Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

C4 Smart Energy vs yerba mate: which has more caffeine?

C4 Smart Energy has more caffeine than yerba mate on both counts: 200mg per 16 oz can against 85mg per 8 oz cup, and about 12mg per fluid ounce against 11. 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.

C4 Smart Energy vs yerba mate: the numbers

C4 Smart Energy yerba mate
Caffeine per serving 200mg per 16 oz can 85mg per 8 oz cup
Caffeine per fl oz 12.5mg 10.6mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 2.0 4.7

Sources: C4 Smart Energy's figure is verified in our C4 Smart Energy caffeine guide against Cellucor / Caffeine Informer (source); yerba mate's figure is verified in our yerba mate guide against Caffeine Informer / compiled (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick yerba mate when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and C4 Smart Energy 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

FAQ

Does C4 Smart Energy or yerba mate have more caffeine? C4 Smart Energy: 200mg per 16 oz can versus 85mg per 8 oz cup for yerba mate.

Which is stronger per ounce? C4 Smart Energy, at about 12.5mg per fluid ounce versus 10.6mg for yerba mate.

Barista Life runs on coffee people. Browse the Barista Life shop to support the site.

Free download: the espresso dial-in cheat sheet baristas tape to the machine.

Get the PDF