Coffee vs Tea vs Energy Drinks
Compare up to 5 beverages side-by-side to see which packs the most caffeine per serving. Pick from coffee, espresso, tea, soda, energy drinks, and chocolate — the bar chart and stat cards show exact mg, calories, and serving size at a glance.
Caffeine per serving
Bars are normalized to one serving of each beverage — the serving size is shown below each bar.
Coffee vs tea: which has more caffeine?
Cup for cup, brewed coffee has roughly twice the caffeine of black tea and three times the caffeine of green tea. An 8 oz cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, compared to 47 mg in black tea, 38 mg in oolong, 28 mg in green tea, and 25 mg in white tea. The difference comes down to brewing method (coffee uses more grounds per ounce of water) and the natural caffeine content of coffee beans versus tea leaves.
Espresso is a special case. A 1 oz shot of espresso has 63 mg of caffeine — far more concentrated per ounce than brewed coffee. But because a typical espresso drink (latte, cappuccino) uses only 1–2 shots, the total caffeine per drink is usually lower than a 12 oz cup of drip coffee. A double-shot latte at Starbucks has about 150 mg of caffeine, while a 16 oz Pike Place has 310 mg.
Matcha is another interesting comparison. Because matcha uses the entire powdered leaf (rather than steeping and discarding the leaves), a single teaspoon (2 g) of matcha delivers about 70 mg of caffeine — more than most cups of brewed tea, though less than a cup of coffee.
Energy drinks vs coffee
Energy drinks are often perceived as more powerful than coffee, but the numbers tell a different story. An 8.4 oz Red Bull has only 80 mg of caffeine — less than a single 8 oz cup of brewed coffee. A 16 oz Monster has 160 mg, comparable to a typical 12 oz coffee shop latte with two shots. The "energy" feeling from these drinks comes as much from the sugar, B-vitamins, taurine, and carbonation as from the caffeine itself.
The exception is high-performance energy drinks. A 16 oz Bang Energy has 300 mg of caffeine — as much as three cups of coffee in a single can. A 12 oz Celsius has 200 mg, and a 2 oz 5-Hour Energy shot has 200 mg in a tiny serving. If you drink these, be very aware that one can put you at 50–75% of the daily safe limit.
Hidden caffeine: chocolate and supplements
Don't forget that caffeine shows up outside the beverage aisle. An ounce of 70–85% dark chocolate has about 23 mg of caffeine. An 8 oz hot chocolate has 12 mg. A single scoop of pre-workout powder often contains 175 mg or more. And 1 oz of chocolate-covered espresso beans can deliver 227 mg of caffeine — more than two cups of coffee in a small handful. Use the comparison tool above to stack any of these against your favorite drink.