Brewed black tea has more caffeine: 47mg per 8 oz cup against 25mg per 16 oz grande, a gap of 22mg. Measured by concentration the order is the same, at 5.9mg per fl oz versus 1.6mg.
Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) vs brewed black tea: the numbers
| Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) | Brewed black tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 25mg per 16 oz grande | 47mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 1.6mg | 5.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg | 16 | 9 |
| Source | Caffeine Informer / Starbucks published figures | USDA FoodData Central |
Both figures were checked against their source before this page went up: Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) against Caffeine Informer / Starbucks published figures (source) and brewed black tea against USDA FoodData Central (source). Brewed drinks and cocoa foods vary by batch, so published figures are averages rather than guarantees.
What the gap means in practice
Brewed black tea is doing the real work here. The practical question is not which number is bigger but whether Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) is small enough to ignore in your day: at 25mg per 16 oz grande you would need 16 servings to reach the 400mg reference point, against 9 for brewed black tea.
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If you are chasing the low end on purpose, the bean and the process matter more than the brewer: browse decaf coffee beans on Amazon and check whether the bag says Swiss Water or CO2.
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 decaf brewed coffee (grande): the full caffeine breakdown
- Brewed black tea: the full caffeine breakdown
- Does decaf have caffeine? Every decaf drink ranked
- Hidden caffeine: the foods and drinks people forget to count
- The verified caffeine database
- Compare any two drinks side by side
FAQ
Does Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) or brewed black tea have more caffeine? Brewed black tea, at 47mg per 8 oz cup against 25mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande).
How much caffeine is in Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande)? 25mg per 16 oz grande, which works out to about 1.6mg per fl oz. The figure comes from Caffeine Informer / Starbucks published figures.
Is Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) caffeine free? No. Starbucks decaf brewed coffee (grande) carries 25mg per 16 oz grande. It is a small amount, but small is not the same as none.
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