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

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has more caffeine than Pepsi on both counts: 150mg per 16 oz grande against 38mg per 12 oz can, and about 9mg 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 Pumpkin Spice Latte vs Pepsi: the numbers

Sources: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte's figure is verified in our Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); Pepsi's figure is verified in our Pepsi guide against Caffeine Informer (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Pepsi 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
• Pepsi: 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 Pepsi have more caffeine? Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: 150mg per 16 oz grande versus 38mg per 12 oz can for Pepsi.

Which is stronger per ounce? Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, at about 9.4mg per fluid ounce versus 3.2mg for Pepsi.