How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee?

For most of my adult life, I’ve had a cup of coffee in the morning. While it may seem I’m a creature of consistency, I frequently change up how I take my coffee. I had a drip coffee phase (with lots of cream and sugar) and a latte phase (most often iced). In the summer, I sometimes grab a cup of cold brew (bonus points if it’s topped with frothy cold foam in a fun flavor).

While my tastes change, so does the amount of caffeine I’m consuming. That means sometimes I’m OK for a second helping, but other times I’m so wired I need to cut myself off.

I spent my early twenties working in a coffee shop, so I feel like I have a general idea of how much caffeine is in different drinks. But when I researched this issue I was surprised to discover how much caffeine is actually in my daily brew, and maybe you will be, too.

How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Coffee? 

A few factors affect exactly how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee. First, you’ll need to consider the size. The average eight-ounce cup of drip coffee — that’s a small mug — contains about 95 mg of caffeine. For comparison, eight ounces of a typical energy drink contains about 85 mg of caffeine, but most energy drinks come in larger cans that contain two servings (so it’s like drinking two cups of coffee). Obviously, the bigger the coffee, the more caffeine. A venti drip coffee from Starbucks is 20 ounces and contains 410 mg of caffeine, which is like drinking two energy drinks.

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The Brewing Method Matters

How the coffee’s brewed also affects the caffeine content. French press, for example, usually results in the most caffeinated coffee because of how the grounds are pressed and how long they steep in hot water. The average cup of French press coffee contains 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, so just a hair more than drip. A cup of Aeropress-brewed coffee, which is similar to a French press but doesn’t steep as long, contains 50 to 70 mg of caffeine. 

Espresso, maybe surprisingly, is a tamer option than most other brew methods. One ounce of espresso, the amount of one typical shot, contains 63 mg of caffeine. But many drinks contain two or more shots of espresso, which results in drinks more potent than a cup of drip coffee. So many variables!

How Much Caffeine Can You Safely Consume Each Day? 

According to the Food and Drug Administration, most healthy adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day without negative health effects, but everybody’s different. So before you reach for that second (or fourth) cup, check in with your body and see if you’re feeling on edge or jittery.   

If you want less caffeine, you can always opt for half caf or decaf after your first cup. But it’s worth noting that even a cup of decaf coffee contains a small amount — about 4 mg — of caffeine. An alternative to consider if you’re all caffeinated out: A cup of herbal tea accomplishes the same warm, cozy vibes as a cup of coffee, but without any of the buzz!