Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Pepsi Zero Sugar vs Starry (lemon lime): which has more caffeine?

Pepsi Zero Sugar has more caffeine than Starry (lemon lime): 69mg vs 0mg in the same 12 oz can. That is a 69mg gap, and since the cans match, the per-serving number is the whole story.

Pepsi Zero Sugar vs Starry (lemon lime): the numbers

Pepsi Zero Sugar Starry (lemon lime)
Caffeine per serving 69mg per 12 oz can 0mg per 12 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 5.8mg 0.0mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 5.8 n/a (caffeine-free)

Sources: Pepsi Zero Sugar's figure is verified in our Pepsi Zero Sugar caffeine guide against PepsiCo product facts (source); Starry (lemon lime)'s figure is verified in our Starry (lemon lime) guide against PepsiCo product facts (source).

The concentration gap is the striking part: Pepsi Zero Sugar packs roughly 575 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 12 oz can finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Starry (lemon lime) when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Pepsi Zero Sugar 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 Zero Sugar or Starry (lemon lime) have more caffeine? Pepsi Zero Sugar: 69mg per 12 oz can versus 0mg per 12 oz can for Starry (lemon lime).

Which is stronger per ounce? Pepsi Zero Sugar, at about 5.8mg per fluid ounce versus 0.0mg for Starry (lemon lime).

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