Caffeine Comparison Chart: Coffee, Espresso, Tea, Soda & Energy Drinks
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Short answer: brewed coffee usually has more caffeine per serving than tea or cola, while espresso packs a lot into a small volume. The actual number changes with serving size, coffee, preparation, and brand. A chart is useful only when you compare like with like.
This guide uses published U.S. consumer-reference estimates. It is not a lab analysis of Coffee Bop coffee, and no chart can tell you the exact caffeine in every cup you brew at home.
Caffeine comparison chart
| Drink | Typical serving | Typical caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Brewed coffee | 8 fl oz | 96 mg |
| Espresso | 1 fl oz | 63 mg |
| Decaf brewed coffee | 8 fl oz | 1 mg* |
| Black tea | 8 fl oz | 48 mg |
| Green tea | 8 fl oz | 29 mg |
| Cola | 8 fl oz | 33 mg |
| Energy drink | 8 fl oz | 79 mg |
| Energy shot | 2 fl oz | 200 mg |
*Decaf does not mean caffeine-free. The FDA notes that decaf coffee can still contain caffeine, and the amount varies.
These serving estimates come from the Mayo Clinic’s caffeine guide. The FDA also emphasizes that real-world caffeine varies by product and serving size. That is the part most viral comparison charts skip.
Why coffee numbers vary so much
“A cup of coffee” is not a fixed unit. An 8-ounce mug, a 12-ounce café serving, and a 20-ounce travel cup are different comparisons before the beans even enter the conversation. The amount extracted also shifts with the coffee itself, the dose, grind, water, method, brew time, and how much you drink.
The FDA gives a wider category estimate of 113 to 247 mg for regular brewed coffee, showing why a single number should be treated as a useful reference point rather than a promise.
Does espresso have more caffeine than coffee?
Per ounce, usually yes. Espresso is concentrated: the Mayo Clinic lists about 63 mg in one ounce. But a standard mug of brewed coffee contains more liquid and often more total caffeine. “More caffeinated” only makes sense when you say whether you mean per ounce or per drink.
Does dark roast have more caffeine?
Not in a way that makes roast color a reliable caffeine shortcut. Dose, recipe, and serving size matter more than the label alone. Read our guide to the dark-roast caffeine myth for the longer answer.
What about cold brew?
Cold brew can look high in caffeine because many recipes begin as concentrate. Whether the glass in front of you has more caffeine than drip coffee depends on the coffee dose, the concentrate, the dilution, and the size of the final drink. There is no honest universal number for “cold brew caffeine.”
How much caffeine is too much?
For most adults, the FDA cites 400 mg per day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects. Individual sensitivity varies, and people who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, breastfeeding, taking certain medications, or managing a health condition should get personal guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
How much caffeine is in Coffee Bop coffee?
We do not publish a lab-tested milligram number for each Coffee Bop bag, because the exact number can change with the coffee and your brew. Use the chart to compare drink types, then make your own recipe consistent: weigh the coffee, note the serving size, and pay attention to how it lands for you.
If you are tracking caffeine closely, write down the coffee dose, water amount, yield, and number of servings in the batch. That gives you a more honest personal reference than treating every mug, cold brew, or café drink as the same “cup.”
The useful takeaway
If you want a straightforward daily baseline, compare your actual drink size instead of chasing a dramatic number online. A measured 8-ounce brewed coffee, a one-ounce espresso, and a 16-ounce energy drink are three different decisions.
Shop Coffee Bop coffee when you are ready to make the next cup count.