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Caffeine In Coffee And Espresso
Which one has more caffeine, brewed coffee or espresso? Let's find out.
Published October 24, 2021
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Joachim Estal
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Coffee is the best energy booster. Whether it's a long night or a lazy morning, we somehow require that dose of caffeine to keep us moving. And depending on how tired or sleepy we are, we take a different coffee beverage every time.
Drinking a brewed coffee or an espresso are two usual options during those most exhausting moments. Most people assume that the latter actually has more caffeine; thus, it is the better choice to really get your nerves at their prime. But is this all true or just another coffee misconception?
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is defined as a natural stimulant for the brain and the central nervous system that helps keep one alert. This is mainly found in coffee, tea, and cacao products.
Caffeine is known to have lots of benefits aside from preventing you from the onset of tiredness. It is known to provide benefits for mood, brain function, metabolism, fat-burning, and even health conditions like diabetes and heart diseases. At the same time, it also has some negative side effects on the body if taken excessively, such as anxiety, tremors, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
How Much Caffeine Can I Take?
In general, the recommended caffeine intake per person is 400 milligrams a day–that's about 4 regular-sized brewed coffee or 5 doppios. However, it actually varies from person to person. Your caffeine tolerance may allow you to have more or less than that amount.
The important thing here is to know your own body. It would tell you if you already had more than what it could handle. If you don't want to face possible consequences on your health, don't drink beyond your limit.
Caffeine In Brewed Coffee
One cup of regular black coffee does not appear and taste as concentrated as the espresso. And so, this also means that there are fewer acids, aromas, and even caffeine present in this beverage. In general, an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee has around 65 to 120 milligrams of caffeine.
With that being said, we should also consider several aspects that can dictate the level of caffeine in coffee as the variety or species and brewing method used. Robusta beans naturally have more caffeine than the Arabica species. In addition, more coffee is used when brewing using a coffee-maker and, as a result, will generally have more caffeine than a cup brewed in a French press.
Caffeine In Espresso
An espresso is a form of concentrated coffee made by forcing water through grounds by means of high pressure. It is the base of famous coffee beverages like lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites. So, how many milligrams of caffeine in a shot of espresso? Does espresso have more caffeine than coffee? Is espresso stronger than coffee?
There is about 60-100 mg of caffeine in espresso (double shot, 1.5 ounces). However, other reasons may affect the caffeine content in each espresso we pull, such as the coffee's geographic origin and roasting profile. At the same time, coffee shops have varying recipe standards and may also yield differences in caffeine levels.
Which Has More Caffeine: Coffee Or Espresso?
Does espresso have more caffeine? Or does brewed coffee win this contest? Considering the numbers that we have collected, it's obvious that a cup of brewed coffee has more caffeine than espresso. But we also have to take into account the serving size and how much we drink every day. A 12-ounce cup of drip coffee has about 150 milligrams of caffeine. However, a quad (four-shot) vanilla latte of the same size will contain more caffeine despite having milk and sugar syrup.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the amount of caffeine in coffee, brewed over any method, is generally higher than there is how much caffeine in espresso–well, most of the time. However, no matter which one wins this comparison, we should never forget to only consume the amount that our body can take.
About the author
Joachim Estal
8-year barista for a world-class coffee chain from the Philippines. Passionate writer and coffee champion. "Coffee has always been one of my biggest love interests in life. And I am here to share it with all of you through this platform."
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