brewed coffee has more caffeine than Mello Yello on both counts: 95mg per 8 oz cup against 51mg per 12 oz can, and about 12mg per fluid ounce against 4. 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 coffee vs Mello Yello: the numbers
| brewed coffee | Mello Yello | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 95mg per 8 oz cup | 51mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 11.9mg | 4.2mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.2 | 7.8 |
Sources: brewed coffee's figure is verified in our brewed coffee caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); Mello Yello's figure is verified in our Mello Yello guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Mello Yello when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and brewed coffee 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 coffee: the full caffeine guide
- Mello Yello: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does brewed coffee or Mello Yello have more caffeine? brewed coffee: 95mg per 8 oz cup versus 51mg per 12 oz can for Mello Yello.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed coffee, at about 11.9mg per fluid ounce versus 4.2mg for Mello Yello.
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.