Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

espresso vs RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black): which has more caffeine?

RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black) carries more total caffeine per serving (180mg per 7 oz can vs 63mg per 1 oz shot), but ounce for ounce espresso is actually the stronger drink at about 63mg per fluid ounce against 26. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

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 vs RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black): the numbers

espresso RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black)
Caffeine per serving 63mg per 1 oz shot 180mg per 7 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 63.0mg 25.7mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 6.3 2.2

Sources: espresso's figure is verified in our espresso caffeine guide against USDA FoodData Central (source); RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black)'s figure is verified in our RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black) guide against RISE product page (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick espresso when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black) 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 espresso or RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black) have more caffeine? RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black): 180mg per 7 oz can versus 63mg per 1 oz shot for espresso.

Which is stronger per ounce? espresso, at about 63.0mg per fluid ounce versus 25.7mg for RISE Nitro Cold Brew (Original Black).

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.

Free download: the espresso dial-in cheat sheet baristas tape to the machine.

Get the PDF