McDonald's brewed coffee carries more total caffeine per serving (145mg per 16 oz medium vs 112mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce Folgers brewed coffee is actually the stronger drink at about 14mg per fluid ounce against 9. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
Folgers brewed coffee vs McDonald's brewed coffee: the numbers
| Folgers brewed coffee | McDonald's brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 112mg per 8 oz cup | 145mg per 16 oz medium |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 14.0mg | 9.1mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 3.6 | 2.8 |
Sources: Folgers brewed coffee's figure is verified in our Folgers brewed coffee caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); McDonald's brewed coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's brewed coffee guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Folgers brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and McDonald's brewed coffee 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
- Folgers brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
- McDonald's brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Folgers brewed coffee or McDonald's brewed coffee have more caffeine? McDonald's brewed coffee: 145mg per 16 oz medium versus 112mg per 8 oz cup for Folgers brewed coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Folgers brewed coffee, at about 14.0mg per fluid ounce versus 9.1mg for McDonald's brewed coffee.
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