Coffee Caffeine Content by Drink Calculator
Calculate caffeine content by coffee drink type and size.
Compare espresso, drip, cold brew, and specialty drinks in mg per serving and per body weight.
Caffeine Content by Coffee Drink
Caffeine varies dramatically by drink — much more than most people realize. A single shot of espresso has less caffeine than a tall drip coffee, despite tasting “stronger”.
Caffeine per fluid ounce (typical):
| Drink | mg per fl oz |
|---|---|
| Espresso | ~63 mg per 1 oz shot |
| Drip / pour over | ~12-16 mg per fl oz |
| French press | ~10-15 mg per fl oz |
| Cold brew (RTD) | ~12-18 mg per fl oz |
| Cold brew concentrate | ~50-100 mg per fl oz |
| Decaf coffee | ~0.5-1.5 mg per fl oz |
| Instant coffee | ~7-13 mg per fl oz |
Standard drink sizes:
| Drink | Volume | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Single espresso | 1 oz | ~63 mg |
| Double espresso | 2 oz | ~125 mg |
| Tall drip (12 oz) | 12 oz | ~150-180 mg |
| Grande drip (16 oz) | 16 oz | ~200-240 mg |
| Venti drip (20 oz) | 20 oz | ~250-300 mg |
| Latte (12 oz, 2 shots) | 12 oz | ~125 mg |
| Cappuccino (8 oz, 2 shots) | 8 oz | ~125 mg |
| Cold brew tall (12 oz) | 12 oz | ~150-200 mg |
| Frappuccino (16 oz) | 16 oz | ~95-100 mg (varies) |
| Decaf grande | 16 oz | ~25 mg |
FDA safe caffeine intake:
- Healthy adults: up to 400 mg/day
- Pregnant: under 200 mg/day
- Children/adolescents: avoid or under 100 mg/day
- Sensitive individuals: 100-200 mg/day max
Half-life and metabolism: Caffeine half-life is 5-6 hours for healthy adults. Drinking 200 mg at noon means 100 mg still in your system at 6 PM. Avoid caffeine within 6-8 hours of bedtime for unimpaired sleep.
Caffeine per body weight: Tolerance varies by genetics (CYP1A2 enzyme variants). Rule of thumb:
- Standard tolerance: 5-6 mg/kg/day OK
- Sensitive: 2-3 mg/kg/day max
- Tolerance builds over weeks; resets in 5-7 days off
Roast level myth: Dark roasts have slightly less caffeine by weight than lights — but volumetrically about the same after grinding. The difference is minor (~5-10%).
Decaf isn’t zero: US “decaf” still legally contains up to 0.1% caffeine — typically 5-15 mg per cup. Sensitive sleepers should test their tolerance.