Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs espresso: which has more caffeine?

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato carries more total caffeine per serving (150mg per 16 oz grande vs 63mg per 1 oz shot), but ounce for ounce espresso is actually the stronger drink at about 63mg per fluid ounce against 9. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato vs espresso: the numbers

Sources: Starbucks Caramel Macchiato's figure is verified in our Starbucks Caramel Macchiato caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); espresso's figure is verified in our espresso guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).

The concentration gap is the striking part: espresso packs roughly 7 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 1 oz shot finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.

Which one should you pick?

Pick espresso when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Caramel Macchiato 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 Caramel Macchiato: the full caffeine guide
• espresso: the full caffeine guide
• The verified caffeine database
• Every drink compared: the comparisons index
• Compare any two of 120+ drinks

FAQ

Does Starbucks Caramel Macchiato or espresso have more caffeine? Starbucks Caramel Macchiato: 150mg per 16 oz grande versus 63mg per 1 oz shot for espresso.

Which is stronger per ounce? espresso, at about 63.0mg per fluid ounce versus 9.4mg for Starbucks Caramel Macchiato.