Does milk chocolate have caffeine?

As an Amazon Associate, Barista Life earns from qualifying purchases.

Yes, milk chocolate has caffeine, but not much: about 5.7mg per 1 oz (28.35g) bar, based on the USDA figure of 20mg per 100g (USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 167587). That is a quarter of the caffeine in the same weight of dark chocolate and about one seventeenth of an 8 oz cup of brewed coffee. You would need roughly 70.2 bars to reach the 400mg daily amount the FDA cites.

Milk chocolate next to its relatives

Where the caffeine comes from

All chocolate caffeine comes from cocoa solids, and milk chocolate simply contains fewer of them. Milk, sugar, and cocoa butter make up most of the bar, which is why the USDA number lands at 20mg per 100g against 80mg for 70 to 85% cacao dark chocolate. The creamier the bar, the lower the dose.

A useful anchor: a standard 1.55 oz candy bar carries under 9mg, which is less caffeine than a single sip of most coffees. Parents asking whether a chocolate bar will wire a kid are really asking about the sugar.

Where to find it

Check milk chocolate prices on Amazon

Compare it

• Dark chocolate vs milk chocolate: the caffeine numbers
• Milk chocolate vs chocolate milk: the caffeine numbers
• Milk chocolate vs black tea: the caffeine numbers
• The full chocolate caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database

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.

FAQ

Does milk chocolate have caffeine? Yes, about 5.7mg per 1 oz bar, from the USDA figure of 20mg per 100g. That is a quarter of dark chocolate at the same weight.

Can milk chocolate keep you awake? Unlikely at normal amounts. A standard candy bar carries under 9mg of caffeine, a small fraction of the 95mg in an 8 oz cup of brewed coffee.

Which chocolate has the most caffeine? Unsweetened cocoa powder at 230mg per 100g, then dark chocolate at 80mg, then milk chocolate at 20mg, per USDA FoodData Central.

Sources: the milk chocolate figure (20mg per 100g, 5.7mg per 1 oz bar) is USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 167587 (source); dark chocolate (80mg per 100g) is SR Legacy 170273 and chocolate milk (2.5mg per 8 oz glass) is corroborated by SR Legacy 170879. The brewed coffee reference (95mg per 8 oz) is from USDA FoodData Central.