How Much Caffeine is In Coffee
We see this question asked a lot. How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?
A standard 8 oz (240-ml) cup of brewed coffee contains approximately 95-100 mg of caffeine. However, this can range from almost zero to over 500 mg depending on several factors such as type of coffee and brewing method.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what influences the caffeine content:
Type of Coffee Beverage (The Biggest Factor)
This table shows the average caffeine for different coffee drinks. All values are estimates for a typical preparation.
|
Coffee Beverage |
Serving Size |
Average Caffeine (mg) |
Caffeine Range (mg) |
|
Decaf Coffee |
8 oz (240 ml) |
3 |
2 - 15 |
|
Brewed Coffee |
8 oz (240 ml) |
95 |
80 - 100 |
|
Brewed Coffee (Light Roast) |
8 oz (240 ml) |
~105 |
(Slightly more than dark roast) |
|
Brewed Coffee (Dark Roast) |
8 oz (240 ml) |
~95 |
(Slightly less than light roast) |
|
Instant Coffee |
8 oz (240 ml) |
65 |
30 - 90 |
|
Espresso |
1 shot (1 oz / 30 ml) |
64 |
30 - 100 |
|
Espresso - Decaf |
1 shot (1 oz / 30 ml) |
0 |
0 - 15 |
|
Americano |
1 shot + water |
~64 |
Same as the espresso shot used |
|
Cold Brew |
8 oz (240 ml) |
100 |
100 - 200 (Highly concentrated) |
|
Drip Coffee (e.g., from a pot) |
8 oz (240 ml) |
95 |
80 - 120 |
|
French Press |
8 oz (240 ml) |
105 |
80 - 135 |
|
Pour Over |
8 oz (240 ml) |
95 |
80 - 120 |
|
Flat White / Latte |
8 oz (240 ml) |
~85 |
Depends on number of espresso shots |
|
Starbucks Pike Place® Roast |
Grande (16 oz) |
310 |
|
|
Dunkin' Brewed Coffee |
Medium (14 oz) |
210 |
Key Takeaways from the Table:
- Espresso has more caffeine per ounce, but a standard serving is much smaller. A single shot of espresso has less total caffeine than a cup of brewed coffee because of the serving size.
- Light vs. Dark Roast: Contrary to popular belief, light roast coffee like our Brillante actually more caffeine than dark roast, like our Enzo, by volume. The roasting process burns off small amounts of caffeine, but the difference is almost negligible. The bigger difference is in flavor.
- Chain Coffee Shops (like Starbucks & Dunkin') serve much larger cups. A "grande" is 16 ounces, so it contains roughly two standard cups' worth of caffeine.
Factors That Influence Caffeine Content
Not all coffee is created equal. You may end up with varying caffeine levels based on which beans you use, your preparation method, and how much you drink.
Coffee Bean Type
Robusta beans contain almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans. Many commercial brands that claim a higher caffeine content often have a higher Robusta content for its stronger kick and lower cost.
Brewing Method
Methods that have longer extraction time between water and grounds (like French press or cold brew) tend to contain more caffeine. Finer grounds can also increase extraction.
Serving Size
This is the most important variable. A 20 oz travel mug of coffee has more than double the caffeine of an 8 oz cup.
How Does Coffee Compare to Other Caffeinated Drinks?
Coffee tends to be the most caffeine you can get from a naturally brewed source. Energy drinks tend to have more caffeine from artificial or isolated caffeine sources.
- Black Tea (8 oz): 25 - 48 mg
- Green Tea (8 oz): 25 - 29 mg
- Diet Coke (12 oz can): 46 mg
- Red Bull (8.4 oz can): 80 mg
- 5-Hour Energy (1.9 oz shot): 200 mg
Caffeine Content Summed Up
So let’s answer the question, how much caffeine is in coffee? We’ve provided some easy numbers to remember.
- An average 8 oz cup has about 100 mg
- A standard coffeeshop cup (12 oz) can average 150 mg
- A large takeaway cup (16 oz) averages 200 mg or more
If you are monitoring your caffeine intake, always consider the size of your cup first, followed by the type of coffee you're drinking. The FDA cites 400 mg per day as a safe amount for most healthy adults, which is roughly 4-5 standard 8 oz cups of brewed coffee.