Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has more caffeine than Maxwell House brewed coffee on both counts: 310mg per 16 oz grande against 112mg per 8 oz cup, and about 19mg per fluid ounce against 14. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
Maxwell House brewed coffee vs Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the numbers
| Maxwell House brewed coffee | Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 112mg per 8 oz cup | 310mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 14.0mg | 19.4mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 3.6 | 1.3 |
Sources: Maxwell House brewed coffee's figure is verified in our Maxwell House brewed coffee caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Starbucks Pike Place (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks Pike Place (grande) guide against Starbucks menu data (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Maxwell House brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Pike Place (grande) 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
- Maxwell House brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
- Starbucks Pike Place (grande): the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does Maxwell House brewed coffee or Starbucks Pike Place (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks Pike Place (grande): 310mg per 16 oz grande versus 112mg per 8 oz cup for Maxwell House brewed coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce versus 14.0mg for Maxwell House brewed coffee.
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