Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Dunkin Refresher (medium) vs GURU Original: which has more caffeine?

GURU Original has more caffeine than Dunkin Refresher (medium) on both counts: 140mg per 12 oz can against 99mg per 24 oz medium, 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.

Dunkin Refresher (medium) vs GURU Original: the numbers

Dunkin Refresher (medium) GURU Original
Caffeine per serving 99mg per 24 oz medium 140mg per 12 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 4.1mg 11.7mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 4.0 2.9

Sources: Dunkin Refresher (medium)'s figure is verified in our Dunkin Refresher (medium) caffeine guide against Tasting Table / Dunkin figures (source); GURU Original's figure is verified in our GURU Original guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Dunkin Refresher (medium) when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and GURU Original 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 GURU Original have more caffeine? GURU Original: 140mg per 12 oz can versus 99mg per 24 oz medium for Dunkin Refresher (medium).

Which is stronger per ounce? GURU Original, at about 11.7mg per fluid ounce versus 4.1mg for Dunkin Refresher (medium).

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.

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