Cold Brew Caffeine: How Much Caffeine is in Your Cold Brew?
A 240 ml serving of cold brew contains 200 mg of caffeine (dataset value).
- 240 ml cold brew = 200 mg caffeine (83.3 mg/100 ml).
- Nitro cold brew (240 ml) = 215 mg; slightly more concentrated (89.6 mg/100 ml).
- Starbucks Cold Brew (Grande, 473 ml) = 205 mg; larger volume with lower mg/100 ml than a 240 ml concentrate.
- FDA daily guidance: healthy adults ≈ 400 mg/day; pregnancy guidance ≈ 200 mg/day.
Cold brew caffeine basics: what the 200 mg number means
The dataset lists a standard cold brew at 240 ml containing 200 mg of caffeine (83.3 mg per 100 ml). That figure represents many steeped cold-brew concentrates as sold in cafes or calculated from cold-steep methods—not every bottle or shop recipe. Nitro cold brew at the same volume is listed at 215 mg (89.6 mg/100 ml).
Ready-to-drink chain examples in the dataset include Starbucks Cold Brew (Grande, 473 ml) at 205 mg and Dunkin' Cold Brew (Medium, 710 ml) at 260 mg — larger servings but lower concentration per 100 ml than the 240 ml concentrate value.
Caffeine comparison: cold brew versus other coffee and energy drinks
Below is a compact comparison using the dataset values so you can see where cold brew sits relative to common coffees and energy drinks.
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine (mg) | mg/100 ml |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold brew | 240 ml | 200 mg | 83.3 mg/100 ml |
| Nitro cold brew | 240 ml | 215 mg | 89.6 mg/100 ml |
| Starbucks Cold Brew (Grande) | 473 ml | 205 mg | 43.4 mg/100 ml |
| Dunkin' Cold Brew (Medium) | 710 ml | 260 mg | 36.6 mg/100 ml |
| Drip coffee | 240 ml | 96 mg | 40 mg/100 ml |
| Pour over | 240 ml | 145 mg | 60.4 mg/100 ml |
| Espresso (double) | 60 ml | 126 mg | 210 mg/100 ml |
| Red Bull (250 ml) | 250 ml | 80 mg | 32 mg/100 ml |
Stok cold brew: what the data tells us and what it doesn't
The dataset does not include a specific Stok product or its label values. Bottle recipes vary by brand and size. Use the dataset concentrations as anchors: a café-style concentrate is ~83 mg/100 ml (240 ml = 200 mg) while branded ready-to-drink large cups can be much lower in mg/100 ml (Starbucks Grande Cold Brew ≈ 43.4 mg/100 ml).
If you want Stok Cold Brew caffeine exactly: read the nutrition label or contact the manufacturer. As a practical rule, many bottled cold brews fall somewhere between concentrated café cold brew and the chain examples shown above; expect a range rather than a single number and log the bottle into an app like CoffeeLog to track precisely.
Factors that raise or lower caffeine in cold brew
Cold brew caffeine concentration is not fixed: it depends on coffee-to-water ratio, grind size, steep time, bean origin and roast level, and post-steep dilution.
- Coffee-to-water ratio: higher coffee mass per water volume → more mg/100 ml.
- Steep time: most extraction happens in the first 12–18 hours for typical cold brews; longer steep can increase caffeine modestly.
- Roast: lighter roasts often yield slightly higher caffeine by bean mass than darker roasts.
- Dilution: many cafe cold brews are made as concentrate and diluted before serving; undiluted concentrate will show the higher dataset numbers.
How caffeine decays in your body (concrete math)
Use a population-average half-life of 5.7 hours: caffeine roughly halves every ~5.7 hours. The table below shows remaining caffeine after 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours for three dataset-based doses.
| Time after serving | Cold brew 200 mg | Nitro 215 mg | Dunkin' Cold Brew 260 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 h | 200 mg | 215 mg | 260 mg |
| 3 h (~69% remain) | ~138 mg | ~149 mg | ~179 mg |
| 6 h (~48% remain) | ~96 mg | ~103 mg | ~125 mg |
| 9 h (~33% remain) | ~66 mg | ~71 mg | ~86 mg |
| 12 h (~23% remain) | ~46 mg | ~49 mg | ~60 mg |
Example: after a 200 mg cold brew, roughly 96 mg remains at 6 hours and about 46 mg at 12 hours. Individual half-life varies with genetics, liver function, pregnancy and medications; see Mayo Clinic and FDA guidance for context.
Health, safety and timing
FDA guidance for healthy adults is about 400 mg/day; for pregnancy many bodies advise limiting to about 200 mg/day (citing public health guidance and EFSA reviews). The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages regular caffeine for adolescents. Exceeding 400 mg can increase heart rate, anxiety and insomnia risk; acute poisoning is rare but seek medical care for severe symptoms.
Timing: because cold brew often delivers 200+ mg in a single cup, consuming late afternoon can leave substantial caffeine in your system at bedtime. Use the decay table above to estimate residual caffeine near sleep.
Practical tips: measuring, brewing and tracking
- Check the bottle or shop menu for mg on the label; if absent, use dataset anchors (240 ml = 200 mg) as conservative estimates.
- To reduce caffeine, dilute concentrate, shorten steep time or use fewer coffee solids per water volume.
- Track servings and daily totals with an app like CoffeeLog so you stay under your personal limit; log chain sizes (Starbucks Grande 473 ml Cold Brew = 205 mg) rather than guessing.
Sources and authorities referenced: USDA FoodData Central values reflected in the dataset, FDA daily guidance, EFSA and Mayo Clinic counseling on caffeine and pregnancy, and American Academy of Pediatrics position on caffeine in youth.
This page is informational only and not medical advice; consult a healthcare professional for personal guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in a 240 ml cold brew?
The dataset lists 240 ml cold brew at 200 mg of caffeine (83.3 mg/100 ml). Use that number as a standard reference for cafe-style cold brew concentrates.
Is Stok cold brew high in caffeine?
Stok is not included in the dataset, so exact mg cannot be stated here. Many bottled cold brews fall between the dataset's concentrate (83.3 mg/100 ml) and ready-to-drink chain values; check the bottle label or manufacturer for Stok's exact mg.
Does nitro cold brew have more caffeine than regular cold brew?
The dataset shows nitro cold brew (240 ml) at 215 mg vs regular cold brew (240 ml) at 200 mg, so nitro can be slightly more concentrated but not always—recipe and dilution matter.
How long will cold brew keep me awake?
Using a 5.7-hour half-life, a 200 mg cold brew leaves ~96 mg after 6 hours and ~46 mg after 12 hours. Individual metabolism varies; avoid large late-afternoon servings if you’re sensitive to sleep disruption.
How much cold brew is safe per day?
FDA guidance for healthy adults is about 400 mg/day. A single 240 ml cold brew (200 mg) uses roughly half that allowance; pregnant people are often advised to limit to ~200 mg/day—consult your clinician.
How can I track cold brew caffeine accurately?
Read product labels or menu nutrition facts and log exact servings. Apps such as CoffeeLog let you save custom recipes and chain sizes (e.g., Starbucks Grande Cold Brew = 205 mg) to total daily intake automatically.