How much caffeine is in dark chocolate?

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Dark chocolate at 70 to 85% cacao has about 22.7mg of caffeine per 1 oz (28.35g) square, based on the USDA figure of 80mg per 100g (USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 170273). A square is roughly a quarter of one espresso shot and about a quarter of an 8 oz cup of brewed coffee. To reach the 400mg the FDA cites for healthy adults you would need about 17.6 squares, which is more than a pound of chocolate.

Dark chocolate against the usual suspects

Why darker means more caffeine

Caffeine in chocolate lives in the cocoa solids. The higher the cacao percentage, the more solids per bite, so an 85% bar sits at the top of the USDA's 80mg per 100g range while milk chocolate, which cuts solids with milk and sugar, drops to 20mg per 100g. Eat your way up the percentages and the caffeine follows.

The practical read: a square or two after dinner delivers under 50mg, which is real but small next to any coffee drink. Where it catches people out is late at night in quantity. Half a large 100g bar of 85% cacao is about 40mg, close to a can of Coke, on top of whatever the day already held.

Where to find it

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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.

FAQ

How much caffeine is in dark chocolate? About 22.7mg per 1 oz square for 70 to 85% cacao chocolate, from the USDA figure of 80mg per 100g.

Is dark chocolate high in caffeine compared to coffee? No. A 1 oz square carries 22.7mg versus 95mg in an 8 oz cup of brewed coffee, so you would need about four squares to match one cup.

Can dark chocolate keep you awake? It carries real caffeine, about 80mg per 100g, so a large amount late in the evening adds a measurable dose. A single square is under 25mg.

Sources: the dark chocolate figure (80mg per 100g, 22.7mg per 1 oz square) is USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 170273 (source); milk chocolate (20mg per 100g) is SR Legacy 167587 and cocoa powder (230mg per 100g) is SR Legacy 169593 from the same database. Brewed coffee (95mg per 8 oz) and espresso (63mg per 1 oz) reference values are from USDA FoodData Central.