Cafe Bustelo (brewed) has more caffeine than McDonald's brewed coffee on both counts: 150mg per 12 oz cup against 145mg per 16 oz medium, and about 12mg per fluid ounce against 9. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
Cafe Bustelo (brewed) vs McDonald's brewed coffee: the numbers
| Cafe Bustelo (brewed) | McDonald's brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 150mg per 12 oz cup | 145mg per 16 oz medium |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 12.5mg | 9.1mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.7 | 2.8 |
Sources: Cafe Bustelo (brewed)'s figure is verified in our Cafe Bustelo (brewed) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); McDonald's brewed coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's brewed coffee guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick McDonald's brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Cafe Bustelo (brewed) 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
- Cafe Bustelo (brewed): the full caffeine guide
- McDonald's brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Cafe Bustelo (brewed) or McDonald's brewed coffee have more caffeine? Cafe Bustelo (brewed): 150mg per 12 oz cup versus 145mg per 16 oz medium for McDonald's brewed coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Cafe Bustelo (brewed), at about 12.5mg per fluid ounce versus 9.1mg for McDonald's brewed coffee.
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