Dunkin hot coffee (medium) has the most caffeine of the three: 210mg per 14 oz medium, against 145mg per 16 oz large for McDonald's brewed coffee (large) and 95mg per 8 oz cup for brewed coffee. It also leads per ounce, at roughly 15mg to 11.9mg, so the order holds whichever way you count.
McDonald's brewed coffee (large) vs Dunkin hot coffee (medium) vs brewed coffee: the numbers
| McDonald's brewed coffee (large) | Dunkin hot coffee (medium) | brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 145mg per 16 oz large | 210mg per 14 oz medium | 95mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 9.1mg | 15mg | 11.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.8 | 1.9 | 4.2 |
Sources: McDonald's brewed coffee (large) is 145mg per 16 oz large per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database; Dunkin hot coffee (medium) is 210mg per 14 oz medium per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Dunkin hot coffee (medium) guide; brewed coffee is 95mg per 8 oz cup per USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy 171890, 40mg per 100g times 237g (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database.
Per can or per ounce: pick the number that matches how you drink
The serving sizes here are different, so the two rankings answer different questions. Per serving tells you what one purchase delivers. Per fluid ounce tells you how concentrated each sip is, which is what matters if you nurse a large one slowly or split a can. Dunkin hot coffee (medium) is the densest of the three at about 15mg per ounce; McDonald's brewed coffee (large) is the lightest at 9.1mg.
The three head-to-head pages
Each pairing has its own page with the full math:
- McDonald's brewed coffee (large) vs Dunkin hot coffee (medium), head to head
- McDonald's brewed coffee (large) vs brewed coffee, head to head
- Dunkin hot coffee (medium) vs brewed coffee, head to head
Which one should you pick?
Take brewed coffee when you want the smallest dose of the three, McDonald's brewed coffee (large) when you want a middle number without thinking about it, and Dunkin hot coffee (medium) when you actually want the 210mg and know how you handle it. If you drink more than one caffeinated thing a day, the useful move is adding the day up against the 400mg reference rather than judging each drink alone.
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
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
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FAQ
Which has the most caffeine, McDonald's brewed coffee (large), Dunkin hot coffee (medium) or brewed coffee? Dunkin hot coffee (medium), at 210mg per 14 oz medium. McDonald's brewed coffee (large) has 145mg per 16 oz large and brewed coffee has 95mg per 8 oz cup.
Which of the three is strongest per ounce? Dunkin hot coffee (medium), at about 15mg per fluid ounce, ahead of brewed coffee at 11.9mg and McDonald's brewed coffee (large) at 9.1mg.
How many Dunkin hot coffee (medium) servings reach the FDA 400mg reference? About 1.9 of them, at 14 oz medium each. The FDA cites 400mg a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. This is information, not advice.
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