If you’re a coffee drinker, caffeine is probably something you’re very familiar with. But how much caffeine is in your favorite beverage? And what’s the difference between a small latte and a venti macchiato? For this article, we’ll focus on comparing cups of coffee—but keep in mind that there are other beverages like tea and chocolate that can also contain caffeine.
Caffeine content varies widely by coffee beverage type. Coffee, tea and energy drinks have varying amounts of caffeine. The amount of caffeine in each beverage varies widely depending on its preparation method and even brand. Coffee has the most caffeine per ounce compared to other popular beverages like tea, soft drinks and energy drinks. In fact, a grande (medium) coffee from Starbucks contains 320 milligrams of caffeine — more than twice as much as a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola Classic soda at 140 mg! On the other hand, some teas contain less than 25 mg per 8 oz serving while “energy” drinks can contain over 300 mg per 8 oz serving!
You can choose different amounts of caffeine depending on what you want and the great news is that you can choose the amount of caffeine you want in your drink. For example, if you are looking to stay awake, but don’t want to get wired or jittery, then a caffeinated beverage may be right for you. On the other hand, if relaxation is what’s important then decaffeinated drinks might be best. Even better than that: low-caffeine options are available and they taste just fine too (not as good as high-caffeine drinks though).
There you have it, folks: the definitive guide to caffeine in different drinks. Now that you know more about what’s in your coffee and how much caffeine is in it, we hope you feel empowered to make the best choice for yourself and your body.