Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) vs brewed green tea: which has more caffeine?

Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) vs brewed green tea: which has more caffeine?

Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) has more caffeine than brewed green tea on both counts: 90mg per 16 oz grande against 28mg per 8 oz cup, and about 6mg per fluid ounce against 4. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) vs brewed green tea: the numbers

Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) brewed green tea
Caffeine per serving 90mg per 16 oz grande 28mg per 8 oz cup
Caffeine per fl oz 5.6mg 3.5mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 4.4 14.3

Sources: Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer Starbucks guide (source); brewed green tea's figure is verified in our brewed green tea guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick brewed green tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) 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.

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FAQ

Does Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande) or brewed green tea have more caffeine? Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande): 90mg per 16 oz grande versus 28mg per 8 oz cup for brewed green tea.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Matcha Latte (grande), at about 5.6mg per fluid ounce versus 3.5mg for brewed green tea.

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