Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) vs Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream: which has more caffeine?

Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) has more caffeine than Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream on both counts: 279mg per 10.5 oz bottle against 120mg per 6.5 oz can, and about 27mg per fluid ounce against 18. 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.

Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) vs Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream: the numbers

Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream
Caffeine per serving 279mg per 10.5 oz bottle 120mg per 6.5 oz can
Caffeine per fl oz 26.6mg 18.5mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 1.4 3.3

Sources: Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie)'s figure is verified in our Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream's figure is verified in our Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream guide against Caffeine Informer / Starbucks nutrition (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) 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 Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie) or Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream have more caffeine? Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie): 279mg per 10.5 oz bottle versus 120mg per 6.5 oz can for Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream.

Which is stronger per ounce? Stumptown Cold Brew (stubbie), at about 26.6mg per fluid ounce versus 18.5mg for Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso & Cream.

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