Both matcha and coffee contain caffeine, but the way that caffeine hits your system is genuinely different. Here's what actually separates the two.
Coffee tends to deliver caffeine quickly, which is part of why the crash a few hours later can feel so sharp. Matcha releases its caffeine more gradually, partly due to how the leaf is processed and partly due to the L-theanine that naturally comes along with it.
L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves that's been shown to promote a calmer, more relaxed alertness. Paired with caffeine, it tends to smooth out the jittery edge some people get from coffee.
Neither is objectively better — it depends what you're after. If you want a sharp, immediate jolt, coffee still does that well. If you want steadier, calmer energy that fades more gradually, matcha tends to be the better fit.