Barista Life Blog · 1 min read

Sun Drop vs Dunkin Refresher (medium): which has more caffeine?

Dunkin Refresher (medium) carries more total caffeine per serving (99mg per 24 oz medium vs 64mg per 12 oz can), but ounce for ounce Sun Drop is actually the stronger drink at about 5mg per fluid ounce against 4. Which one "has more caffeine" depends on whether you measure the container or the concentration.

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.

Sun Drop vs Dunkin Refresher (medium): the numbers

Sun Drop Dunkin Refresher (medium)
Caffeine per serving 64mg per 12 oz can 99mg per 24 oz medium
Caffeine per fl oz 5.3mg 4.1mg
Servings to reach 400mg (FDA context) 6.2 4.0

Sources: Sun Drop's figure is verified in our Sun Drop caffeine guide against Caffeine Informer (source); Dunkin Refresher (medium)'s figure is verified in our Dunkin Refresher (medium) guide against Tasting Table / Dunkin figures (source).

Which one should you pick?

Pick Sun Drop when you want the lighter dose or a slower ramp, and Dunkin Refresher (medium) 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 Sun Drop or Dunkin Refresher (medium) have more caffeine? Dunkin Refresher (medium): 99mg per 24 oz medium versus 64mg per 12 oz can for Sun Drop.

Which is stronger per ounce? Sun Drop, at about 5.3mg per fluid ounce versus 4.1mg for Dunkin Refresher (medium).

Comparing caffeine? The caffeine comparison tool puts hundreds of drinks side by side, and the caffeine curfew calculator can check your cutoff time for tonight.

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