Does Coffee Have L-Theanine? Benefits of L-Theanine + Caffeine
There are plenty of dynamic duos out there: peanut butter and jelly, Monica and Chandler, and pineapple on pizza, if you like to go against the grain. However, there are some combos that are so good, you can actually find them together in nature as if even Mother Earth knew they were a match made in heaven.
One of these duos is caffeine and L-theanine. Caffeine is famously a prime component of coffee, so you might be wondering whether you can also find L-theanine in your morning cuppa. The answer is that it depends on which brands you buy. Read on to learn more about the benefits of both caffeine and L-theanine, as well as how to enjoy both in one go.
What Is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is an amino acid found mostly in tea leaves. While it doesn’t help build muscle like other amino acids, it does work on the brain, helping you feel chilled out and focused, even when your inbox hits 99+.
It can support alpha brain waves (the ones associated with that relaxed-but-alert state), encourage the reproduction of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and help you feel motivated without feeling sleepy.
Does Coffee Contain L-Theanine?
Unfortunately, no. L-theanine is found in nature, but only in the tea plant.
Coffee is great for a wake-up call on Monday morning, but it doesn’t come with L-theanine’s mellow, relaxed alertness. This might explain why coffee can sometimes send you from “let’s get stuff done” to “why am I vibrating?” in the span of one latte.
Without L-theanine, that caffeine jolt can tip into jitters or full-on anxiety. More and more people are adding L-theanine to their cup of joe to get the focus without the freakout.
Should You Take Caffeine and L-Theanine? 4 Benefits
Caffeine and L-theanine are two substances that might seem too different to play nice. While caffeine revs you up, L-theanine encourages you to slow down and relax. However, these two aren’t really opposites, and they can actually combine to create some pretty amazing effects.
1. Minimizes Caffeine Side Effects
Have you ever had one too many espressos and suddenly questioned all your life choices? That’s where L-theanine can help. Studies have found that when you take caffeine and L-theanine together, you get the best of both worlds. You might feel more focused and alert without the shakiness, tension, or heart-racing anxiety that comes with caffeine overdose.
2. Supports High-Quality Sleep
Caffeine's stimulating properties can interfere with sleep patterns, which can make it pretty hard to fall or stay asleep. However, L-theanine might be able to help.
L-theanine can encourage high-quality sleep by calming the mind, not knocking you out cold. Studies show it can even help people sleep better after caffeine, which may feel impossible at times. Plus, you won’t wake up groggy and confused like you might after taking a hefty dose of melatonin.
3. Encourages Mental Health
Whether you feel balanced or depressed and anxious, your moods are linked to neurotransmitter balance and stress levels. L-theanine helps keep those feel-good neurotransmitters (like serotonin and dopamine) in harmony. Pair it with caffeine, which already helps with mood and alertness, and you have a combo that’ll help you feel ready to take on anything the day throws at you.
The calming effects of L-theanine can also counteract caffeine's potential to cause anxiety, which can help you feel more stable throughout the day and help ease feelings of stress. Instead of riding the emotional rollercoaster of a caffeine crash, the L-theanine and caffeine combo helps you focus on the tasks right in front of you.
4. Promote Focus
Let’s be honest — most of us don’t need more stimulation, we need better focus. L-theanine and caffeine are a match made in heaven for that locked-in, deep-work mindset. L-theanine can support alpha brain wave activity to encourage a state of relaxed alertness, while caffeine can support energy. This makes this duo especially helpful for tasks that require extended concentration.
In fact, multiple studies show this combination can support attention, task-switching, and mental clarity, all without turning you into a wired mess. Whether you’re writing emails, herding toddlers, or juggling appointments, this is truly the secret weapon for staying on top of things.
How Can You Combine Caffeine and L-Theanine?
If L-theanine isn’t naturally found in coffee, then how can you take advantage of this heavy-hitting duo? Here are a few of our favorite sources of both caffeine and L-theanine.
Green or Black Tea
Green and black teas both naturally have L-theanine and caffeine. Green tea (especially fancy kinds like Gyokuro) is high in L-theanine, smooth on the nerves, and comes with a ton of other health benefits. Black tea tends to have slightly less L-theanine, but it contains more caffeine, which means you can pick and choose based on the vibes you’re going for.
Both of these compounds can also be found in oolong, white, and pu-erh teas, but these are less common than green and black teas. Any of these teas are generally a great option for anyone who’s looking to cut back on caffeine or switch away from coffee (spoiler alert — you don’t have to quit coffee to cut caffeine).
Matcha
Matcha might be a trend, but it’s also the gold standard when it comes to L-theanine. Grown in the shade to boost its amino acid content, matcha has some of the highest L-theanine levels in the tea world.
Our Mushroom Matcha+ takes it up a notch by combining ceremonial-grade matcha with extra L-theanine, lion’s mane mushroom, chaga mushroom, and collagen protein. It’s everything you love about matcha, but with even more benefits.
Mushroom Coffee+
Our mushroom coffee was made for anyone who loves the taste of coffee but wants to quit the side effects. With only 45 mg of caffeine per serving (a quarter of what’s in a standard cup), it fills the gap without causing jitters or stress.
Plus, like our matcha, it’s loaded with adaptogens like lion’s mane and chaga, as well as collagen protein to support hair and gut health. And, of course, it also features L-theanine to help further round out the caffeine lift.
Final Thoughts
Caffeine wakes you up and gets you moving, while L-theanine helps you feel relaxed and locked in. Together, they’re a brain-loving combo for stressful Monday mornings or simple day-to-day life.
Coffee might not normally contain L-theanine, but you can find both caffeine and L-theanine in our Mushroom Coffee+. It’s the delicious morning pick-me-up you’ve been waiting for! To learn more about our mushroom coffee and its benefits, visit the Everyday Dose blog today.
Sources:
L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state | PubMed
Effects of Caffeine on Cognitive Performance, Mood, and Alertness in Sleep-Deprived Humans | PMC
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