Cacao vs Matcha: Which Has More Caffeine? Taste & Differences
Cacao or matcha? People ask me this quite a bit. The short answer is that matcha will usually have more caffeine in a cup, while cacao tastes richer and contains theobromine as well as some caffeine. Which one I'd choose depends more on the flavour I'm in the mood for.
If you already know what you fancy, you can have a look at our cacao or browse the matcha. Otherwise, here’s how I’d compare them.
Ceremonial cacao
Cacao is rich, naturally contains theobromine and some caffeine, and takes a little more time to prepare. It can work well when you want a warm drink that feels substantial and you enjoy the preparation itself.
Mother Earth cacao comes from several origins, so flavour varies quite a bit between Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador and India.
Matcha
Matcha is powdered green tea, so you consume the whole tea leaf rather than just an infusion. It naturally contains caffeine and L-theanine.
Our Green Matcha and Hojicha come through a three-generation tea family in China: Yuan, Alex and little Alex.
Matcha is usually quicker and lighter than cacao, which makes it easy to use in a workday routine or latte.
Which has more caffeine: cacao or matcha?
In a typical serving, matcha usually has more caffeine than whole cacao. The actual amount changes with how much powder or cacao you use, so there isn't one number that fits every cup.
Cacao also naturally contains theobromine. Neither drink is caffeine-free, and if you're sensitive to caffeine, it's worth paying attention to the serving size rather than assuming either one is a gentle option.
Which one tastes better?
If you want something chocolatey and full-bodied, cacao is the obvious one. Matcha tastes more like green tea, with that grassy, slightly earthy character. Neither is automatically better for you, and I'd ignore anyone promising that one drink will fix your whole morning.
Which should you choose?
If you want rich, chocolatey and slower, start with cacao. If you want green tea, quicker preparation and a more familiar caffeinated drink, start with Matcha.
I enjoy both, just at different times. Some mornings I fancy a matcha, and other days I want a proper cup of cacao. They’re different drinks, and I think it’s worth trying both to see which you enjoy.
Shop ceremonial cacao · Shop Matcha
If you're trying either one for the first time, our simple cacao preparation guide is a good place to start. For green tea, have a look at the 100g ceremonial Matcha and see whether the flavour suits you.
If you want to see the products rather than just read about them, I sometimes show what’s in the shop on TikTok.
