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When You Need Focus but Less Stimulation: Coffee and Green Tea

Because I work as a tea master, many people assume that I do not drink coffee. In reality, I spent many years learning about coffee, and I still enjoy it very much. I like paying attention to differences in origin, roasting, aroma, and extraction. I understand well the pleasure coffee offers, the quick lift, the sharp sense of alertness and focus. Reaching for a cup of coffee before starting work, or in moments that demand immediate concentration, feels familiar.

Coffee is effective when you need fast stimulation and instant focus. Many people who enjoy coffee have also, at least once, worried about caffeine. When these conversations come up, they almost always lead to the same question. “Green tea is said to be good for the body, but doesn’t green tea also contain caffeine?” It is one of the most common questions I hear in tea classes and tea gatherings.

To answer directly, yes, green tea does contain caffeine. However, the way it affects the body is different from coffee. Coffee wakes the mind quickly, while green tea brings alertness more gradually. Instead of pulling you up all at once, it eases you into a focused state.

This difference comes from the other compounds found in green tea. A typical cup of coffee contains about 80 to 120 mg of caffeine, while a cup of green tea contains roughly 20 to 40 mg. More importantly, the caffeine in green tea does not act alone. Green tea contains catechins and other polyphenols that slow the absorption of caffeine. As a result, symptoms like a racing heart or shaky hands are less common, and focus tends to feel steadier.

Green tea also contains an amino acid called L theanine. This compound helps calm the mind and soften tension, supporting concentration without agitation. This is why many people feel clear headed after drinking tea, but not overly sensitive or on edge.

Another difference is that caffeine from green tea is generally eliminated from the body more quickly than caffeine from coffee. Still, green tea does contain caffeine, so those who are sensitive may want to avoid drinking it in the evening.

Coffee and green tea are not substitutes for each other. They are simply drinks with different styles of awakening. When you need quick stimulation and immediate focus, coffee fits well. When you want a quieter, longer lasting concentration, green tea is often the better choice.

If today’s cup of tea felt especially comfortable, it may be a sign that you found the pace of alertness that suits you right now.