Yerba Mate vs. Coffee: What’s the Real Difference?
Okay, so let’s talk about something that comes up all the time: yerba mate vs. coffee. You probably hear people talk about both — coffee drinkers love that strong, bold morning vibe, and yerba mate fans (hi, yes, me) go on about how smooth and clean it feels. But I wanted to really understand the difference. Like, is yerba mate actually better? Or is it just trendy? So I did some digging — like, way too much reading — and here’s what I found. I’m breaking it down the way I would if I were texting my sisters about it.
☕ Caffeine: Who’s Got More?
Let’s start with what everyone cares about first — the energy.
Coffee usually has about 95 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz cup.
Yerba mate has somewhere around 70 to 85 mg.
So technically, yeah, coffee wins on caffeine amount. But here’s the thing: yerba mate feels totally different. Coffee hits you fast. For some people that’s great, but for others (🙋♀️), it can feel like a spike and then a crash. Yerba mate gives a more steady kind of energy — not too much, not too little. Like a quiet nudge instead of a slap in the face.
🧠 Focus vs. Frenzy
This is a big one for me. With coffee, I’d get that wired, kinda buzzy feeling — and sometimes it helped me focus, but sometimes it made me feel like my brain was going in 12 directions at once. Yerba mate is just different. It has caffeine, but it also has something called theobromine (also in dark chocolate 🍫), which is known to help with calm alertness and mood. It’s like… your brain wakes up, but your heart rate stays chill. If you’ve ever had coffee and thought, “Ugh, why am I anxious now?” — mate might be a better fit.
🌿 What’s Actually In These Drinks?
Let’s be real, most of us aren’t drinking coffee or mate for the nutrition, but it’s still good to know.
Coffee
High in antioxidants
Not much else, honestly
Yerba Mate
Also high in antioxidants
Plus:
B vitamins
Vitamin C
Magnesium
Potassium
Amino acids
So while coffee is just kind of a one-trick pony (but a good one, if that’s your thing), yerba mate brings a little more to the table. It’s like the multitasker of the drink world.
🧃How They Feel in Real Life
This part is kind of everything. Coffee makes you feel awake — but sometimes it’s a little too intense. Jitters, shaky hands, crash by 2 p.m., all of that. Yerba mate feels more like clean energy. You’re awake, but still grounded. It’s easier to focus, and it lasts longer without that heavy drop-off later. I call it “get-it-done energy,” not “I-had-three-espressos” energy.
😬 Stomach Stuff (Because That’s Real)
This might not apply to everyone, but coffee can really mess with your stomach — especially if you drink it first thing in the morning or on an empty stomach. Yerba mate is generally easier on digestion. I’ve never had an upset stomach from it, and I’m pretty sensitive to that kind of thing.
☁️ The Taste
Okay, taste is super personal — but here’s the deal:
Coffee: bold, strong, sometimes bitter. People love it or power through it.
Yerba mate: traditionally kind of grassy/earthy (not my favorite tbh), but in drink form — like Unimate — it actually tastes really good. Light, refreshing, not bitter at all.
So if you’ve tried plain mate tea before and didn’t love it, it’s worth trying it in a different form.
So... Which One’s Better?
Honestly? It depends on what you want. If you love the strong hit of coffee and you don’t get jittery from it, go for it. There’s nothing wrong with a good cup of coffee. But if you:
Feel a little anxious after coffee
Crash hard mid-day
Want something that feels cleaner and more balanced
Or just want to try something different
Then yerba mate might be the better vibe for you. I switched to Unimate (which is a yerba mate drink I love), and it’s made a huge difference in how I feel in the morning. I still get stuff done, I still feel focused — but I never feel wired or worn out a few hours later. It just works better for me. If you’re curious, try it for a few days and see how your body feels. That’s usually the best way to know what works for you.
— Kiley
