Starbucks cold brew (grande) carries more total caffeine per serving (205mg per 16 oz grande vs 200mg per 12 oz bottle), but ounce for ounce Super Coffee is actually the stronger drink at about 17mg per fluid ounce against 13. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
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.
Starbucks cold brew (grande) vs Super Coffee: the numbers
| Starbucks cold brew (grande) | Super Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 205mg per 16 oz grande | 200mg per 12 oz bottle |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 12.8mg | 16.7mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Sources: Starbucks cold brew (grande)'s figure is verified in our Starbucks cold brew (grande) caffeine guide against Starbucks menu data (source); Super Coffee's figure is verified in our Super Coffee guide against Super Coffee product data (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick Super Coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks 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 cold brew (grande): the full caffeine guide
- Super Coffee: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
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FAQ
Does Starbucks cold brew (grande) or Super Coffee have more caffeine? Starbucks cold brew (grande): 205mg per 16 oz grande versus 200mg per 12 oz bottle for Super Coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? Super Coffee, at about 16.7mg per fluid ounce versus 12.8mg for Starbucks cold brew (grande).
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.
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