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instant coffee has about 57mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup. This page lines it up against every drink we have compared it to, sorted strongest first, so you can see exactly where it lands. Every number is the standard published value, sourced on each comparison page.
How instant coffee compares
| Matchup | The other drink |
|---|---|
| instant coffee vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | 310mg per 16 oz grande |
| instant coffee vs Death Wish Coffee (brewed) | 300mg per 8 oz brewed |
| instant coffee vs Dunkin iced coffee (medium) | 297mg per 24 oz medium |
| instant coffee vs Dunkin hot coffee (medium) | 210mg per 14 oz medium |
| instant coffee vs Starbucks cold brew (grande) | 205mg per 16 oz grande |
| instant coffee vs Celsius | 200mg per 12 oz can |
| instant coffee vs Monster | 160mg per 16 oz can |
| instant coffee vs McDonald's brewed coffee | 145mg per 16 oz medium |
| instant coffee vs Starbucks VIA instant coffee | 135mg per 8 oz cup (1 packet) |
| instant coffee vs Red Bull | 80mg per 8.4 oz can |
| instant coffee vs espresso | 63mg per 1 oz shot |
Every instant coffee comparison
- instant coffee vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande) (310mg per 16 oz grande)
- instant coffee vs Death Wish Coffee (brewed) (300mg per 8 oz brewed)
- instant coffee vs Dunkin iced coffee (medium) (297mg per 24 oz medium)
- instant coffee vs Dunkin hot coffee (medium) (210mg per 14 oz medium)
- instant coffee vs Starbucks cold brew (grande) (205mg per 16 oz grande)
- instant coffee vs Celsius (200mg per 12 oz can)
- instant coffee vs Monster (160mg per 16 oz can)
- instant coffee vs McDonald's brewed coffee (145mg per 16 oz medium)
- instant coffee vs Starbucks VIA instant coffee (135mg per 8 oz cup (1 packet))
- instant coffee vs Red Bull (80mg per 8.4 oz can)
- instant coffee vs espresso (63mg per 1 oz shot)
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.
Compare it yourself
Want a matchup that is not listed? The caffeine comparison tool puts instant coffee against any of 248 drinks, and the full caffeine chart shows everything at once.
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
How much caffeine is in instant coffee? About 57mg per 8 oz cup, the standard published figure.
What has more caffeine than instant coffee? Among the drinks compared here, Starbucks Pike Place (grande) is at the strong end with 310mg per 16 oz grande.
What has less caffeine than instant coffee? On the lighter end, espresso has 63mg per 1 oz shot.
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