Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) vs Red Bull: which has more caffeine?

Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) carries more total caffeine per serving (144mg per 24 oz medium vs 80mg per 8.4 oz can), but ounce for ounce Red Bull is actually the stronger drink at about 10mg per fluid ounce against 6. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) vs Red Bull: the numbers

Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) Red Bull
Caffeine per serving 144mg per 24 oz medium 80mg per 8.4 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 6.0mg 9.5mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 2.8 5.0

Sources: Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium)'s figure is verified in our Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer Dunkin guide (source); Red Bull's figure is verified in our Red Bull guide against Red Bull label / Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Red Bull when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) 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 Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium) or Red Bull have more caffeine? Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium): 144mg per 24 oz medium versus 80mg per 8.4 oz can for Red Bull.

Which is stronger per ounce? Red Bull, at about 9.5mg per fluid ounce versus 6.0mg for Dunkin Sparkd Energy (medium).

Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.

Free download: the espresso dial-in cheat sheet baristas tape to the machine.

Get the PDF