I love coffee. It’s one of those things that almost everybody loves. From its smell to its aroma, there is no such beverage like coffee. And from cappuccino to macchiato there are so many drinks you can make with coffee. And there is a huge hype on it. But have you ever wondered if coffee is really all that good? Is it really something that gives you extra energy to kick start the day?
Oh yes! Sure! Caffeine!
Yes, many would agree that caffeine is good to make you feel more awake and focused. But, first of all, do you know how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee? Well, keep reading and let’s dig into the matter.
How much caffeine in coffee?
First of all let’s understand how much is an average cup of coffee. I will talk here in milliliters (ml) and not ounces (oz) as in use in the United States. The average size of a cup can vary greatly. Are we talking about a cup of espresso or a cup of cappuccino? It all depends on the size of the cup or mug. And that’s not all, in fact, we should take into consideration different factors affecting caffeine content. Aside the serving size, which can vary enormously, and the types of coffee, we have to understand the differences in:
- Coffee beans
- Roast style
- Types of coffee
Types of coffee beans
The two most common types of coffee beans are the Arabica and Robusta types. These are used either alone or in coffee blends.
There are also other two types called Excelsa and Liberica, but their production is minimal.
Arabica coffee (Coffea Arabica), is considered the best variety and therefore is more expensive. consist the 65-70% of worldwide coffee production and originates from Ethiopia. It has a much more complex structure than the Robusta type, higher acidity and its taste tends to be sweet and fruity with a great variety of nuances.
Robusta coffee (Coffea Canephora) originates from West Africa constitutes the rest 30% of global coffee production. It has a higher content of caffeine and it is cheaper than the Arabica. Robusta coffee is characterized by a less complex aroma, lower acidity and a bitter or sour taste.
Roasting
Coffee can be roasted in a light way or dark ways and several ways in between. Lighter roast means more caffeine while darker roasts develop a deeper flavour. The roast style affects greatly the acidity, aroma, body and complexity of the coffee.
Types of coffee
There are really many ways to make coffee. Here is a list of the most popular ones.
- Espresso
- Cappuccino
- Americano
- Ristretto
- Lungo
- Brewed coffee
- Latte
- Macchiato
- Double espresso
- Irish coffee
- Mocha
- Flat white
- Cold brew
- Frappuccino
- Mocacchino
- Instant coffee
- Cortado
Ok, now that we know a bit more about coffee, let’s go back to our point: how much caffeine in a cup of coffee?
Espresso
A cup of espresso can vary from 30 to 50 ml containing around 63 mg of caffeine. A double espresso simply contains double the amount of caffeine, namely about 125 mg.
Espresso-based drinks
Since many coffee styles are based on a regular espresso with the addition of milf, foam etc., these drinks contain the same amount of caffeine according to their size of course.
Brewed coffee
Brewed coffee, also called regular coffee, is the simplest way of making coffee. To make a cup, simply pour hot water over ground coffee beans and that’s it. An average cup of instant coffee is between 200 and 250 ml and contains 70-140 mg of caffeine. On average a cup of brewed coffee is considered to have a caffeine content of 95 mg.
Instant coffee
Instant coffee is made of brewed coffee that has been dried and is water soluble. It usually contains less caffeine than regular coffee and on average a cup contains between 30 and 90 mg of caffeine.
Decaf coffee
What? Wait! Decaf coffee doesn’t mean coffee without caffeine? I am deadly sorry to tell you that unfortunately also decaf coffee is not completely caffeine-free. Its caffeine content ranges between 0 and 7 mg, with the average cup containing 3 mg of caffeine.
If coffee doesn’t tickle your taste buds or you are not sure about its health benefits, what about a good cup of tea?