McDonald's brewed coffee carries more total caffeine per serving (145mg per 16 oz medium vs 133mg per 11.5 oz medium), but ounce for ounce McDonald's iced coffee is actually the stronger drink at about 12mg per fluid ounce against 9. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
McDonald's iced coffee vs McDonald's brewed coffee: the numbers
| McDonald's iced coffee | McDonald's brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 133mg per 11.5 oz medium | 145mg per 16 oz medium |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 11.6mg | 9.1mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 3.0 | 2.8 |
Sources: McDonald's iced coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's iced coffee caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); McDonald's brewed coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's brewed coffee guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick McDonald's iced coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and McDonald's brewed coffee 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
- McDonald's brewed coffee: 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 McDonald's iced coffee or McDonald's brewed coffee have more caffeine? McDonald's brewed coffee: 145mg per 16 oz medium versus 133mg per 11.5 oz medium for McDonald's iced coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? McDonald's iced coffee, at about 11.6mg per fluid ounce versus 9.1mg for McDonald's brewed coffee.
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