Caffeine by Drink and Method
Typical amounts by drink, given as ranges because that is what the evidence supports. A single espresso has less caffeine than a mug of drip coffee, which surprises almost everyone.
Every figure below is a range. Anyone quoting an exact milligram for a cup of coffee is guessing, because the number moves with the bean species, the dose, the grind, the brew time and the size of the cup.
The ranges come from the USDA's food composition database and published measurements. Where a drink varies enormously, such as cold brew, the range is wide and says so.
By drink
| Drink | Serving | Typical caffeine | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso, single | 30 ml, 1 oz | 63 mg | 50 to 75 mg |
| Espresso, double | 60 ml, 2 oz | 125 mg | 100 to 150 mg |
| Ristretto, single | 20 ml | 55 mg | 45 to 65 mg |
| Drip or filter coffee | 240 ml, 8 oz | 95 mg | 70 to 140 mg |
| Drip, large mug | 350 ml, 12 oz | 140 mg | 100 to 200 mg |
| French press | 240 ml, 8 oz | 107 mg | 80 to 135 mg |
| Cold brew, ready to drink | 240 ml, 8 oz | 150 mg | 100 to 200 mg |
| Cold brew concentrate, undiluted | 60 ml, 2 oz | 150 mg | 100 to 250 mg |
| Instant coffee | 240 ml, 8 oz | 62 mg | 30 to 90 mg |
| Latte or cappuccino, one shot | 240 ml | 63 mg | 50 to 75 mg |
| Latte, two shots | 350 ml | 125 mg | 100 to 150 mg |
| Americano, two shots | 350 ml | 125 mg | 100 to 150 mg |
| Turkish coffee | 60 ml | 55 mg | 40 to 70 mg |
| Vietnamese phin with robusta | 100 ml | 180 mg | 140 to 220 mg |
| Decaf, brewed | 240 ml, 8 oz | 3 mg | 2 to 7 mg |
| Decaf espresso, single | 30 ml | 4 mg | 2 to 8 mg |
Decaf is not caffeine free. The standard allows a small residue, which is worth knowing if you are avoiding caffeine for medical reasons.
Why a shot has less than a mug
Espresso is far more concentrated than filter coffee, and people reasonably assume that means more caffeine. Per millilitre it does, by a long way. But a single shot is 30 ml and a mug of drip is 240 to 350 ml, so the mug wins on the total.
A single espresso carries roughly 63 mg. A large drip coffee carries closer to 140 mg. If you are drinking espresso to stay awake, the drink to order is the larger one, not the stronger-tasting one.
The same logic applies to cold brew, in the other direction. It is brewed at a much higher dose than filter coffee and served in a tall glass, which is why a single cold brew can carry more caffeine than two espressos.
What actually changes the number
Species, most of all. Robusta carries roughly twice the caffeine of arabica, about 2.2 percent against 1.2 percent by weight. A Vietnamese phin coffee made with robusta is one of the strongest everyday drinks in the world, and that is the species rather than the method.
The dose. More coffee per cup means more caffeine, linearly. This is the lever that matters most day to day.
Contact time. Caffeine is water soluble and comes out steadily, so a long immersion extracts more of it. That is a real part of why cold brew is high, alongside the heavy dose.
Roast level, barely. Dark roasts lose a tiny amount of caffeine, far less than people claim. Measured by weight the difference is small enough to ignore. Measured by scoop, dark roast beans are less dense, so a scoop holds fewer of them and therefore slightly less caffeine. That is a measuring artefact, not chemistry.
Grind size, indirectly. A finer grind extracts faster, so for a fixed brew time you get somewhat more.
How much is too much
The US Food and Drug Administration cites 400 mg a day, about four or five mugs of filter coffee, as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for healthy adults. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests staying under 200 mg a day during pregnancy.
These are population guidelines, not personal ones. Sensitivity varies a great deal between people, largely through differences in how quickly the liver clears caffeine. If coffee keeps you awake, makes your heart race or makes you anxious, that is worth taking seriously regardless of what a chart says.
This page is a reference, not medical advice. Anyone managing a heart condition, taking medication that interacts with caffeine, or pregnant should ask a doctor rather than a coffee site.
Questions
Does dark roast have less caffeine?
By weight, very slightly less, far less than the common claim. The confusion comes from measuring by scoop: dark roast beans are less dense, so a scoop holds fewer beans. Weigh the coffee and the difference nearly disappears.
Is cold brew stronger than hot coffee?
Usually yes, and by a lot. It is brewed at a heavier dose over a much longer time. A ready-to-drink cold brew often carries 150 mg or more per 8 oz against about 95 mg for drip.
How much caffeine is in decaf?
A small amount, typically 2 to 7 mg per cup against about 95 mg for regular. Decaffeination removes most but not all of it, so several cups add up to a measurable dose.
Does espresso have more caffeine than drip coffee?
Per millilitre, far more. Per serving, less, because a shot is 30 ml and a mug is 240 ml or more. A large drip coffee has roughly twice the caffeine of a single espresso.
How long does caffeine last?
The half-life in a healthy adult is commonly cited as around five hours, meaning half is still in your system at that point. It varies widely between people. A coffee at four in the afternoon is still working at bedtime for most of us.
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central Composition figures for brewed and instant coffee.
- US Food and Drug Administration, Spilling the Beans The 400 mg a day figure for healthy adults.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Guidance on caffeine during pregnancy.