Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte vs Celsius: which has more caffeine?

Celsius has more caffeine than Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte on both counts: 200mg per 12 oz can against 150mg per 16 oz grande, and about 17mg per fluid ounce against 9. 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 Pumpkin Spice Latte vs Celsius: the numbers

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Celsius
Caffeine per serving 150mg per 16 oz grande 200mg per 12 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 9.4mg 16.7mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 2.7 2.0

Sources: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte's figure is verified in our Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); Celsius's figure is verified in our Celsius guide against Celsius essential facts (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Celsius 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 Pumpkin Spice Latte or Celsius have more caffeine? Celsius: 200mg per 12 oz can versus 150mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Which is stronger per ounce? Celsius, at about 16.7mg per fluid ounce versus 9.4mg for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.

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