The Life-Changing Results When You Switch from Coffee to Matcha
Have you ever wondered what might change if you replaced your daily coffee with something different? For decades, coffee has dominated my morning routine. I have been a coffee addict since I was 13 years old. But there is a new cowgirl on the scene! Move over, Coffee Joe, let's meet my new friend Molly Matcha!
Matcha is a vibrant green alternative and it's an understatement that it is creating a buzz among health nuts and online influencers. Even creating global matcha storages in 2024 across Japan, where the majority of the best matcha is produced. When my boyfriend told me about the 30-day matcha challenge I tried swapping my beloved coffee for matcha for 30 days! The results were nothing short of transformative. My name is Sarah and I've become an avid, daily matcha drinker ever since!
What Is Matcha and Why Consider a Switch?
Matcha is finely ground powder made from specially grown green tea leaves. Unlike regular tea where leaves are steeped and discarded, with matcha, you consume the entire leaf in powdered form, maximizing its nutritional benefits.
Matcha contains the entire tea leaf, providing significantly higher concentrations of antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds than regular green tea. This makes it a nutritional powerhouse compared to many other beverages.
(Ready to read more about matcha's great health benefits? This guide is for you!)
The shade-growing process increases chlorophyll content, creating matcha's vibrant green color and boosting its nutritional profile. After harvesting, processors remove stems and veins before stone-grinding leaves into the characteristic fine powder.
Four Life-Changing Benefits After 30 Days of Matcha
1. Balanced Energy Without Anxiety
The most immediate change when switching to matcha I felt was the different energy experience. After just one week of drinking matcha instead of coffee, the best way I can describe it was I felt more energized without the familiar coffee jitters and crashing later.
Matcha provides a fundamentally different energy experience because of how its compounds interact with your body. It has the potential to be therapeutic according to this study review. The caffeine in matcha forms a bond with the catechins, resulting in slower release and more sustained energy. In short, energy and focus without the jitters associated with coffee jet fuel and crash.
A cup of matcha contains approximately 70mg of caffeine compared to coffee's 95-200mg. However, matcha's secret weapon is L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes alpha brain wave activity—similar to what meditation achieves. This creates the famous "calm alertness" matcha is known for.
Research published online on PubMed found that L-theanine counteracts the potential anxiety-inducing effects of caffeine while preserving its attention-enhancing benefits. By day 30, many former coffee drinkers report feeling more consistently energetic throughout the day without afternoon crashes.
2. Improved Focus and Productivity
By the second week of the matcha switch, cognitive benefits become more apparent. I experienced an increase in my ability to concentrate, particularly during tasks requiring sustained attention like computer work for my graphics design job.
The combination of caffeine and L-theanine is linked with improved attention performance and alertness - more effectively than caffeine alone, according to some studies. This synergistic relationship explains why many find their work quality improves during the 30-day switch.
(Get the full scoop on matcha and l-theanine benefits with this deeper dive)
By day 15, I realized I was completing my work tasks with fewer distractions and overall making fewer mistakes! The mental clarity was calming and light but I definitely noticed it compared to my coffee days. My morning coffee would get my hearting pounding and the first 30 minutes I would experience anxiety jitters."
3. Better Sleep Quality
Perhaps surprisingly, switching to matcha often improves sleep quality despite still consuming caffeine. By the third week, I was falling asleep more easily and experiencing a deeper, restful night.
While matcha does contain caffeine, the L-theanine content helps regulate its effects on sleep cycles, explains SleepDoctor.com. Additionally, the lower caffeine content and different metabolization patterns mean it's less likely to interfere with sleep when consumed earlier in the day.
Sleep tracking data studying older adults across 12 months showed participants who switched from coffee to matcha experienced an improvement in sleep quality scores after 30 days, with particularly notable improvements in time to fall asleep and sleep continuity.
4. Reduced Inflammation and Enhanced Wellbeing
By the end of the 30-day challenge, I was feeling physically better overall. Matcha's high concentration of antioxidants, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), helps neutralize harmful free radicals and reduce inflammation.
"Matcha contains up to 137 times more EGCG than other types of green tea," research shows. Regular consumption may help support the body's natural anti-inflammatory processes.
Some of my friends who completed the 30-day challenge before me (and inspired me) shared their improvements in skin appearance, digestion, and even joint comfort—benefits attributed to matcha's anti-inflammatory properties and rich antioxidant content.
Making the Switch: Practical Tips for Success
Transitioning from coffee to matcha requires some adjustment, but these 5 steps can be part of an effective strategy to help ensure success:
- Start by replacing just one daily coffee with matcha
- Experiment with preparation methods to find your preferred style
- Use water heated to about 175°F (80°C), not boiling
- Consider ceremonial-grade matcha for pure drinking
- Try matcha lattes with various milk alternatives for a familiar creamy experience
I noticed that what helped me enjoy matcha was finding my own way to make it. I tried using a bamboo whisk. I will admit it created lots of bubbles and froth and tasted even smoother creamier, without even adding milk. But it took me too long and wasn't realistic when I was on the go in the mornings. I still use a bamboo whisk sometimes, especially when introducing my recipe to friends, but usually, I use an electric frother. It's quicker and makes my Molly Matcha in less than 2 minutes!
(Learn more about preparing matcha with this guide to matcha whisks)
Why 30 Days Make a Difference
A 30-day commitment allows your body to adjust to the different caffeine experiences while giving you time to perfect your preparation technique. I found that by day 30, I had not only adapted to matcha's taste but I've come to prefer it over coffee. Additionally, there's plenty of research to support that it takes about 66 days to forge a new habit, by overwriting the old one. So 30 days is halfway there!
More importantly, this timeframe allows the cumulative effects of matcha's beneficial compounds to become noticeable. The antioxidant benefits, improved energy patterns, and enhanced focus mechanisms need time to demonstrate their full impact.
Whether you're looking to reduce coffee jitters, improve sleep quality, or simply explore a beverage with different health benefits, the 30-day matcha challenge offers a structured way to experience what might become your new daily ritual.
(Hungry for more details? This showdown between Coffee vs. Matcha is great!)
I can sum up my positive experience with this: After 30 days, I couldn't imagine going back to coffee! The balanced energy and overall well-being I felt with matcha has completely changed my relationship with my morning cup. Sorry Coffee Joe, my new friend is Molly Matcha!
Who is Sarah? She is a regular visitor to our tea space on Queens Street called ICHA TEA. Her story inspired us to feature her experience in this article. Thank you, Sarah! 