Why I’ve Been Mixing My Coffee and Green Tea (based on the science)

I grew up in a house where café con leche—coffee with milk—was basically on tap. And I love it. I love the way it tastes, I love the ritual, and I love the memories it brings. I love coffee.

But some time ago, I quietly swore it off. Not because I stopped loving it, but because I believed it was throwing off my hormones. And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t play a part. But over time, I realized: it wasn’t the coffee itself. It was the way I was drinking it.

Why Coffee Made Me Anxious (And What I Did Instead)

I knew I felt my anxiety spike with coffee, but I could drink other forms of caffeine—green tea, matcha—and not feel nearly as affected. So, as I got deeper into this work years ago, I started looking into the research to understand why. And what I found might be just as game-changing for you as it’s been for me.

It turns out that green tea naturally contains L-theanine, an amino acid that supports calm, focused alertness. When combined with caffeine—as it is in matcha—it helps reduce jitters, improve attention, and prevent that wired-then-crashed feeling. And the most recent research only strengthens that link.

A 2021 randomized trial found that combining L-theanine and caffeine significantly improved focus and working memory, while reducing mental fatigue. More recently, a 2024 study found that regular L-theanine intake lowered stress levels, improved sleep quality, and enhanced cognitive performance—no side effects, no overstimulation.

Okay, But How Do You Actually Drink This?

Now, let me add that you can get these benefits by supplementing L-theanine with your morning joe. But in the cub, we always prefer the real thing—the whole food version.

So, I’ve been mixing my coffee and green tea. Before the purists roll their eyes, hear me out. Think:

• A very small matcha latte with a shot of espresso

• Half a black coffee, topped off with hot water and a green tea bag steeped in

• A little brewed coffee mixed with blueberry green tea over ice (OOOF. Yum.)

And no, this doesn’t replace when I just want a proper café con leche on a Saturday with my guys and some bagels from Tompkins Square. But on a regular day—when I want to enjoy something I love and be in the best brain space I can be—I’m combining the caffeine with green tea’s L-theanine. And the results are awesome.

What I’ve Noticed Since Making the Switch:

• A clear shift in alertness and productivity

• No anxiety spike

• No crash

• I’m not reaching for a second cup

  
  

And listen—it's not like you need this. But if you’re someone who enjoys caffeine, there’s a more optimized way to do it. This approach supports your nervous system instead of hijacking it. You get the clarity, without the crash.

Also, whether you’re doing this combo or not: always pair your coffee with BKFST or a small afternoon snack. Drinking caffeine on an empty stomach can spike cortisol, disrupt blood sugar, and start a whole cascade of symptoms that don’t serve your energy, mood, or hormones.

And if you want a little help putting this in place, here are our favorite hormone safe tea bag-green tea options & espresso (there's only one for a reason), and my current matcha latte recipe you can download here (for free).

BKFST MATCHA LATTE