Cafe Bustelo (brewed) vs Red Bull: which has more caffeine?

Cafe Bustelo (brewed) has more caffeine than Red Bull on both counts: 150mg per 12 oz cup against 80mg per 8.4 oz can, and about 12mg per fluid ounce against 10. 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.

Cafe Bustelo (brewed) vs Red Bull: the numbers

Sources: Cafe Bustelo (brewed)'s figure is verified in our Cafe Bustelo (brewed) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Red Bull's figure is verified in our Red Bull guide against Red Bull label / Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Red Bull 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
• Red Bull: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Cafe Bustelo (brewed) or Red Bull have more caffeine? Cafe Bustelo (brewed): 150mg per 12 oz cup versus 80mg per 8.4 oz can for Red Bull.

Which is stronger per ounce? Cafe Bustelo (brewed), at about 12.5mg per fluid ounce versus 9.5mg for Red Bull.