Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) vs Red Bull: which has more caffeine?

Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) has more caffeine than Red Bull on both counts: 150mg per 15.5 oz can against 80mg per 8.4 oz can, and about 10mg per fluid ounce against 10. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) vs Red Bull: the numbers

Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) Red Bull
Caffeine per serving 150mg per 15.5 oz can 80mg per 8.4 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 9.7mg 9.5mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 2.7 5.0

Sources: Guayaki Yerba Mate (can)'s figure is verified in our Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) caffeine guide against Guayaki product page (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 Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) 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 Guayaki Yerba Mate (can) or Red Bull have more caffeine? Guayaki Yerba Mate (can): 150mg per 15.5 oz can versus 80mg per 8.4 oz can for Red Bull.

Which is stronger per ounce? Guayaki Yerba Mate (can), at about 9.7mg per fluid ounce versus 9.5mg for Red Bull.

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