Alkalinity vs. Acidity And Matcha vs. Coffee
There’s nothing better than a cup of coffee for your morning boost – or is there?
Read about Matcha below, and who knows, you may find the alternative to coffee or coffee replacement you’ve been looking for.
In this article, we’ll discuss the good, the bad, and the differences between Matcha and Coffee.
Is Matcha Acidic?
Matcha green tea has a pH averaging between 7.0 and 8.0. It is alkaline.
For reference:
Beverages that have a pH of 7 are neutral.
Below the pH of 7 is acidity levels.
And above pH of 7 is alkaline levels.
This means that Matcha is not acidic like lemon juice but rather alkaline like baking soda.
You may be wondering, what is Matcha anyway?
What is Matcha?
Matcha green tea is a type of green tea made from finely ground leaves of Camellia sinensis.
Green tea contains powerful antioxidants called catechins, which help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease.
But Matcha is different from regular green tea because it’s made from specially grown Japanese green tea leaves processed differently.
The processing process gives Matcha more caffeine and a quantity of antioxidants than even the higher quality regular brewed green tea.
In fact, Matcha has three times more beneficial antioxidants than higher-quality regular brewed green tea.
What is Alkalinity vs. Acidity?
To better understand Matcha and Coffee’s difference, let’s also go through what Alkalinity and Acidity are.
The pH scale measures acidity versus alkalinity.
Beverages fall somewhere between 0 (very acidic) and 14 (very alkaline).
Water is at 7.0, which means it’s neutral.
Anything above 7 is considered alkaline, while anything below 7 is considered acidic.
The human body is naturally slightly alkaline, with between 7.35 to 7.45 pH levels.
Our body requires a tightly controlled pH level to survive.
We get more vulnerable to numerous diseases and overall bad conditions when our pH level becomes higher.
In fact, we can go into a condition called Metabolic acidosis, which is when there is a clinical disturbance or when there is too less or too much acid in the body fluids.
Our kidneys have the role of eliminating excess acids or bases to regulate our blood’s pH level.
The lungs also help stabilize the pH level in the blood via respiration but only for a short period of time.
Overall, science believes that alkaline food and beverage intake is better than acidic ones.
Alkaline foods and beverages are mostly fruits and vegetables, so they’re naturally low in fat and calories and tend to be healthier.
Matcha vs. Coffee
pH Level
As previously mentioned, Matcha is alkaline.
In comparison, the pH level of coffee is around 5, so it’s acidic. There are various factors that can affect the pH levels of coffees, so it can go to around level 4 or 6, but most coffee is acidic.
Caffeine
In terms of caffeine, Matcha has lower caffeine levels than coffee.
An 8 ounce of Matcha made with 1 teaspoon of matcha powder will have around 70 milligrams of caffeine content.
An 8 ounce of coffee, on the other hand, will have around 70–140 milligrams or 95 milligrams in average of caffeine content. The acidity of coffee varies depending on the type of coffee beans and brew of coffee.
Side Effects
Coffee
The side effects of coffee mostly come from its higher caffeine content.
Common symptoms are:
- insomnia
- nervousness
- restlessness
- stomach upset
- nausea
- vomiting
- increased heart rate
- increased breathing rate
- oral health issues
- hindering effects of some medicines
- risk of heart disease
*among others
The listed side effects can be caused by drinking caffeinated coffee too much and/or too often. For reference, more than 4 cups per day are considered too much coffee consumption.
Matcha
Matcha also contains caffeine but since it’s lower than coffee, getting caffeine-related side effects is rarer in Matcha than in coffee.
Rare side effects:
- allergies (usually skin allergies)
- hindering effects of some medicines (cholesterol-lowering drugs)
- exposure to toxic metals like lead and mercury
*aside from possible caffeine-related side effects
Like coffee or anything really, these side effects will only be a cause of concern if you take Matcha too much and/or too often. More than 3 cups of Matcha a day is considered too much.
Benefits
We talked about the side effects, but the list of potential health benefits for both is definitely longer.
In fact, Matcha is a superfood! Coffee can also be considered a superfood.
Remember, you need to drink both beverages in moderation to get the benefits below without the side effects.
Coffee
- boost of energy levels
- may help with weight lost
- helps you focus
- reduces the risk of different types of cancer
- reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease
- may lower the risk of Type II diabetes
- may support brain and mental health
- promotes strong immunity
- promotes cardiovascular health
Matcha
- a long-lasting energy boost
- lower chances of caffeine jitters and crash
- promotes strong immunity
- promotes cardiovascular health
- promotes oral health
- promotes skin health
- helps regulate cholesterol
- provides relaxation
- high in potent antioxidant (highest antioxidant rating of all major superfoods)
- helps with body weight management
- helps you focus
- reduces the risk of different types of cancer
- may support brain and mental health
- has strong anti-inflammatory effects
Fun Fact
Did you know that you can actually combine the coffee and Matcha in one drink?
It’s even available in Starbucks Coffee Shop! Iced Espresso and Matcha Fusion is a drink popularized in Asian Starbucks.
Conclusion
Both Matcha and Coffee have overwhelming health properties and side effects. Whether you’ll get one or the other will depend on your intake.
Since Matcha is alkaline and has less caffeine, it will be better for those with a sensitive stomach or sensitivity to coffee. It may also be better for your sleep, weight management, oral health, and mental health – among others.
Overall, Matcha is a great substitute for coffee for those trying to get over their caffeine crash or coffee addiction but still need some caffeine intake.
But all of that will not matter if you don’t enjoy the drinking experience of your coffee substitute, no?
Experiment with what works for you. It’d be best if you could consult a doctor about what’s better for you.
Again, regulating your intake is crucial.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article as Matcha (much as) as we enjoyed writing it!
