yerba mate has more caffeine than matcha: 85mg vs 60mg in the same 8 oz cup. That is a 25mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
matcha vs yerba mate: the numbers
| matcha | yerba mate | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) | 85mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 7.5mg | 10.6mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 6.7 | 4.7 |
Sources: matcha's figure is verified in our matcha caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (per-gram) / compiled (source); yerba mate's figure is verified in our yerba mate guide against Caffeine Informer / compiled (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick matcha when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and yerba mate 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
- yerba mate: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does matcha or yerba mate have more caffeine? yerba mate: 85mg per 8 oz cup versus 60mg per 8 oz cup (1 tsp, ~2g) for matcha.
Which is stronger per ounce? yerba mate, at about 10.6mg per fluid ounce versus 7.5mg for matcha.
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.