Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Coca-Cola Classic vs Peace Tea: which has more caffeine?

Coca-Cola Classic has more caffeine than Peace Tea on both counts: 34mg per 12 oz can against 23mg per 23 oz can, and about 3mg per fluid ounce against 1. 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.

Coca-Cola Classic vs Peace Tea: the numbers

Coca-Cola Classic Peace Tea
Caffeine per serving 34mg per 12 oz can 23mg per 23 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 2.8mg 1.0mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 11.8 17.4

Sources: Coca-Cola Classic's figure is verified in our Coca-Cola Classic caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Peace Tea's figure is verified in our Peace Tea guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Peace Tea when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Coca-Cola Classic 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 Coca-Cola Classic or Peace Tea have more caffeine? Coca-Cola Classic: 34mg per 12 oz can versus 23mg per 23 oz can for Peace Tea.

Which is stronger per ounce? Coca-Cola Classic, at about 2.8mg per fluid ounce versus 1.0mg for Peace Tea.

Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.

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