Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Starbucks Caffe Mocha vs Dunkin hot coffee (medium): which has more caffeine?

Dunkin hot coffee (medium) has more caffeine than Starbucks Caffe Mocha on both counts: 210mg per 14 oz medium against 175mg per 16 oz grande, and about 15mg per fluid ounce against 11. The serving sizes differ, so the table below shows both ways of counting.

Starbucks Caffe Mocha vs Dunkin hot coffee (medium): the numbers

Starbucks Caffe Mocha Dunkin hot coffee (medium)
Caffeine per serving 175mg per 16 oz grande 210mg per 14 oz medium
Caffeine per fl oz 10.9mg 15.0mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 2.3 1.9

Sources: Starbucks Caffe Mocha's figure is verified in our Starbucks Caffe Mocha caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); Dunkin hot coffee (medium)'s figure is verified in our Dunkin hot coffee (medium) guide against Tasting Table / Dunkin figures (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Starbucks Caffe Mocha when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Dunkin hot coffee (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 Starbucks Caffe Mocha or Dunkin hot coffee (medium) have more caffeine? Dunkin hot coffee (medium): 210mg per 14 oz medium versus 175mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Caffe Mocha.

Which is stronger per ounce? Dunkin hot coffee (medium), at about 15.0mg per fluid ounce versus 10.9mg for Starbucks Caffe Mocha.

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