Yerba mate vs. coffee: caffeine, taste and how they feel

A typical cup of coffee has around 95mg of caffeine. A cup of brewed yerba mate usually has somewhere around 70 to 85mg, and many people describe its lift as smoother and more even. Both have their moment. At JAS® we use both: yerba mate for a light, uplifting lift in Mojito Fresco, and Mexican coffee for a bigger boost in Carajillo Tejas.

What is yerba mate?

Yerba mate is a South American holly (Ilex paraguariensis). Its leaves are dried and steeped, traditionally in a hollow gourd and sipped through a metal straw called a bombilla. In Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil it is an everyday ritual, often passed around a circle of friends. Sharing mate is about as juntos as a drink gets.

It is naturally caffeinated, and it also contains theobromine, the same gentle compound found in cacao.

Caffeine side by side

• Brewed coffee (8oz): about 95mg
• Brewed yerba mate (8oz): about 70 to 85mg
• Black tea (8oz): about 45mg
• JAS® Carajillo Tejas (8.4oz): 100mg, from Mexican coffee
• JAS® Mojito Fresco (8.4oz): about 30mg, from yerba mate

Amounts in brewed drinks vary a lot with how strong you make them.

How do they feel different?

Coffee hits fast and strong, which is exactly what you want first thing in the morning. People who drink mate often describe a more even, uplifting lift, the kind that keeps you going through an afternoon rather than rushing you through a morning. Part of that is the dose, and part of it is the ritual: mate is sipped slowly, over a long time.

How they taste

Coffee: roasted, bitter, rich, sometimes chocolatey or fruity depending on the bean.

Yerba mate: grassy, herbal, a little smoky, with a pleasant bitterness. It loves citrus and mint, which is why it fits so naturally into a mojito.

Which one should you pick?

• Want a gentle lift for the afternoon, a workout or the patio? Yerba mate. JAS® Mojito Fresco has about 30mg, less than half a cup of coffee, plus gentian root and just 2g of added sugar.
• Want real energy and focus? Coffee. JAS® Carajillo Tejas has 100mg of caffeine from Mexican coffee, paired with lion's mane. More on that pairing in Lion's mane and caffeine.
• Winding down for the night? Neither. Go caffeine-free with Paloma Libre.

Frequently asked questions

Does yerba mate have more caffeine than coffee?

Usually a little less. A brewed cup of mate is commonly around 70 to 85mg versus about 95mg for coffee, though both vary with strength.

Why does yerba mate feel different from coffee?

Many people describe mate as a smoother, more uplifting lift. It's typically sipped slowly, and it also contains theobromine, a gentler compound also found in cacao.

Is there a non-alcoholic cocktail with yerba mate?

Yes. JAS® Mojito Fresco is a non-alcoholic mojito with yerba mate (about 30mg of caffeine) and gentian root, 50 calories per can.

Is yerba mate good before a workout?

Lots of people drink it before or after exercise for a light lift. Mojito Fresco was built for exactly those active, daytime moments.

Written by Cecilia Rios Murrieta, Co-Founder & CEO of JAS®. This article is for general information and isn't medical advice.

Have a JAS® and be libre.