Barista Life Blog · 2 min read

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream vs Cherry Coke: which has more caffeine?

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream has more caffeine than Cherry Coke on both counts: 120mg per 6.5 oz can against 34mg per 12 oz can, and about 18mg per fluid ounce against 3. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

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 Doubleshot Espresso & Cream vs Cherry Coke: the numbers

Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream Cherry Coke
Caffeine per serving 120mg per 6.5 oz can 34mg per 12 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 18.5mg 2.8mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 3.3 11.8

Sources: Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream's figure is verified in our Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer / Starbucks nutrition (source); Cherry Coke's figure is verified in our Cherry Coke guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

The concentration gap is the striking part: Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream packs roughly 7 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 6.5 oz can finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Cherry Coke when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream 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 Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream or Cherry Coke have more caffeine? Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream: 120mg per 6.5 oz can versus 34mg per 12 oz can for Cherry Coke.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream, at about 18.5mg per fluid ounce versus 2.8mg for Cherry Coke.

Barista Life runs on coffee people. Browse the Barista Life shop to support the site.

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

Get the PDF