Starbucks cold brew (grande) has more caffeine than McDonald's iced coffee on both counts: 205mg per 16 oz grande against 133mg per 11.5 oz medium, and about 13mg per fluid ounce against 12. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.
McDonald's iced coffee vs Starbucks cold brew (grande): the numbers
| McDonald's iced coffee | Starbucks cold brew (grande) | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 133mg per 11.5 oz medium | 205mg per 16 oz grande |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 11.6mg | 12.8mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 3.0 | 2.0 |
Sources: McDonald's iced coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's iced coffee caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Starbucks cold brew (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks cold brew (grande) guide against Starbucks menu data (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick McDonald's iced coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks cold brew (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
- McDonald's iced coffee: the full caffeine guide
- Starbucks cold brew (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 McDonald's iced coffee or Starbucks cold brew (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks cold brew (grande): 205mg per 16 oz grande versus 133mg per 11.5 oz medium for McDonald's iced coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks cold brew (grande), at about 12.8mg per fluid ounce versus 11.6mg for McDonald's iced coffee.
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