Last Updated on October 12, 2022 by Timothy Byron Smith
If you’re adulting in 2022, chances are you have made caffeine your best friend. There are different beverages in the form of which one can consume caffeine. Some feel they need just a minimal dose of caffeine to get started with their day. While some think they need something that packs a powerful punch and is loaded with caffeine.
But how does one differentiate which drink has more caffeine? Is it the aroma? Is it the color? Or does a bitter flavor mean more caffeine? Many people in the coffee community judge their coffee’s caffeine concentration on the time taken to roast the beans. So does it mean a dark roast holds more caffeine than a light roast?
If you have ever jumped on the espresso vs coffee bandwagon, you might have developed misconceptions on which drink has more caffeine. This is why we have brought together hard-hitting facts on how much caffeine is in an espresso vs coffee, that will surprise you in more than one way.
How Much Caffeine is in An Espresso
Since espresso is darker in color, bolder and bitter in taste, it is a general perception that espresso caffeine content is greater than a cup of coffee. So is it, really? To find out if this is true or not, you’d need to continue reading.
Caffeine in a Single Shot of Espresso
Let’s get down to the numbers first. A single brewed espresso shot is one ounce and the caffeine in an espresso shot is 64 milligrams. This quantity is subject to medium roasted beans that are finely ground and brewed to perfection. In cases otherwise, the espresso caffeine amount may also drop to 47 milligrams in a single shot.
Caffeine in a Double Shot of Espresso
Now if you double the numbers, you would find out that a double shot has double the caffeine. That means a 2 ounces espresso shot has 128 milligrams of caffeine.
Caffeine in Decaf Espresso Beans
If you are surprised to see us talking about the caffeine content in decaf espresso beans, let us break it down to you: Decaf still has caffeine! The process of decaffeination removes 97% of the caffeine from your coffee. Decaf Espresso contains up to 15.8 milligrams of caffeine per shot.
Espresso Vs Coffee: Which is Higher in Caffeine?
So what is the real deal? Is the caffeine in espresso beans higher than that in coffee beans? Well, let’s get down to the hard facts about espresso vs coffee:
If you compare ounce to ounce, one ounce of espresso has 64 milligrams of caffeine whereas there are 12 milligrams of caffeine in a single ounce of coffee. If you look at it this way, an espresso shot has more caffeine than coffee.
But here is the catch! No one ever takes just one ounce of coffee. A regular coffee serving is approximately 8 ounces which translates to a 96 milligrams content of caffeine. If you compare the servings, a brewed cup of coffee has more caffeine than a shot of espresso.
So if you are looking for something with less caffeine, you can ask the barista for an espresso.
What Is an Excessive Amount of Caffeine?
Are you reliant on coffee or caffeinated beverages to help you get through the day? Are you concerned that your caffeine consumption is increasing with every passing day? Are you concerned about your health?
Let’s stop the think tank for a moment! According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, a healthy consumption of caffeine is around 400 milligrams daily. This translates to approximately 4 cups of 8-ounce coffee or 10 soda cans. An alarming amount of caffeine is if you exceed this limit and have a daily consumption of 500-600 milligrams of caffeine.
So if you feel you’ve not reached that limit, you are good to go and can continue with your daily consumption.
Caffeine in Espresso (in mg)
If you ever feel embarrassed asking the barista about the caffeine content in a venti or different espresso shots and they give you a weird look, we are here to rescue you. We have gathered a quick and easy to read guide that will let you in on the caffeine content in espresso and espresso-based drinks.
- Single Shot espresso: 75 milligram (Starbucks)
- Double Espresso Shot: 150mg
- Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato: 75 milligram for short or tall
- Mocha: 90mg for short or tall
- Americano: 75 milligram for short and 150 milligram for tall
Which Espresso has the Lowest Caffeine Content?
Now if you are an espresso lover but also wish to cut down on your daily caffeine consumption, we have got just the perfect solution. With different espresso shots available, we have picked the one with the least espresso shot caffeine content.
A single ristretto shot has the least caffeine content as compared to other espressos. This is made from 7 grams of dark roasted Robusta beans. These are less finely ground to pull a shot. If you want to further reduce the caffeine content, you can order decaffeinated coffee.
Amount of Caffeine in a Blonde Espresso
The Starbuck’s famous blonde espresso has been making quite the news lately. Less bitter than the regular espresso, the blonde is a perfect choice for those who enjoy the less bold features of coffee. But what about its caffeine content?
What is Blonde Espresso?
A blonde is an espresso shot made from lightly roasted beans. It gets its name from the light color it has as compared to the dark roasted espresso. Its lighter and smoother taste and texture are perfect for people who enjoy the less intense features of coffee.
Caffeine Content
When the blonde espresso was launched by Starbucks, people mistook it to have lesser caffeine concentration than the original espresso. You might not want to confuse the color of the beverage with the intensity of the espresso caffeine content.
If truth be told, a single shot of blonde espresso has 85 milligrams of caffeine as compared to the regular 64 milligrams of caffeine in regular espresso.
Caffeine-Reducing Methods
Now if you have been trying to cut down on your caffeine consumption, but fail to do so, we have some tips that will help you out. A heavy dose of caffeine isn’t healthy but we will never advise you to stop taking your regular coffee. There are a couple of neat tricks that will help you slowly but surely reduce your daily consumption.
- If you are ordering an espresso, stick to a single shot!
- If you’re really looking out to cut down your caffeine content, then you will have to stop other caffeinated beverages such as sodas or tea.
- If you are brewing yourself some coffee, remember to do it in small amounts. Use a demitasse (an espresso cup) even when drinking tea or coffee.
Caffeine in an Espresso Shot: FAQs
Does Espresso Have More Caffeine than Coffee?
If you talk about caffeine per ounce, 1 ounce of espresso has 64 milligrams of caffeine whereas a single ounce of coffee has approximately 12 milligrams of caffeine. But unlike espresso, coffee is consumed more than just an ounce in a serving. So you consume more caffeine in a cup of brewed coffee than in a single shot of espresso.
Is 4 shots of espresso a lot of caffeine?
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, a daily 400 milligrams of caffeine consumption is considered healthy. So 4 shots of espresso that contain 212 milligrams of caffeine are not unhealthy.
Is 3 shots of espresso a lot of caffeine?
3 shots of espresso have around 200 milligrams of caffeine. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, a 400 milligrams daily consumption of caffeine is considered healthy for the body. So 3 shots of espresso isn’t an overdose of caffeine.
Conclusion
Now you know all there is to know about how much caffeine is in an espresso. This way you can make an informed choice when it comes to selecting your everyday caffeinated drink.
So whether it is a regular drip coffee, latte, cappuccino, or a single espresso shot, you know what is a safe amount of daily caffeine consumption.
