brewed black tea vs espresso: which has more caffeine?

espresso has more caffeine than brewed black tea on both counts: 63mg per 1 oz shot against 47mg per 8 oz cup, and about 63mg per fluid ounce against 6. 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.

brewed black tea vs espresso: the numbers

Sources: brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); espresso's figure is verified in our espresso guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).

The concentration gap is the striking part: espresso packs roughly 11 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 1 oz shot finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.

Which one should you pick?

Pick brewed black tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and espresso 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
• espresso: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database

FAQ

Does brewed black tea or espresso have more caffeine? espresso: 63mg per 1 oz shot versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.

Which is stronger per ounce? espresso, at about 63.0mg per fluid ounce versus 5.9mg for brewed black tea.