Espresso Monster vs Red Bull: which has more caffeine?

Espresso Monster has more caffeine than Red Bull: 160mg vs 80mg in the same 8.4 oz can. That is a 80mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

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.

Espresso Monster vs Red Bull: the numbers

Sources: Espresso Monster's figure is verified in our Espresso Monster caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Red Bull's figure is verified in our Red Bull guide against Red Bull label / Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Red Bull when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Espresso Monster 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

• Espresso Monster: the full caffeine guide
• Red Bull: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Espresso Monster or Red Bull have more caffeine? Espresso Monster: 160mg per 8.4 oz can versus 80mg per 8.4 oz can for Red Bull.

Which is stronger per ounce? Espresso Monster, at about 19.0mg per fluid ounce versus 9.5mg for Red Bull.