brewed coffee has more caffeine than Sprite on both counts: 95mg per 8 oz cup against 0mg per 12 oz can, and about 12mg per fluid ounce against 0. 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 Sprite: the numbers
| brewed coffee | Sprite | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 95mg per 8 oz cup | 0mg per 12 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 11.9mg | 0.0mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.2 | n/a (caffeine-free) |
Sources: brewed coffee's figure is verified in our brewed coffee caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); Sprite's figure is verified in our Sprite guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: brewed coffee packs roughly 1188 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 8 oz cup finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Sprite 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
- Sprite: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
FAQ
Does brewed coffee or Sprite have more caffeine? brewed coffee: 95mg per 8 oz cup versus 0mg per 12 oz can for Sprite.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed coffee, at about 11.9mg per fluid ounce versus 0.0mg for Sprite.
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.