Most replayed moment: Coffee vs Matcha | Andrew Kojima & Prof Tim Spector
4/14/202614 min
Today, we’re diving into some popular drinks. Coffee has long been the undisputed champion of hot beverages. Its bitter taste is an essential part of most people's morning. However, there’s a new kid on the block. You might have seen its distinctive green hue cropping up in cafés, supermarkets or even TikTok. I am of course talking about matcha. So how do coffee and matcha compare? Do they work differently in the body? And is one better for your long-term health? I’m joined by matcha expert Andrew Kojima and Professor Tim Spector to explore the science behind our daily pick-me-ups - and discover whether we should be switching sides. 🌱 Try our science-backed and tasty wholefood supplement Daily 30+ Get our brand-new app and Gut Health Test designed by world-leading gut health and nutrition scientists to build healthy eating habits 👉 Join ZOE Follow ZOE on Instagram. 📚Books by our ZOE Scientists The Food For Life Cookbook Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector Ferment by Prof. Tim Spector Free resources from ZOE Eating for Better Brain Health: Your brain-gut blueprint How to eat in 2026 - Discover ZOE’s 8 nutrition principles for long-term health Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition Gut Guide - For a Healthier Microbiome in Weeks Better Breakfast Guide
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First 90 secondsJonathan Wolf· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Hello, and welcome to ZOE Recap, where each week we find the best bits from one of our podcast episodes to help you improve your health. Today, we're diving into some popular drinks. Coffee has long been the undisputed champion of hot beverages, its bitter taste an essential part of many people's mornings. However, there's a new kid on the block. You might have seen its distinctive green hue cropping up in cafes, supermarkets, even TikTok. I am, of course, talking about matcha. So how do coffee and matcha compare? Do they work differently in the body? And is one better for your long-term health? I'm joined by matcha expert Andrew Kojima and Professor Tim Spector to explore the science behind our daily pick-me-ups and discover whether we should be switching sides. I think one of the reasons that a lot of people listening think they drink coffee is, like, they wake up and they really need this energy boost, and they think about coffee as this sort of source of that. Is the experience with matcha different?
Andrew Kojima· Guest1:03
Yes, because it's got something else in it apart from ca-caffeine. It's got L-theanine. And caffeine and L-theanine work in tandem to slightly delay the caffeine release, so you still feel stimulated, but you also have this sort of sense of calmness. And when I drink it, I just feel more able to... You know, when you're, when we're being overstimulated by screens and various different ways of people contacting you, messages,