Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Dunkin Refresher (medium) vs brewed coffee: which has more caffeine?

Dunkin Refresher (medium) carries more total caffeine per serving (99mg per 24 oz medium vs 95mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce brewed coffee is actually the stronger drink at about 12mg per fluid ounce against 4. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

Dunkin Refresher (medium) vs brewed coffee: the numbers

Dunkin Refresher (medium) brewed coffee
Caffeine per serving 99mg per 24 oz medium 95mg per 8 oz cup
Caffeine per fl oz 4.1mg 11.9mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 4.0 4.2

Sources: Dunkin Refresher (medium)'s figure is verified in our Dunkin Refresher (medium) caffeine guide against Tasting Table / Dunkin figures (source); brewed coffee's figure is verified in our brewed coffee guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Dunkin Refresher (medium) 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 Dunkin Refresher (medium) or brewed coffee have more caffeine? Dunkin Refresher (medium): 99mg per 24 oz medium versus 95mg per 8 oz cup for brewed coffee.

Which is stronger per ounce? brewed coffee, at about 11.9mg per fluid ounce versus 4.1mg for Dunkin Refresher (medium).

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