When it comes to caffeine, the amount in coffee can vary wildly depending on many factors, including; what beans you use, the method you use to brew the coffee, even how you grind the beans can all play a role in the final amount of caffeine.
According to the FDA, an average 8oz cup of coffee contains anywhere from 80 – 100 mg of caffeine. As a comparison, a can of soda of the same size contains around 20 – 26 mg of caffeine.
What Coffee Brands Claim To Be The World’s Strongest Coffee?
Black Label
- STRONGEST COFFEE IN THE WORLD: Black Label is an amalgamation of the...
- HIGH CAFFEINE GROUND ORGANIC COFFEE: An organic strong coffee with high...
- DARK BOLD BLEND: Black label serves you with a unique dark roast coffee...
- FAIR TRADE AND USDA ORGANIC: Devil mountain coffee’s Black label is a...
- 2X CAFFEINE THAN AVERAGE CUP OF COFFEE: If you are mad for high-powered...
Last update on 2023-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sweet baby Jesus… When I first heard about Black Label by Devil Mountain Coffee Co, I have to admit I was a little scared… It comes in at number 1 because of the massive amount of caffeine it packs. A whopping 1555mg, according to the Caffeine Informer. Drinking one cup of this coffee is like having 6 12oz cups of coffee at once. This coffee should be enjoyed with caution.
Shock Coffee
- Wake Up, Work Smarter, Play Harder with Extra Kick in Every Sip
- Medium to Dark Roast Smooth Bold Flavor - No Need for Milk or Cream
- All Natural. Extra Caffeine comes from Select Delicioso Beans. No...
- Served on 350+ U.S. military bases worldwide. Used by troops to stay alert...
- Shock + Gym = Focus better, Lift more, Run faster, Spin longer, Lose weight...
Last update on 2023-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Next on the list is Shock Coffee based out of New York, they claim to have twice as much caffeine as an average cup of coffee. So this comes out to around 320+- mg of caffeine per 12oz cup. While it doesn’t have as much caffeine as the other coffees on this list, it still packs a punch and has great flavor.
Death Wish Coffee
- DAY STARTER GROUND COFFEE: Get a pound of power & energy every morning with...
- QUALITY BREW COFFEE GROUNDS DARK: Transform your basic cup into an intense...
- STRONG COFFEE GROUND: Enjoy the best ground coffee you'll ever taste! Made...
- SMOOTH DARK GROUND COFFEE: Brew our best coffees made with a slow batch...
- TRY IT RISK-FREE: The Death Wish Promise is that our organic ground coffee...
Last update on 2023-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Death Wish Coffee is great if you want to die!
I am just kidding. Online reviews of this coffee have many users stating they have more energy after drinking this coffee. Some users even went on to start projects they had been putting off and cleaning their entire house! I agree with this statement as I’m currently drinking this coffee as I type this article; it took about 15 minutes from the first sip till the caffeine kicked in, but when it did BOOM! I could write all day!
The suggested ratio is 2 1/2 Tablespoons per 6 oz. of water. Most other coffee brands recommend two tablespoons per 6oz, so this extra 1/2 can add to Deathwish’s extra kick of caffeine. It has a very smooth flavor, not bitter at all. Users who have complained about the bitterness seem to be because they got a bad batch.
Death wish coffee’s customer service is top-notch! They are fast to respond to questions and back their product with a “100% No-BS Guarantee” in other words, if you don’t like the coffee, you can get a new bag or your money back. Having a guarantee like this shows they stand behind their products.
What Coffee Has The Least Amount Of Caffeine?
Maybe high-powered coffee isn’t your cup of… well, coffee… In that case, the following brands are some of my favorite coffees when you want a delicious cup of coffee but don’t want the side effects that can sometimes accompany a strong cup of coffee.
![Mama Joe Organic Half Caff Coffee [Ground] - Low Acid, Low Caffeine Coffee for Pregnancy - Naturally Decaffeinated Using Mountain Water](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/417XT8BfmbL.jpg)
Last update on 2023-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How Does Bean Type Affect The Caffeine In Your Coffee?
The beans themselves play a significant role when it comes to choosing a coffee high in caffeine. The type of bean can determine how much kick your cup of joe will pack. There are around 30 different types of coffee beans worldwide, but for this article, we will focus on the two most popular: Arabica and Robusta.
According to a 2016 study1, Robusta coffee beans typically contain around twice as much caffeine (68.6–81.6 g of caffeine per kg) as Arabica beans (34.1–38.5 g of caffeine per kg ). So if you’re looking for coffee high in caffeine, be sure it contains Robusta coffee beans!
ARABICA BEANS
Arabica beans are the most popular coffee beans in the world. According to a study by the USDA – Foreign Agricultural Service 2. The Arabica Beans make up around 60% of all coffee produced worldwide. Also known as “Mountain Coffee” because it grows best at higher altitudes and is often grown in hilly areas3. This bean is thought to have been the first species of coffee to be cultivated. As far as flavor is concerned, Arabica beans have a sweeter, smoother taste than other beans such as Robusta.
ROBUSTA BEANS
The Robusta variety of coffee beans makes up around 35% of coffee worldwide. As I mentioned before, the Robusta species of coffee beans have almost double the caffeine of the Arabic species. This makes Robusta perfect if you’re looking for a cup of coffee high in caffeine. With this extra caffeine come some drawbacks; people have described Robusta as having a more brunt rubber bitter taste than Arabic; it also contains less sugar. For this reason, you will find some coffees with mixtures of both species of coffee beans. Not only does this help to balance the flavor of the coffee, but it can also affect the amount of caffeine each cup produces.
Can How You Brew Affect The Amount Of Caffeine?
In short, YES! Several factors can affect the amount of caffeine that is extracted from the coffee you brew. These factors are Brew Style, Brew Time, Water Temperature, and even how you grind the beans!
How Does Brewing Style Affect Caffeine Levels?
When trying to get the most caffeine out of your beans, the brewing style you use can affect the amount of caffeine you’re able to extract. Utilizing a type with a more immersion brewing technique such as a French press or an AeroPress can result in more caffeine being extracted. This is due to more surface area of the coffee bean being exposed while in the water. You are also able to leave the coffee in the water longer, adding to the extraction process.
How Does Brew Time Affect Caffeine Levels?
Brew time can affect the amount of caffeine extracted from your coffee, no matter which brand of coffee you chose to use. The longer you let the beans soak, the stronger your coffee will become. Soaking your beans for a long time does come with a caveat; too long can turn the coffee bitter, so you have to have a delicate balance between strength and flavor.
How Does Water Temperature Affect Caffeine Levels?
According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), the recommended temperature for optimal coffee extraction is 195° to 205° Fahrenheit. When boiling the water for your coffee after letting it come to a boil, please turn it off and let it sit for a minute or two to settle.
If the water temperature is too low, it can lead to under-extraction, causing the coffee to be weak and taste flat. On the other hand, if the water temperature is too hot, it can affect the coffee’s natural flavor.
How Does Grind Size Affect Caffeine Levels?
When it comes to grinding coffee, size matters; depending on how you plan to brew your coffee will determine how you grind coffee. As a general rule, if your coffee comes out too strong, it is either brewed too long or ground too fine; conversely, if it’s too flat or weak, it wasn’t brewed long enough, and the grind was too coarse. It is a fine balancing act when it comes to making the perfect cup of coffee…
How Much Caffeine Is Safe?
According to an FDA study, for an average healthy adult 400 mg, a day is a safe level of caffeine. For children 13-18 years old, the safe level is 100 mg a day. Pregnant women should look to only consume 100-200 mg a day at most.
What Does 400 mg Of Caffeine Look Like?
It’s easy to say only drink 400 mg of caffeine a day, but precisely what does that look like? Below is a list of some popular Starbucks drinks and how much caffeine they contain per serving.
Last update on 2023-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
To put it in perspective, 400 mg of caffeine is equal to about 5 shots of espresso, 5 shots of Red Bulls, or around 12 cans of coke.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to drink coffee with excessive amounts of caffeine or a brew low in caffeine, one thing to keep in mind is to do so in moderation. While there are many benefits of drinking coffee, drinking too much can have just the opposite effect.
