An 8 oz cup of brewed coffee has about 95mg of caffeine, per USDA FoodData Central. A single 1 oz shot of espresso carries about 63mg. From there, everything is dose and size: a 12 oz mug of drip runs near 140mg, a 16 oz grande around 190mg at the USDA rate, and chain coffee often lands higher because chains brew strong and pour large. Those are the anchors; the rest of this page is the honest detail.
Caffeine in coffee, by the cup
| Coffee | Serving | Caffeine | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewed drip | 8 oz | ~95mg | USDA FoodData Central |
| Brewed drip | 12 oz | ~140mg | USDA rate, scaled |
| Espresso | 1 oz shot | ~63mg | USDA FoodData Central |
| Espresso, double | 2 oz | ~126mg | USDA rate, scaled |
| Starbucks Pike Place | 16 oz grande | 310mg | Starbucks menu data |
| Dunkin hot coffee | 14 oz medium | 210mg | Dunkin figures via Tasting Table |
| Starbucks cold brew | 16 oz grande | 205mg | Starbucks menu data |
| Dunkin iced coffee | 24 oz medium | 297mg | Caffeine Informer's Dunkin guide |
| Instant coffee | 8 oz | ~60 to 80mg | USDA range for instant |
| Decaf | 16 oz brewed | ~12 to 13mg | Lab testing (McCusker studies) |
Why the chains beat the USDA average
The USDA figure describes typical home brewing. Chains brew at higher coffee-to-water ratios and their "medium" is often two of your cups: a grande Pike Place at 310mg is more than three USDA cups in one sleeve. If you track intake, count the ounces in your hand, not "cups." Our caffeine database holds the verified chain-by-chain numbers, and the full chart ranks everything we have verified per ounce.
What changes the number (and what does not)
Changes it: dose (more grounds, more caffeine), size, bean species (robusta roughly doubles arabica), and brew method mostly through how much coffee it uses. Barely changes it: roast level; dark vs light is flavor, not strength, as we cover in espresso roast vs regular. The persistent myth: espresso being "the strong one" is true per ounce and usually false per serving, which the espresso vs coffee breakdown settles with the math.
The context line
For reference, the FDA cites 400mg of caffeine a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults: a bit over four USDA cups, or a grande Pike Place plus one more small cup. Tolerance varies; treat every number here as information, not advice.
Related reading
FAQ
How much caffeine is in a normal cup of coffee? About 95mg per 8 oz of brewed coffee per USDA data. A typical 12 oz mug is closer to 140mg.
Which has more caffeine, coffee or espresso? Per ounce, espresso (~63mg/oz vs ~12mg/oz). Per serving, a cup of drip usually beats a single shot: 95mg vs 63mg.
Does dark roast have more caffeine? No meaningful difference. Caffeine survives roasting; the strength difference people taste is flavor development, not chemistry.
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