brewed black tea vs SToK Extra Bold cold brew: which has more caffeine?

SToK Extra Bold cold brew has more caffeine than brewed black tea on both counts: 170mg per 12 oz serving against 47mg per 8 oz cup, and about 14mg 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 SToK Extra Bold cold brew: the numbers

Sources: brewed black tea's figure is verified in our brewed black tea caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); SToK Extra Bold cold brew's figure is verified in our SToK Extra Bold cold brew guide against SToK FAQ (source).

Which one should you pick?

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

FAQ

Does brewed black tea or SToK Extra Bold cold brew have more caffeine? SToK Extra Bold cold brew: 170mg per 12 oz serving versus 47mg per 8 oz cup for brewed black tea.

Which is stronger per ounce? SToK Extra Bold cold brew, at about 14.2mg per fluid ounce versus 5.9mg for brewed black tea.