Aspire Energy vs Starbucks cold brew (grande): which has more caffeine?

Starbucks cold brew (grande) has more caffeine than Aspire Energy on both counts: 205mg per 16 oz grande against 80mg per 12 oz can, and about 13mg per fluid ounce against 7. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.

Aspire Energy vs Starbucks cold brew (grande): the numbers

Sources: Aspire Energy's figure is verified in our Aspire Energy caffeine guide against Aspire / Caffeine Informer (source); Starbucks cold brew (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks cold brew (grande) guide against Starbucks menu data (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Aspire Energy when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks cold brew (grande) when you actually need the bigger hit and know your tolerance. If you are stacking either with other caffeinated drinks through the day, run the math against the 400mg reference rather than guessing.

For context, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Tolerance and health vary, so treat these numbers as information, not advice.

Related reading

• Aspire Energy: the full caffeine guide
• Starbucks cold brew (grande): the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Aspire Energy or Starbucks cold brew (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks cold brew (grande): 205mg per 16 oz grande versus 80mg per 12 oz can for Aspire Energy.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks cold brew (grande), at about 12.8mg per fluid ounce versus 6.7mg for Aspire Energy.