Dunkin Shot in the Dark vs brewed coffee: which has more caffeine?

Dunkin Shot in the Dark has more caffeine than brewed coffee on both counts: 134mg per 8.1 oz can against 95mg per 8 oz cup, and about 17mg per fluid ounce against 12. 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 Shot in the Dark vs brewed coffee: the numbers

Sources: Dunkin Shot in the Dark's figure is verified in our Dunkin Shot in the Dark caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (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 Shot in the Dark 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

• Dunkin Shot in the Dark: the full caffeine guide
• brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Dunkin Shot in the Dark or brewed coffee have more caffeine? Dunkin Shot in the Dark: 134mg per 8.1 oz can versus 95mg per 8 oz cup for brewed coffee.

Which is stronger per ounce? Dunkin Shot in the Dark, at about 16.5mg per fluid ounce versus 11.9mg for brewed coffee.