Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande) has more caffeine than McDonald's brewed coffee: 185mg vs 145mg in the same 16 oz grande. That is a 40mg gap, and since the servings match, the per-serving number is the whole story.
Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande) vs McDonald's brewed coffee: the numbers
| Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande) | McDonald's brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 185mg per 16 oz grande | 145mg per 16 oz medium |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 11.6mg | 9.1mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.2 | 2.8 |
Sources: Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); McDonald's brewed coffee's figure is verified in our McDonald's brewed coffee guide against Caffeine Informer (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick McDonald's brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Pumpkin Cream 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
- Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande): the full caffeine guide
- McDonald's 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 Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande) or McDonald's brewed coffee have more caffeine? Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande): 185mg per 16 oz grande versus 145mg per 16 oz medium for McDonald's brewed coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew (grande), at about 11.6mg per fluid ounce versus 9.1mg for McDonald's brewed coffee.
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