Matcha · 5 min read
Matcha vs Coffee: Why Nassau Locals Are Making the Switch
How ceremonial matcha compares to coffee on caffeine, focus, and crash — and why so many Bay Street regulars are trading their morning espresso for a Rootz matcha latte.
Coffee culture runs deep in Nassau, but a quiet shift is happening on Bay Street: more locals are starting their day with a ceremonial matcha latte instead of a flat white. The reason isn't trend — it's how it makes them feel by 2 PM.
The caffeine math
A Rootz matcha latte carries roughly 60–70mg of caffeine per serving — about two-thirds of a standard 8oz coffee. The headline number is lower, but matcha doesn't deliver caffeine the same way coffee does.
L-theanine: the secret weapon
Matcha is naturally rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that pairs with caffeine to produce calm, sustained focus instead of the jittery spike-and-crash coffee curve. Most guests describe it as "still alert at 4 PM without needing a refill."
The Rootz difference
Most matcha sold in the Bahamas is culinary-grade — it's bitter and dull as a drink. We serve organic, first-flush ceremonial matcha: the youngest spring leaves, stone-milled to a vibrant jade powder. It's the same tier reserved for Japanese tea ceremony.
How to order if you're switching from coffee
- Matcha latte (oat milk): closest to a vanilla latte feel
- Iced matcha: our most-ordered summer pour
- Hot ceremonial: for the purist morning ritual
Walk in any day at Elizabeth on Bay Plaza and tell us "first time" — we'll guide you to the right starting build.