How Much Caffeine is in a Cup of Coffee?
A 240 ml cup of drip coffee contains 96 mg of caffeine.
- Drip coffee (240 ml) ≈ 96 mg.
- Cold brew (240 ml) ≈ 200 mg; nitro cold brew (240 ml) ≈ 215 mg.
- Single espresso (30 ml) = 63 mg; double espresso (60 ml) = 126 mg.
- Starbucks Pike Place (473 ml) = 310 mg3 mg.
Average caffeine content per common coffee servings
This table lists measured servings from standard menus and lab-sourced summaries; use it to compare typical single servings rather than concentration.
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso (single) | 30 ml | 63 mg |
| Espresso (double) | 60 ml | 126 mg |
| Ristretto | 20 ml | 63 mg |
| Americano | 240 ml | 126 mg |
| Latte | 240 ml | 68 mg |
| Latte (large, 2 shots) | 350 ml | 126 mg |
| Flat white | 160 ml | 130 mg |
| Cappuccino | 180 ml | 63 mg |
| Drip coffee | 240 ml | 96 mg |
| Pour over | 240 ml | 145 mg |
| French press | 240 ml | 107 mg |
| Cold brew | 240 ml | 200 mg |
| Nitro cold brew | 240 ml | 215 mg |
| Instant coffee | 240 ml | 62 mg |
| Decaf coffee | 240 ml | 3 mg |
| Turkish coffee | 60 ml | 50 mg |
| Starbucks Pike Place Brewed (Grande) | 473 ml | 310 mg |
Factors that change caffeine in your cup
Three primary variables determine the mg you actually consume: serving size, extraction (brew method and time), and bean/roast. Roast level has smaller effect than people expect: dark roasts taste stronger but often contain slightly less caffeine by volume than lighter roasts. Extraction and brew ratio matter most—pour over in this dataset (240 ml) yields 145 mg while drip (same volume) yields 96 mg.
Bean type, grind and brew time
Finer grind and longer contact time increase extraction, so French press and pour over can extract more caffeine per cup than faster methods. Cold brew’s long steep time explains its high 200 mg/240 ml value in the dataset; nitro cold brew is slightly higher at 215 mg/240 ml.
Serving size vs concentration
Always check both. A Starbucks Pike Place Grande (473 ml) has 310 mg because of large volume; a double espresso (60 ml) has 126 mg in a much smaller cup.
Drip vs espresso vs instant: concentration and practical effects
Espresso concentrates caffeine: single shot (30 ml) = 63 mg gives higher mg per ml than drip, but a standard 240 ml drip (96 mg) usually delivers more total mg per serving than a single shot. Instant coffee (240 ml) here is 62 mg, close to a single espresso in total mg but much lower concentration.
| Drink | Serving | mg / 100 ml (calculated or from dataset) |
|---|---|---|
| Drip coffee | 240 ml | 40 mg/100 ml |
| Pour over | 240 ml | 60.4 mg/100 ml |
| Cold brew | 240 ml | 83.3 mg/100 ml |
| Instant coffee | 240 ml | 25.8 mg/100 ml |
| Espresso (single) | 30 ml | 210 mg/100 ml (63 mg / 30 ml → scaled) |
How long caffeine stays in your system (decay math)
Caffeine’s average elimination half-life is about 5.7 hours. Population averages give these useful benchmarks: after 3 h ≈69% remains; 6 h ≈48%; 9 h ≈33%; 12 h ≈23%.
Concrete examples below use those percentages so you can predict approximate mg remaining from a known dose.
| Original dose (mg) | After 3 h (~69%) | After 6 h (~48%) | After 9 h (~33%) | After 12 h (~23%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double espresso (126 mg) | 87 mg | 60 mg | 42 mg | 29 mg |
| Drip (96 mg) | 66 mg | 46 mg | 32 mg | 22 mg |
| Cold brew (200 mg) | 138 mg | 96 mg | 66 mg | 46 mg |
| Starbucks Pike Place (310 mg) | 214 mg | 149 mg | 102 mg | 71 mg |
Example: from a 473 ml Monster (160 mg) ≈ 77 mg remains after 6 h and ≈ 37 mg after 12 h. Individual metabolism varies with genetics, liver function, age and medication.
Health context and safe limits
For healthy adults the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cites ~400 mg/day as a general upper bound; pregnant women are advised to limit caffeine to about 200 mg/day (FDA). The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages caffeine for adolescents. For specific risks (arrhythmia, anxiety, pregnancy), consult a clinician—this page is informational only.
Overdose and sensitive groups
High single doses (several hundred milligrams) can trigger palpitations, tremor, or severe anxiety in sensitive people; extremely high doses risk toxicity. If you suspect overdose, seek medical attention. Mayo Clinic and EFSA provide detailed risk summaries.
Practical tips to manage daily caffeine
- Compare mg not cup counts: 240 ml cold brew (200 mg) ≠ 240 ml latte (68 mg).
- Avoid caffeine within 6–8 hours of bedtime because roughly half can remain after 6 hours.
- Choose decaf (3 mg/240 ml) or smaller servings if you near daily limits; consider switching to tea for lower mg.
- Track intake with an app like CoffeeLog to sum mg across drinks and energy products.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?
A standard 240 ml cup of drip coffee in this dataset contains 96 mg of caffeine; other coffee types range from 3 mg (decaf 240 ml) to 215 mg (nitro cold brew 240 ml).
Is espresso stronger than drip coffee?
Espresso is more concentrated: a single 30 ml shot contains 63 mg. But a 240 ml drip coffee (96 mg) usually delivers more total caffeine per serving than one shot.
How long does caffeine stay in the body?
Average half-life is ~5.7 hours: roughly 69% remains after 3 h, 48% after 6 h, 33% after 9 h and 23% after 12 h. Individual metabolism varies.
What is a safe daily caffeine limit?
The FDA cites ~400 mg/day as a general upper bound for healthy adults; pregnant women are advised to limit to about 200 mg/day. Consult your clinician for personalized advice.
Does brewing method affect caffeine amount?
Yes. In the dataset a 240 ml pour over is 145 mg while a 240 ml drip is 96 mg; grind, contact time, and brew ratio drive extraction differences.
How can I track my daily caffeine?
Log drink types and serving sizes to sum mg; apps like CoffeeLog automate math and let you compare total daily intake against recommended limits.