brewed guayusa vs Red Bull: which has more caffeine?

brewed guayusa vs Red Bull: which has more caffeine?

Red Bull has more caffeine than brewed guayusa on both counts: 80mg per 8.4 oz can against 41mg per 8 oz cup, and about 10mg per fluid ounce against 5. 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.

brewed guayusa vs Red Bull: the numbers

brewed guayusa Red Bull
Caffeine per serving 41mg per 8 oz cup 80mg per 8.4 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 5.1mg 9.5mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 9.8 5.0

Sources: brewed guayusa's figure is verified in our brewed guayusa 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 brewed guayusa when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Red Bull 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

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Gear from this guide

FAQ

Does brewed guayusa or Red Bull have more caffeine? Red Bull: 80mg per 8.4 oz can versus 41mg per 8 oz cup for brewed guayusa.

Which is stronger per ounce? Red Bull, at about 9.5mg per fluid ounce versus 5.1mg for brewed guayusa.

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