Caffeine Content in Food and Drugs

Caffeine is one of the most thoroughly researched and prove ergogenic aids available. It is the only habit-forming psychoactive drug we routinely serve even to our children (coke, chocolate). An alkaloid that occurs naturally in the leaves, seeds and fruit of tea, coffee, cacao, kola trees, and more than 60 other plants, this ancient wonder drug has been prescribed for human use as far back as the sixth century B.C. In addition, caffeine is sometimes added to foods and beverages during the manufacturing process in order to enhance flavor, or in the case of medications, to enhance efficacy.

A single cup of coffee packs a big punch of caffeine when compared to other popular beverages, though the caffeine content found in gourmet coffee beans will vary. The robusta coffee beans used in less expensive brands contain almost twice as much caffeine as the Arabica beans favored by coffee connoisseurs. The type of coffee roast will also affect the amount of caffeine content. The lighter and medium roasts of coffees have a higher levels of caffeine than the darker roasts which lose some of the drug during the longer roasting time.

Factors that Affect the Caffeine Content Levels in Coffee

Each of the following can slightly alter the level of caffeine in decaffeinated coffee so that it is above or below the typical caffeine level.

1. blend composition
2. brewing extraction rates
3. grind
4. roast color
5. water temperature

Higher extraction rates, warmer water, a finer grind, and a lighter roast all result in a higher caffeine level in decaf coffee. Potentially, the caffeine content level could increase from approximately 2 mg to 6 mg per cup. This is a negligible increase relative to a caffeinated cup of coffee, which contains between 60 to 180 mg of caffeine per cup.

Caffeine Content Chart

Drug makers have to label the amount of caffeine content in their offerings, but food and beverage companies don't. The below list of familiar products shows how fast your dose can add up.

Food/Drug Product	Serving Size 1	Caffeine Content (mg)2
Coffee
Coffee, brewed	8 ounces	135
Coffee, instant	8 ounces	95
General Foods International Coffee, Cafe Vienna	8 ounces	90
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Mocha	8 ounces	60-65
General Foods International Coffee, Swiss Mocha	8 ounces	55
Maxwell House Cappuccino, French Vanilla or Irish Cream	8 ounces	45-50
General Foods International Coffee, Viennese Chocolate Cafe	8 ounces	26
Maxwell House Cappuccino, decaffeinated	8 ounces	3-6
Coffee, decaffeinated	8 ounces	5
Teas
Celestial Seasonings Iced Lemon Ginseng Tea	16-ounce bottle	100
Bigelow Raspberry Royale Tea	8 ounces	83
Tea, leaf or bag	8 ounces	50
Snapple Iced Tea, all varieties	16-ounce bottle	48
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, unsweetened	8 ounces	25-45
Lipton Tea	8 ounces	35-40
Lipton Iced Tea, assorted varieties	16-ounce bottle	18-40
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, sweetened	8 ounces	15-35
Nestea Pure Sweetened Iced Tea	16-ounce bottle	34
Tea, green	8 ounces	30
Arizona Iced Tea, assorted varieties	16-ounce bottle	15-30
Lipton Soothing Moments Blackberry	Tea 8 ounces	25
Nestea Pure Lemon Sweetened Iced Tea	16-ounce bottle	22
Tea, instant	8 ounces	15
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, diet	8 ounces	10-15
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, decaffeinated	8 ounces	< 5
Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea, all varieties	8 ounces	0
Celestial Seasonings Herbal Iced Tea, bottled	16-ounce bottle	0
Lipton Soothing Moments Peppermint Tea	8 ounces	0
Soft Drinks
Josta	12 ounces	58
Mountain Dew	12 ounces	55
Surge	12 ounces	51
Diet Coke	12 ounces	47
Coca-Cola	12 ounces	45
Dr. Pepper, regular or diet	12 ounces	41
Sunkist Orange Soda	12 ounces	40
Pepsi-Cola	12 ounces	37
Barqs Root Beer	12 ounces	23
7-UP or Diet 7-UP	12 ounces	0
Barqs Diet Root Beer	12 ounces	0
Coca-Cola Caffeine-free or Diet Coke	12 ounces	0
Pepsi Caffeine-free or Diet Pepsi	12 ounces	0
Minute Maid Orange Soda	12 ounces	0
Mug Root Beer	12 ounces	0
Sprite or Diet Sprite	12 ounces	0
Energy Drinks
Red Bull	8.3 ounces	80
Monster	16 ounces	160
Rockstar	16 ounces	160
Cocaine	8.4 ounces	280
Caffeinated Waters
Java Water	½ liter (16.9 ounces)	125
Krank 20	½ liter (16.9 ounces)	100
Aqua Blast	½ liter (16.9 ounces)	90
Water Joe	½ liter (16.9 ounces)	60-70
Aqua Java	½ liter (16.9 ounces)	50-60
Frozen Desserts
Ben & Jerry’s No Fat Coffee Fudge Frozen Yogurt	1 cup	85
Starbucks Coffee Ice Cream, assorted flavors	1 cup	40-60
Häagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream	1 cup	58
Häagen-Dazs Coffee Frozen Yogurt, fat-free	1 cup	40
Häagen-Dazs Coffee Fudge Ice Cream, low-fat	1 cup	30
Starbucks Frappuccino Bar	1 bar (2.5 ounces)	15
Healthy Choice Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk or Cappuccino Mocha Fudge Ice Cream	1 cup	8
Yogurts, one container
Dannon Coffee Yogurt	8 ounces	45
Yoplait Cafe Au Lait Yogurt	6 ounces	5
Dannon Light Cappuccino Yogurt	8 ounces	< 1
Stonyfield Farm Cappuccino Yogurt	8 ounces	0
Chocolates or Candies
Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Bar	1 bar (1.5 ounces)	31
Perugina Milk Chocolate Bar with Cappuccino Filling	1/3 bar (1.2 ounces)	24
Hershey Bar (milk chocolate)	1 bar (1.5 ounces)	10
Coffee Nips (hard candy)	2 pieces	6
Cocoa or Hot Chocolate	8 ounces	5
Over The Counter Drugs
NoDoz, (maximum strength); Vivarin	1 tablet	200
Excedrin	2 tablets	130
NoDoz, (regular strength)	1 tablet	100
Anacin	2 tablets	64

 

1 — Serving sizes are based on commonly eaten portions, pharmaceutical instructions, or the amount of the leading-selling container size. For example, beverages sold in 16-ounce or half-liter bottles were counted as having caffeine content as one serving.

2 — Sources: National Coffee Association, National Soft Drink Association, Tea Council of the USA, and information provided by food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies and J.J. Barone, H.R. Roberts (1996) “Caffeine Consumption.” Food Chemistry and Toxicology, vol. 34, pp. 119-129.