Death Wish canned cold brew vs espresso: which has more caffeine?

Death Wish canned cold brew carries more total caffeine per serving (300mg per 8 oz can vs 63mg per 1 oz shot), but ounce for ounce espresso is actually the stronger drink at about 63mg per fluid ounce against 38. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

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.

Death Wish canned cold brew vs espresso: the numbers

Sources: Death Wish canned cold brew's figure is verified in our Death Wish canned cold brew caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); espresso's figure is verified in our espresso guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick espresso when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Death Wish canned cold brew 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

• Death Wish canned cold brew: the full caffeine guide
• espresso: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Death Wish canned cold brew or espresso have more caffeine? Death Wish canned cold brew: 300mg per 8 oz can versus 63mg per 1 oz shot for espresso.

Which is stronger per ounce? espresso, at about 63.0mg per fluid ounce versus 37.5mg for Death Wish canned cold brew.