Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Pepsi vs International Delight iced coffee: which has more caffeine?

International Delight iced coffee has more caffeine than Pepsi: 88mg vs 38mg in the same 12 oz serving. That is a 50mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

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.

Pepsi vs International Delight iced coffee: the numbers

Pepsi International Delight iced coffee
Caffeine per serving 38mg per 12 oz can 88mg per 12 oz serving
Caffeine per fl oz 3.2mg 7.3mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 10.5 4.5

Sources: Pepsi's figure is verified in our Pepsi caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); International Delight iced coffee's figure is verified in our International Delight iced coffee guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Pepsi when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and International Delight iced 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

FAQ

Does Pepsi or International Delight iced coffee have more caffeine? International Delight iced coffee: 88mg per 12 oz serving versus 38mg per 12 oz can for Pepsi.

Which is stronger per ounce? International Delight iced coffee, at about 7.3mg per fluid ounce versus 3.2mg for Pepsi.

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