Caffeine in Drinks

Coffee (brewed)

Coffee
Caffeine
163 mg
per 8 fl oz
VERY HIGH
This coffee contains very high levels of caffeine. How much should you drink? Calculate now →
Energy
0
Calories
Sugar
0
grams

The caffeine level in coffee can vary due to the brewing method used. This listing is referring to coffee made using Arabica coffee beans. For coffee made using Robusta beans, see here

Brewed coffee refers to any method of coffee preparation where hot water comes in contact with coffee grounds for an extended period of time.

Generally, for brewed coffee, two tablespoons of ground coffee is used per 6 fluid ounces of water. 

Coffee Brewing Techniques

There are a number of techniques in brewing coffee: concentrate brewing, Turkish or Greek, vacuum brewing, percolating, or the French press (also called press pot or plunger coffee) and drip or filter coffee.

Brewed Coffee Quality

Arabica coffee beans can vary greatly in quality and in general, the lower the price, the poorer the quality of the bean. I recently toured the Cafe Don Emilio coffee farm close to Uvita, Costa Rica. The growers did a great job of taking us through the coffee growing process from start to finish and showed all the work that's involved to produce quality coffee beans that are picked by hand and processed the right way. 

Many cheap coffee brands buy low-quality beans or those that haven't been fermented with the fruit still covering the bean. These brands cover this up by over roasting or adding flavorings. Always try to choose high-quality coffee for the best flavor and antioxidants. 

Coffee Caffeine by Brewing Methods

Like all coffee drinks, caffeine levels vary greatly - due to variations in the coffee blend, the exact amount of ground coffee used, and brewing technique.

Brewed Coffee Type Caffeine per 8 fl. oz.
Drip or Filter 115-175mg with an average of 145mg
French press or plunger 80-135mg with an average of 107.5mg
Percolated 64-272mg with an average of 200mg
Boiled (Turkish or Greek) 160-240mg with an average of 200mg

The value of caffeine in brewed coffee featured above is an average, with values generally between 64 and 272 milligrams per cup.

Because brewed coffee requires that the water is in contact with the coffee grinds for a long time, this leads to a higher caffeine concentration (and sometimes an over-extracted taste).

Drip Coffee (Filter Coffee) is the Most Popular

Drip coffee or filter coffee is perhaps the most popular form of brewed coffee, at least in the USA. This is the method used by Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, McCafe as well as countless other restaurants.

Even K-cups are a type of drip brewed coffee.

What About Espresso Coffee?

Contrary to popular opinion, espresso coffee does not contain more caffeine than brewed coffee. With espresso, the ground coffee is in contact with the hot water for a very short period of time (an "express" coffee). So unlike brewed coffee there is less caffeine arising from the extraction.

See more about caffeine in espresso coffee.

Instant Coffee?

Instant coffee is made from brewing the coffee (as part of the manufacturing process), then dehydrating (usually by freeze-drying) the coffee to create water-soluble granules.

The amount of caffeine in your instant coffee is governed by the number of teaspoons of the granules you mix into hot water. For most people this amount is usually much less than a brewed coffee.

See more about caffeine in Instant coffee or compare the popularity and taste of different instant coffee blends.

Iced Coffee

Iced coffee from popular coffee outlets can be made from either brewed or espresso coffee. There is a perception that Iced Coffee has less coffee than normal coffee - this is not correct.  They are every bit as caffeinated as their hot counterparts.

See more about caffeine in Iced coffee.

Calories

Black coffee is typically a zero calorie drink. It's the milk and sugar that add all the calories.

Caffeine Content of Coffee Brands

Drill down into comprehensive caffeine amounts for each coffee outlet.

Where to buy

Maxwell House The Original Roast Medium Roast Ground Coffee (30.6 oz Canister)
Amazon.com price $7.99 ($0.26 / Ounce)
(as of 16:37 EST More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Dunkin' Original Blend Medium Roast Ground Coffee, 30 Ounce
Amazon.com price $17.97 ($0.60 / Ounce)
(as of 16:37 EST More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
McCafe Premium Roast, Medium Roast Ground Coffee, 30 oz Canister
Amazon.com price $12.98 ($0.43 / Ounce)
(as of 16:37 EST More InfoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Ingredients in Coffee

Water And 100% Arabica Coffee Beans

Is Coffee (brewed) high in caffeine?

Coffee (brewed) contains 163 mg of caffeine in a 8 fl oz cup.

This equates to 20.38 mg of caffeine for every fl oz and 68.90 mg for every 100 ml.

163 mg
Coffee
160 mg
Monster energy
80 mg
Red bull
60 mg
Instant Coffee
35 mg
Coca-cola

Sources

Refer to relevant sources here See other references.

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