The Guayusa Guide
Is guayusa a good alternative to coffee?
Yes, if you want about the same caffeine in a different drink. A 355 mL can of Waísa guayusa has 140 mg of caffeine, and a 237 mL cup of brewed coffee has 135 mg on average, according to Health Canada. Guayusa is brewed from a leaf, like tea. People often describe it as smooth and less bitter, and you can drink it hot or cold.
How does guayusa compare with coffee?
| Guayusa | Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is made from | The leaf of Ilex guayusa, a holly | The roasted seed of the coffee plant |
| Caffeine in one serving | 140 mg in a 355 mL can of Waísa | 135 mg in a 237 mL cup, brewed |
| Caffeine in 100 mL | 39 mg | 57 mg |
| How you make it | Steep the leaf like tea, or open a can | Brew the ground seed |
| Hot or cold | Hot, iced or cold brew | Hot, iced or cold brew |
The coffee figures are the averages of Health Canada, and a single cup can have more or less. The values for 100 mL are calculated from the serving values.
Does guayusa have as much caffeine as coffee?
One can of Waísa has about the caffeine of one cup of brewed coffee. The kind of coffee changes the comparison: Health Canada gives 179 mg for a 237 mL cup of filter drip coffee, and 76 to 106 mg for a cup of instant coffee. In a cup of guayusa that you brew from loose leaf, the amount depends on how much leaf you use and how long it steeps. See how much caffeine is in guayusa.
Does guayusa feel different from coffee?
People often describe guayusa energy as smooth or sustained. That experience is subjective, and it varies by person and preparation. The caffeine in guayusa is the same compound as the caffeine in coffee. Read what the research says about guayusa.
Does guayusa taste like coffee?
No. Guayusa is a leaf infusion, so it is closer to tea than to coffee. People often describe it as smooth and less bitter than other leafy infusions.
Can you drink guayusa in the morning in place of coffee?
Yes. Kichwa communities in the Upper Napo region of Ecuador traditionally brew guayusa before dawn and share it. You can brew a cup from loose leaf, or take a can from the refrigerator. See how to brew guayusa.
What if you want less caffeine than coffee?
Count the caffeine of each drink in your day. Health Canada recommends a maximum of 400 mg a day for adults. A 237 mL cup of black or green tea has 30 to 50 mg on average, and a cup of decaffeinated coffee has 3 mg. With loose-leaf guayusa, use less leaf for a lighter cup.
Common questions
Is guayusa a good coffee alternative?
Yes, if you want about the same caffeine in a different drink. A 355 mL can of Waísa guayusa has 140 mg of caffeine, and a 237 mL cup of brewed coffee has 135 mg on average, according to Health Canada.
Does guayusa have more caffeine than coffee?
A 355 mL can of Waísa has 140 mg of caffeine, and a 237 mL cup of brewed coffee has 135 mg on average, according to Health Canada. For the same volume, brewed coffee has more: about 57 mg in 100 mL, against about 39 mg in 100 mL of Waísa.
Does guayusa taste like coffee?
No. Guayusa is a leaf infusion, so it is closer to tea than to coffee. People often describe it as smooth and less bitter than other leafy infusions.
Sources
- Health Canada, Caffeine in Foods: the recommended maximum daily intake and the average amounts in coffee and tea.
- Noriega P. and others, Guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes.) Ancestral Plant of Ecuador, Molecules, 2025: the plant and its traditional use.