Caffeine Literacy Quiz: 10 Questions, Sourced Answers
Ten questions about how much caffeine is actually in the things people drink. Every answer comes from a primary or compiled source, linked next to the answer so you can check it. It takes about two minutes.
This is a fun quiz, not a qualification. Nothing here certifies anything, no score is recorded, and a perfect ten makes you good at trivia, not licensed to do anything. If you want something to actually put on a wall, that is the Home Barista Certification, and even that is an enthusiast certificate from a coffee publication rather than an accredited trade credential.
The numbers behind the questions
For context on the whole set: the FDA cites 400 milligrams a day, roughly two to three 12 fluid ounce cups of coffee, as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults, and notes that sensitivity varies from person to person (FDA, Spilling the Beans). Several of the drinks below get close to that number in one serving, which is the whole reason this quiz exists.
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewed coffee, non-specialty | 12 fl oz | 113 to 247 mg | FDA |
| Starbucks Pike Place brewed | 16 fl oz grande | 310 mg | Caffeine Informer |
| Starbucks Blonde Roast brewed | 16 fl oz grande | 360 mg | Caffeine Informer |
| Espresso shot | 1.5 fl oz | 77 mg average | Caffeine Informer |
| Red Bull | 8.46 fl oz can | 80 mg | Caffeine Informer |
| Celsius, standard and Vibe | per can | 200 mg | Celsius |
| Celsius Essentials | per can | 270 mg | Celsius |
| Black tea | 12 fl oz | 71 mg | FDA |
| Green tea | 12 fl oz | 37 mg | FDA |
| Caffeinated soft drink | 12 fl oz | 23 to 83 mg | FDA |
| Decaf coffee | 8 fl oz | 2 to 15 mg | FDA |
Caffeine in coffee varies with the bean, the roast and the brew, so chain figures are the numbers the chain publishes rather than a lab measurement of your specific cup. Every number on this page was checked against the linked source on August 15, 2026. The full set lives in the caffeine database.
Want the harder version
This quiz is about caffeine numbers. The free Home Barista Exam is about the craft: ratios, grind, extraction, milk, and diagnosing a shot that has gone wrong. Pass that and the Home Barista Certification turns it into a personalized certificate with an ID that can be checked against a public verification page. It is made by hand, so it is not instant, and it is an enthusiast credential, not a trade qualification.
Questions
Does a score here mean anything? No. It is trivia. Nothing is stored, nothing is graded, and there is no certificate attached to it.
Where do the numbers come from? The FDA consumer update for the general ranges, the brands themselves for Celsius, and Caffeine Informer for the chain and espresso figures compiled from published brand data. Each answer names its source when you answer it.
Why do two sources disagree about the same drink? Because caffeine in brewed coffee genuinely varies. Caffeine Informer notes a 2003 lab test of one Starbucks blend where six samples of the same 16 fluid ounce drink ranged widely. Published chain numbers are recipe averages, not guarantees.