Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte carries more total caffeine per serving (150mg per 16 oz grande vs 95mg per 8 oz cup), but ounce for ounce brewed coffee is actually the stronger drink at about 12mg per fluid ounce against 9. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte vs brewed coffee: the numbers
| Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte | brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 150mg per 16 oz grande | 95mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 9.4mg | 11.9mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 2.7 | 4.2 |
Sources: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte's figure is verified in our Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); brewed coffee's figure is verified in our brewed coffee guide against USDA FoodData Central (source).
Which one should you pick?
Pick brewed coffee when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte 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
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: the full caffeine guide
- brewed coffee: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
FAQ
Does Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte or brewed coffee have more caffeine? Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: 150mg per 16 oz grande versus 95mg per 8 oz cup for brewed coffee.
Which is stronger per ounce? brewed coffee, at about 11.9mg per fluid ounce versus 9.4mg for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.
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