Starbucks Pike Place (grande) has the most caffeine of the three: 310mg per 16 oz grande, against 160mg per 16 oz can for Monster and 80mg per 8.4 oz can for Red Bull. It also leads per ounce, at roughly 19.4mg to 9.5mg, so the order holds whichever way you count.
Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Red Bull vs Monster: the numbers
| Starbucks Pike Place (grande) | Red Bull | Monster | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 310mg per 16 oz grande | 80mg per 8.4 oz can | 160mg per 16 oz can |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 19.4mg | 9.5mg | 10mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 1.3 | 5.0 | 2.5 |
Sources: Starbucks Pike Place (grande) is 310mg per 16 oz grande per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our the caffeine database; Red Bull is 80mg per 8.4 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Red Bull guide; Monster is 160mg per 16 oz can per Caffeine Informer (source), and the figure is carried in our Monster guide.
Why the three numbers are not measured the same way
Canned drinks list an exact figure because caffeine is a measured ingredient, so the number on the label is the number in the can. Brewed drinks are averages: grind, dose, water temperature and steep time move a cup of coffee or tea by tens of milligrams either way. When you compare across those categories, treat the canned figures as fixed and the brewed ones as a center point with real spread around it.
The three head-to-head pages
Each pairing has its own page with the full math:
- Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Red Bull, head to head
- Starbucks Pike Place (grande) vs Monster, head to head
- Red Bull vs Monster, head to head
Which one should you pick?
Take Red Bull when you want the smallest dose of the three, Monster when you want a middle number without thinking about it, and Starbucks Pike Place (grande) when you actually want the 310mg and know how you handle it. If you drink more than one caffeinated thing a day, the useful move is adding the day up against the 400mg reference rather than judging each drink alone.
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
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
Which has the most caffeine, Starbucks Pike Place (grande), Red Bull or Monster? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at 310mg per 16 oz grande. Monster has 160mg per 16 oz can and Red Bull has 80mg per 8.4 oz can.
Which of the three is strongest per ounce? Starbucks Pike Place (grande), at about 19.4mg per fluid ounce, ahead of Monster at 10mg and Red Bull at 9.5mg.
How many Starbucks Pike Place (grande) servings reach the FDA 400mg reference? About 1.3 of them, at 16 oz grande each. The FDA cites 400mg a day as an amount generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults. This is information, not advice.
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