McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) carries more total caffeine per serving (100mg per 32 oz cup vs 95mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce brewed coffee is actually the stronger drink at about 12mg per fluid ounce against 3. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
These are different categories of drink, which changes how the caffeine arrives. Energy drinks and sodas list an exact number because caffeine is a measured additive; brewed drinks vary with the beans and the brew, so their figures are compiled averages. The numbers here are the standard published values for each.
McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) vs brewed coffee: the numbers
| McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) | brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 100mg per 32 oz cup | 95mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 3.1mg | 11.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 4.0 | 4.2 |
Sources: McDonald's Sweet Tea (large)'s figure is verified in our McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); brewed coffee's figure is verified in our brewed coffee guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: brewed coffee packs roughly 4 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 8 oz cup finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and McDonald's Sweet Tea (large) 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 Sweet Tea (large): the full caffeine guide
- 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 Sweet Tea (large) or brewed coffee have more caffeine? McDonald's Sweet Tea (large): 100mg per 32 oz cup versus 95mg per 8 oz cup for brewed coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed coffee, at about 11.9mg per fluid ounce versus 3.1mg for McDonald's Sweet Tea (large).
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