Understanding the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee

Coffee is one of the most common drinks. It is also a good source of caffeine. It is estimated that a cup of coffee contains roughly 95 mg caffeine. This figure varies because there are different types of coffee. We are going to look at the different coffee brands and types.

Factors that affect caffeine content

There are different kinds of factors that determine the caffeine content in coffee. Below are some of these factors:

  • The coffee beans used- There are different types of coffee beans. These coffee beans pose different caffeine amounts.
  • Roasting- Coffee beans can be lightly roasted or deeply roasted. Lightly roasted coffee beans have more caffeine when compared to deeply roasted coffee beans. However, deeply roasted coffee has a nice aroma.
  • The type of coffee being prepared- There are different kinds of coffee you can prepare. It can be decaf coffee, instant coffee, espresso or normal coffee.
  • The cup size- Your cup size affects the content of caffeine. The bigger the cup, the higher the caffeine content.

The amount of caffeine in different Coffee cups

The type of coffee you take determines the caffeine content in your cup. Let us go through the different types of coffee:

  • Brewed coffee- Brewing is commonly used in Europe and the United States to make coffee. You simply need to boil some hot water and place it in cup with some coffee beans. A cup of brewed coffee contains roughly 80 mg of caffeine.
  • Espresso- This type of coffee is made by passing some steam or hot water on grounded coffee beans. It has on numerous occasions that espresso contains high amount of caffeine when compared to regular coffee. A shot of espresso contains 63 mg caffeine whereas a double shot contains 125 mg.
  • Espresso based drinks- There are different kinds of espresso based drinks to choose from. These types of coffee range from lattes, Americanos, Machiatos and cappuccinos. They have been made using different types of coffee. They also vary in terms of amounts. The espresso based drinks contain the same amounts of caffeine amounts as that in Espresso. Milk doesn’t have caffeine as one of its composition.
  • Instant coffee- This type of coffee is derived from spray-dried or freeze dried coffee. These pieces dissolve in water. You simply need to add some hot water in your coffee and stir until it dissolves. Instant coffee contains roughly 30 mg of caffeine.
  • Decaf Coffee- Decaf coffee contains small amounts of coffee. This is because a large fraction of caffeine has been removed. A cup of decaf coffee contains roughly 0-7 mg caffeine.

Commercial Coffee Brands

People are constantly inquiring if commercial coffee has more caffeine when compared to normal coffee. Yes, a couple of commercial brands coffee contains more caffeine. Here are common brands and the caffeine they coffee contains:

  • Starbucks- This is one of the renowned coffee shops across the globe. It also offers one of the most caffeinated coffee in the globe. Here, espresso contains 75mg of caffeine on a normal shot. This might increase depending on the shots taken. Decaf coffee from Starbucks contains roughly 30mg of caffeine.
  • McDonalds- McDonalds coffee stores are all over the globe. Sadly, this coffee shop hasn’t calculated the caffeine in their coffee. It is however estimated that a small cup contains 109mg of caffeine whereas the large cup contains 180mg of caffeine. Decaf coffee contains 14 mg of caffeine whereas espresso has 71 mg of caffeine.
  • Dunkin Donuts- This donut and coffee shop offers a highly caffeinated coffee. Their espresso has 75ml of caffeine. Their decaf coffee has 53mg of coffee on a small cup.

Should anyone be worried about caffeine?

People love coffee because of its antioxidants. These antioxidants benefit the body in various ways. However, coffee should be consumed with moderation or you risk specific effects. These effects range from restlessness, anxiety, heart palpitation and unable to sleep. People also react differently to caffeine.

Bottom Line

It is clear that there are different factors that determine the amount of caffeine in your cup of coffee. Inquire about the amount of caffeine in your coffee before taking your cup.