Coffee vs. Espresso: Which Has More Caffeine?
People drink coffee for different reasons, but most of us are interested in a quick energy boost provided by caffeine. Finding the right balance is the key to successful caffeine intake. If you’ve ever felt your heart racing or your hands shaking after drinking your third latte or refilling a batch of homemade blended beverages, you understand the negative effects of excess.
Does a shot of espresso or a simple cup of brewed coffee have more caffeine? Here are some tips for decoding caffeine levels, which could mean the difference between increased focus at the end of your workday or staying in bed until the early hours.
Espresso contains more caffeine despite its small size
An espresso may be small, but if you compare it to us, it contains more caffeine than filter coffee.
The simple answer is that espresso contains more caffeine per ounce than a standard drip coffee. The difference between filter coffee And espresso beans depends on how they are brewed. Espresso beans are brewed using intense pressure to extract a few ounces of concentrated coffee. Filter coffee is created by flowing hot water through ground beans at the speed of gravity. The slower brewing process results in a more diluted beverage, but one that is often consumed in larger quantities.
On average, an espresso contains about 63 milligrams of caffeine per 30 ml. Starbucks serves 75 milligrams of caffeine in every 2 ml espresso shot. Dunkin Donuts claims a solid 118 milligrams per shot. For comparison, filter coffee contains about 12 to 16 milligrams of caffeine per ounce.
How much caffeine is in your morning cup is more complex. When was the last time you had a thimble-sized cup of coffee?
Caffeine content depends on the volume and style of the bean
Arabica coffee contains about half the amount of caffeine of robusta.
The actual amount of caffeine in an espresso or filter coffee varies depending on the type of bean used. The majority of coffee sold and consumed worldwide is arabica coffee, regardless of roast or style, and is said to contain half the amount of caffeine of the stronger robusta coffee bean. Most brands use arabica or a mix of the two to get that extra energy kick.
It’s also common for lattes and cappuccinos to contain two shots of espresso in a 12-ounce drink. You can expect to get about 126 to 150 milligrams of caffeine if you drink a double shot. Starbucks is an exception, as two shots of espresso are reserved for 16-ounce Grande and 20-ounce Venti-size drinks unless you specify otherwise.
A 280 ml filter coffee contains 180 to 240 milligrams of caffeine at most supermarkets.
Espresso is known for delivering an almost instant jolt, but the amount of caffeine in drip coffee easily overpowers espresso in a single serving. A 10-ounce small coffee at Dunkin Donuts jumps to 180 milligrams of caffeine. A hearty 12-ounce cup of Starbucks Pike Place roast offers 235 milligrams. Based on how much coffee is served by volume, a cup of coffee contains far more caffeine than a few shots of espresso in a latte or cappuccino.
Comparing caffeine in filter coffee and espresso is not an exact science, but you should always take the amount into account to limit or maximize the amount of caffeine you ingest.
