for brewed black tea.
Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.