How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee?
Whether you drink Starbucks or brew coffee at home, we can help you get more bang for your buck. Find out how much caffeine is in your favorite coffee.
The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee depends on a few factors, including grind size, water temperature, time, and brewing style, according to Megan Meyer, PhD, the Director of Science Communication at the International Food Information Council Foundation. So does the type of coffee beans and roasting technique, adds Malina Malkani, MS, RD, CDN, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Lighter “blonde” roasts contain more caffeine than darker roasts—but darker roasts have a stronger flavor. Since there are so many things that impact the amount of caffeine coffee has, the numbers below are an average estimate, according to Meyer and Malkani.
Here’s how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee:
| Brewed coffee: | 70-200mg (95mg on average) |
| Decaf coffee: | 2-4mg (3mg on average) |
| Espresso: | 47-75mg (63mg on average) |
| Instant: | 65-80mg |
| Single-shot latte: | 47-75mg |
| Keurig cup: | 75-150mg |
| French press | 80-135mg |
| Drip coffee: | 165mg |
| Pour-over: | 175mg |
| Cold brew: | 155mg |
How much caffeine is safe per day?
It doesn’t matter if you prefer making coffee at home or buying it at Starbucks, Dunkin’, McDonald’s, or another chain coffee brand—having too much caffeine has some side effects. Although coffee is high in antioxidants that promote good health, too much caffeine can disturb sleep, increase anxiety, or cause heart palpitations, according to Malkani. Caffeine sensitivity varies, but moderate caffeine consumption is in the range of 300 to 400 milligrams per day—about three to four eight-ounce cups of home-brewed coffee per day—according to Meyer. The FDA has cited that 400 milligrams a day is considered safe and is “not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects.”
Credit: Readers Digest