Caffeine is caffeine no matter what, right? Sure, however different brewing methods give us various levels of that much needed caffeine buzz. Whether it’s a strong hit you need after an all-nighter or just a little somethin’ to get you started in the morning, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve taken a look at a few of the most popular brewing methods and caffeine strengths to help you along your way.
POUR OVER/DRIP COFFEE BREW
60-100 milligrams of caffeine.
Back to Basics: No flashing green lights, no electric power cords. Just you and a few simple tools.
An 8-ounce cup of coffee brewed through the pour over/drip method contains about 60-100mg of caffeine.
The variation in the amount of caffeine per cup is due to several factors, including: water temperature, time allotted for the brew and the type of grind, coffee bean, roast, and blend.
FRENCH PRESS COFFEE BREW
80-100 milligrams of caffeine.
If you’re looking for a dense and heavy coffee, here’s the way to go. A typical cup of French pressed coffee has approximately 80-100 milligrams of caffeine.
During the french press method of brewing, grounded coffee is infused with hot water for roughly 4 minutes, however soaking the coffee grounds for longer periods of time results in a higher caffeine content.
Another variable that affects the caffeine yield is the coffee to water ratio. If more coffee is used without changing the water content, the resultant coffee will be higher in caffeine.
ESPRESSO COFFEE BREW
30-50 milligrams of caffeine
Enter espresso, an old classic. A typical shot of espresso, brewed by pouring hot water through finely ground coffee beans, typically contains around 30-50mg of caffeine.
This is much less than coffee brewed by the drip method and the french press.
TURKISH COFFEE BREW
25 - 35 milligrams of caffeine
Typical Turkish coffee, also called Oriental coffee, is made in a cezve/ibrik, a typical long-handled pot made from copper or brass.
Turkish coffee contains about 25-35 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce.
Turkish coffee uses lighter roasted coffee beans, which typically are higher in caffeine content.
The beans are also immersed in water for a long time, which ends up in a greater caffeine yield compared to several other brewing methods.
See how other countries take their coffee here.
INSTANT COFFEE
50-60 milligrams of caffeine (per heaped teaspoon)
Ah, instant coffee. Although it’s not everyone’s cup of tea (or coffee…) we had to include it.
Instant coffee typically has one of the lowest amounts of caffeine with roughly 50-60mg per teaspoon (heaped). It's pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee that is sold in grocery stores and large food retailers. It's prepared simply by scooping the desired amount of coffee grounds into hot water.
DECAFFEINATED COFFEE BREW
2-4 milligrams of caffeine
Surprise! Yep, decaf coffee does indeed contain caffeine. Although people generally assume decaffeinated coffee is completely free of caffeine, an 8-ounce cup of decaffeinated coffee still contains around 2-4mg of caffeine. Not a lot, but it’s still there.
For decaffeinated coffee, coffee beans are placed in a steamer for approximately half an hour.
They are then rinsed repeatedly with a chemical solution for about 30 minutes to remove caffeine from the beans.
Key takeaway - The longer the brew, the higher the caffeine content!
What’s your go-to coffee brew? Let us know in the comments! Want to see what else we're up to? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for coffee updates.
Need an even stronger coffee? Try BIOHAZARD COFFEE — Ground and Whole Bean - contains 928 mg of caffeine per 12 ounce.
