Death Wish Coffee (brewed) has more caffeine than McDonald's iced coffee on both counts: 300mg per 8 oz brewed against 133mg per 11.5 oz medium, and about 38mg per fluid ounce against 12. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
McDonald's iced coffee vs Death Wish Coffee (brewed): the numbers
| McDonald's iced coffee | Death Wish Coffee (brewed) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 133mg per 11.5 oz medium | 300mg per 8 oz brewed |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 11.6mg | 37.5mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 3.0 | 1.3 |
Sources: McDonald's iced coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's iced coffee caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Death Wish Coffee (brewed)'s figure is verified in our Death Wish Coffee (brewed) guide against Death Wish Coffee published figure (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: Death Wish Coffee (brewed) packs roughly 3 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 8 oz brewed finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick McDonald's iced coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Death Wish Coffee (brewed) 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
- McDonald's iced coffee: the full caffeine guide
- Death Wish Coffee (brewed): the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
As an Amazon Associate, Barista Life earns from qualifying purchases.
Gear from this guide
FAQ
Does McDonald's iced coffee or Death Wish Coffee (brewed) have more caffeine? Death Wish Coffee (brewed): 300mg per 8 oz brewed versus 133mg per 11.5 oz medium for McDonald's iced coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Death Wish Coffee (brewed), at about 37.5mg per fluid ounce versus 11.6mg for McDonald's iced coffee.
Barista Life runs on coffee people. Browse the Barista Life shop to support the site.
Get the good coffee stuff
One email a week: what we verified, what is worth buying, and what is not. No spam, unsubscribe any time.