Rethink Your Drink: What is Caffeine?

Coffee is consumed daily by most Americans. Whether home-brewed or store-bought, many people drink coffee to feel more awake in the morning. Coffee can make you feel less tired because it contains caffeine, a stimulant that tells your brain to be alert. For adults, caffeine is generally regarded as safe, up to 400 milligrams per day. 

How much caffeine is in coffee?

As seen in the image below, the average amount of caffeine in coffee varies depending on the place of brewing. For example, Starbucks coffee has twice the caffeine per ounce as compared to McDonald’s. While not pictured below, home-brewed coffee has the least amount of caffeine with only 6.7 milligrams of caffeine per ounce.  

Taken from How much caffeine is in your morning coffee? List of top brands reveals Starbucks has TWICE as much as McDonald’s

How does the caffeine content of black coffee compare to other coffee drinks? 

Many people prefer to drink specialty coffee drinks over black coffee, such as americanos, lattes and cappuccinos. As seen below, these beverages have more caffeine than a regular cup of coffee. 

Taken from Dunkin Donuts Coffee Caffeine Guide

It is important to note that while these beverages have a safe caffeine content, they are often much higher in calories. As specialty drinks, they are filled with milk, sugar, cream or flavoring. 

How does the caffeine content of coffee compare to other drinks? 

As seen in the image above, the caffeine content of other drinks is much lower than coffee. If you are looking to reduce your caffeine intake, drinks such as hot chocolate and tea may serve as alternative beverages. 

How many cups of coffee do you drink per day? Use the slider below to let us know!