yerba mate has more caffeine than Starbucks Refreshers on both counts: 85mg per 8 oz cup against 45mg per 16 oz grande, and about 11mg 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 Refreshers vs yerba mate: the numbers
| Starbucks Refreshers | yerba mate | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per serving | 45mg per 16 oz grande | 85mg per 8 oz cup |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 2.8mg | 10.6mg |
| Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) | 8.9 | 4.7 |
Sources: Starbucks Refreshers's figure is verified in our Starbucks Refreshers caffeine guide against Starbucks nutrition listing (source); yerba mate's figure is verified in our yerba mate guide against Caffeine Informer / compiled (source).
The concentration gap is the striking part: yerba mate packs roughly 4 times the caffeine per ounce. Sipping speed matters at that density; a 8 oz cup finished in minutes hits differently than the same milligrams spread over a slow cup.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Starbucks Refreshers when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and yerba mate 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 Refreshers: the full caffeine guide
- yerba mate: the full caffeine guide
- The verified caffeine database
- Every drink compared: the comparisons index
- Compare any two of 120+ drinks
FAQ
Does Starbucks Refreshers or yerba mate have more caffeine? yerba mate: 85mg per 8 oz cup versus 45mg per 16 oz grande for Starbucks Refreshers.
Which is stronger per ounce? yerba mate, at about 10.6mg per fluid ounce versus 2.8mg for Starbucks Refreshers.
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