Did you know coffee is the biggest source of caffeine? On average, there is around 95 mg of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee. However, this amount varies depending on the type of coffee drink. If you are keen to know how much caffeine is inside your cup of coffee, this detailed guide will clear all your confusions. So, let’s get started.
Facts that Affect Caffeine Content
Several factors can affect the caffeine content in the coffee drink, such as:
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Type of Coffee Beans
A wide variety of coffee beans exist all around the world, and each of these types may naturally contain different amounts of caffeine.
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Serving Size
The more the serving size, the more the caffeine content. A regular cup of coffee can have caffeine content anywhere around 1 to 24 oz.
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Roasting
You might already know that lighter roasts have more caffeine content than darker roasts. However, if you are a fan of a deeper coffee flavor, you will like darker roasts better.
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Type of Coffee
As already mentioned above, different types of coffee beans can have different amounts of caffeine. Similarly, the different types of coffee can also have varying amounts of caffeine. For example, espresso, instant coffee, regularly brewed coffee, and decaf coffee – the caffeine content in all these types vary due to their brewing method.
Finally, How Much Caffeine in a Cup of Coffee?
1. Espresso
Espresso is made by forcing hot water or steam through finely-ground coffee with a filter in between. Although there is more caffeine in a cup of espresso than the regular coffee, it usually contains less per serving. This is because the serving size of espresso tends to be smaller than that of regular coffee.
According to USDA, a 60-gram espresso serving contains 127 mg of caffeine.
2. Brewed Coffee
Brewing is one of the most common ways to make coffee in the United States and Europe. Brewed coffee, also known as regular coffee, is made by pouring hot or boiling water over ground coffee beans.
According to USDA, one cup of brewed coffee (240 grams) contains 98 mg of caffeine.
3. Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is made by brewed coffee that has been passed through the process of spray or freeze-drying. This type of coffee usually has large, dry pieces that can dissolve in water. As the name suggests, it can be made instantly – you don’t have to brew it. All you need to do is mix one or two tablespoons of instant coffee in hot water, and that’s pretty much it.
According to a study, instant coffee usually contains less caffeine than regular coffee (about 30 to 90 mg per cup).
4. Espresso-Based Drinks
Many popular coffees, such as Cappuccino, Americanos, lattes, and more, are made from espresso shots. Since milk doesn’t contain any caffeine, these drinks have the same amount of caffeine as espresso, which is 127 mg per serving of 60 grams.
5. Decaf Coffee
Although the name might say it doesn’t have any caffeine, it actually does (but in a very small amount). According to research, an average cup of decaf coffee contains 3 mg of caffeine. However, other varieties may include a higher amount of caffeine content, depending on the method of decaffeination, type of coffee, and cup size.
Caffeine Content in Coffees of Popular Commercial Brands
1. Starbucks
According to Starbucks, the caffeine content of in their brewed coffee is:
- Short (8 oz.): 180 mg
- Tall (12 oz.): 260 mg
- Grande (16 oz.): 330 mg
- Venti (20 oz.): 415 mg
2. McDonald’s
According to Caffeine Informer, the caffeine content in McDonald’s McCafe coffee is:
- Small (12 oz.): 109 mg
- Medium (16 oz.): 145 mg
- Large (21–24 oz.): 180 mg
3. Dunkin Donuts
According to Caffeine Informer, the caffeine content in their brewed coffee is:
- Small (10 oz.): 215 mg
- Medium (16 oz.): 302 mg
- Large (20 oz.): 431 mg
- Extra-large (24 oz.): 517 mg
