brewed coffee has more caffeine than brewed black tea: 95mg vs 47mg in the same 8 oz cup. That is a 48mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
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.
brewed black tea vs brewed coffee: the numbers
| brewed black tea | brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 47mg per 8 oz cup | 95mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 5.9mg | 11.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 8.5 | 4.2 |
Sources: brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); brewed coffee's figure is verified in our brewed coffee guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick brewed black tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and brewed coffee 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
- brewed black tea: the full caffeine guide
- brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
FAQ
Does brewed black tea or brewed coffee have more caffeine? brewed coffee: 95mg per 8 oz cup versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed coffee, at about 11.9mg per fluid ounce versus 5.9mg for brewed black tea.
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