How Much Caffeine Is in Coffee?

The short answer

A café espresso in Australia averages about 106mg of caffeine, but shots range from about 25mg to over 200mg. A teaspoon of instant has about 60 to 80mg. For healthy adults, up to about 400mg a day is generally considered safe, and up to 200mg a day during pregnancy.

By The Killer Coffee team

Café espressoAbout 106mg (25–214mg)

Instant, 1 teaspoonAbout 60–80mg

Healthy adultsUp to about 400mg a day

PregnancyUp to 200mg a day

In this guide

Caffeine by drink
Why the numbers vary so much
How much caffeine is in Killer Coffee?
How much is too much?
How long does caffeine last?

There's no single answer, because caffeine changes with the bean, how much coffee goes in, and how it's brewed. Here are typical figures, our own blends, and how much is too much.

Caffeine by drink

Drink	Typical caffeine
Café espresso (single shot)	About 106mg on average, but anywhere from 25 to 214mg
Instant coffee (1 teaspoon)	About 60–80mg
Filter or plunger coffee (240mL mug)	Around 95mg, depending on how much coffee is used
Nespresso Original capsule	About 40–130mg, depending on the capsule
Cold brew	Varies widely with the recipe and how much it's diluted
Decaf	A few milligrams

The espresso figures come from Australian lab tests of café coffee. In one study of 97 Gold Coast cafés, the strongest shot had more than eight times the caffeine of the weakest.

Why the numbers vary so much

The bean: robusta has roughly twice the caffeine of arabica.
The dose: more coffee in means more caffeine out. This is the biggest lever.
The brew: a finer grind and a longer brew pull out a little more.
The roast: makes little difference. A dark roast tastes bolder but isn't meaningfully more caffeinated.

More on this in what makes coffee strong.

How much caffeine is in Killer Coffee?

Blend	Caffeine per 100mL
Medium Roast	60mg (average strength)
Industrial Strength	180mg (about 3x the average)
Darkerside	180mg (about 3x the average)
Blackout	700mg+

Blackout is seriously strong. At 700mg+ per 100mL, a small cup can be more than a healthy adult's daily guideline of 400mg. Go easy, have one, and skip it if you're sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or under 18.

How much is too much?

Healthy adults: up to about 400mg a day is generally considered safe. Regularly having more than 600mg a day can cause problems.
Pregnant or breastfeeding: no more than 200mg a day, counting every source, including tea, cola, chocolate and some medicines.
Children and teens: high-caffeine coffee isn't recommended.

Signs you've had too much: a racing heart, the jitters, anxiety, an upset stomach, a headache, or trouble sleeping. People vary a lot, so go by how you feel.

How long does caffeine last?

Your body clears about half the caffeine in around 5 hours, though it's anywhere from about 3 to 7 hours for most adults. Pregnancy and some medicines slow it down a lot.

In one sleep study, 400mg of caffeine taken 6 hours before bed still cut sleep by more than an hour, and the people in it didn't notice.

If sleep matters, make the early afternoon your last coffee.

The bottom line

An average café espresso has about 106mg of caffeine, but it varies a lot. Keep to about 400mg a day if you're a healthy adult, 200mg if you're pregnant, and know how strong your coffee is before you pour a second cup.