How much caffeine are we consuming? 2025 Edition
New research highlights how caffeine plays a major role in Americans’ daily lives. 69% of the population (ages two and up) consumes at least one caffeinated beverage daily (source).
Key Takeaway
A lower overall proportion of the population consumes caffeinated beverages – but at higher intake levels.
Quick breakdown
- Average Daily Intake: 210 mg/day for caffeine consumers.
- Highest Consumers: Adults aged 50–64 years average 246 mg/day.
- Lowest Consumers: Children aged 2–5 years average 42 mg/day.
- Top Sources:
- Coffee: 69% of total caffeine intake.
- Carbonated soft drinks: 15.4%.
- Tea: 8.8%.
- Energy drinks: 6.3%.
- Heavy Consumers: The top 10% of caffeine drinkers consume 520 mg/day, exceeding the FDA’s recommended limit of 400 mg/day.
Caffeine consumption by age group
Children (2–12 years):
- Average intake is low, ranging from 42 mg/day (ages 2–5) to 70 mg/day (ages 6–12).
- Carbonated soft drinks are a key source of caffeine for children, contributing significantly to their intake.
Teenagers (13–17 years):
- Caffeine consumption jumps to 159 mg/day, primarily driven by coffee and energy drinks.
- Energy drinks contribute a notable 12% of caffeine intake among teens.
Young Adults (18–29 years):
- Average intake increases to 228 mg/day, with coffee as the dominant source.
- Energy drinks play a larger role in this age group than older adults.
Middle-Aged Adults (30–64 years):
- This group consumes the highest levels of caffeine, averaging 220–246 mg/day.
- Coffee is the clear favorite, accounting for the majority of caffeine intake.
Older Adults (65+ years):
- Caffeine intake decreases slightly to 198 mg/day, but coffee remains the primary contributor.
What are we drinking? Coffee is #1
When it comes to caffeine consumption in the U.S., coffee reigns supreme.
Coffee is the single largest contributor to caffeine intake, accounting for 69% of the total caffeine consumed across all age groups. This dominance is consistent across demographic lines, with coffee consumption steadily increasing as people age.
Here’s a quick breakdown of coffee’s role in caffeine habits:
Adults Drive the Numbers
The biggest amounts of coffee consumption is from those aged 18 and up. But even across the whole population — most caffeine is coming from coffee.
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Watching your caffeine intake? Get the latest brews and caffeine news.Teens Are Catching Up
While traditionally less associated with younger consumers, coffee has become increasingly popular among teens and young adults, especially with the rise of trendy drinks like cold brews and specialty lattes.
Ready-to-Drink Options on the Rise
The growing availability of bottled or canned coffee, like cold brews and nitro varieties, has made coffee even more accessible. These beverages have helped push coffee into new formats and demographics.
Are we still consuming energy drinks, tea and soda?
Energy Drinks: The Rising Star
- Energy drinks contribute 6.3% of total caffeine intake, but their impact is much more pronounced among younger age groups (aged 13-39).
- These drinks often pack a high caffeine punch, with some consumers in the top 10% exceeding 500 mg/day from energy drinks alone.
Tea: A Declining Yet Potent Contributor
- Tea contributes 8.8% of overall caffeine intake, but its popularity has declined compared to a decade ago.
- Interestingly, while fewer people drink tea, those who do consume higher amounts of caffeine per serving.
- Older adults and some younger drinkers still turn to tea for its lighter caffeine content and perceived health benefits.
Sodas: A Longstanding Favorite
- Carbonated soft drinks account for 15.4% of total caffeine intake, making them the second-largest contributor after coffee.
- Sodas are particularly popular among children and teens, contributing significantly to their overall caffeine intake. However, the proportion of soda drinkers has declined over the years, aligning with broader trends away from sugary drinks.
- Among soda drinkers, the caffeine intake per serving has slightly increased, likely due to a shift toward more caffeinated varieties.
Why adults aged 50–64 are leading the pack
Adults aged 50–64 years are the top caffeine consumers, averaging 246 mg/day, primarily from coffee. Here’s why this age group leads:
- Coffee dominates: Coffee is a daily staple for this group, providing the majority of their caffeine intake.
- Long-established habits: Decades of coffee drinking have solidified its role in their routines.
- Health-conscious choices: They prefer coffee and tea over sugary sodas or energy drinks, valuing their perceived health benefits.
This mix of tradition, practicality, and lifestyle needs makes adults aged 50–64 the leading caffeine consumers in the U.S.
What’s the deal with caffeine and children?
It’s a slightly troubling statistic, but children aged 2–5 consume an average of 42 mg/day, while those aged 6–12 average 70 mg/day.
Research from Switzerland shows how important sleep is for the developing brain. Caffeine can most certainly interfere with sleep.
- Main sources: Sodas are the primary caffeine source for younger children, with coffee beginning to play a role in older kids’ diets.
- Energy drinks: While rare among the youngest age group, energy drinks contribute to caffeine intake for some children aged 6–12.
Caffeine will always be with us
Caffeine is woven into the fabric of American life. From coffee dominating adult routines to the rising popularity of energy drinks among teens, caffeine consumption reflects shifting habits, preferences, and lifestyles across all age groups.
Adults aged 50–64 lead the charge, but the growing intake among younger demographics, including children, signals the need for closer attention to health guidelines and education.
The data clearly shows that caffeine isn’t going anywhere—it’s evolving alongside consumer tastes. As new beverage trends emerge and traditional favorites endure, monitoring caffeine’s impact remains critical.
The challenge lies in balancing innovation with health awareness, ensuring that everyone, from kids to adults, can enjoy their caffeine kick without overstepping safe limits.
References
- Mitchell, D. C., Trout, M., Smith, R., Teplansky, R., & Lieberman, H. R. (2025). An update on beverage consumption patterns and caffeine intakes in a representative sample of the US population. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 196, 115237. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2025.115237
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