Panera brewed coffee vs Starbucks cold brew (grande): which has more caffeine?

Starbucks cold brew (grande) has more caffeine than Panera brewed coffee: 205mg vs 189mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 16mg gap, and since the servings match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

Panera brewed coffee vs Starbucks cold brew (grande): the numbers

Sources: Panera brewed coffee's figure is verified in our Panera brewed 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 Panera brewed 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

• Panera brewed 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

FAQ

Does Panera brewed coffee or Starbucks cold brew (grande) have more caffeine? Starbucks cold brew (grande): 205mg per 16 oz grande versus 189mg per 16 oz cup for Panera brewed coffee.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks cold brew (grande), at about 12.8mg per fluid ounce versus 11.8mg for Panera brewed coffee.