Caffeine in Coffee and Café Drinks: Quick Reference Guide
Caffeine varies by café, shot count, cup size, brew strength, and dilution. This guide compares common café drinks using standard reference servings so you can scan and compare them quickly.
For most drinks, JavaHatch caffeine estimates use a standard 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) serving. Some drinks, such as espresso, cappuccino, and flat white, are shown in their traditional smaller serving sizes because the size is part of the drink.
Caffeine Quick Reference
Drinks are arranged from lowest to highest typical caffeine range, based on the upper end of each estimate. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Babyccino Small cup | 0 mg | None |
| Lavender Steamer 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 0 mg | None |
| Rooibos Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 0 mg | None |
| Steamer 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 0 mg | None |
| Turmeric Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 0 mg | None |
| Ube Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 0 mg | None |
| Hot Chocolate 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 0–15 mg | Low |
| Hojicha Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 15–30 mg | Low |
| Cascara Tea 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 20–40 mg | Low |
| Chai Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 40–70 mg | Medium |
| English Breakfast Tea 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 40–70 mg | Medium |
| London Fog 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 40–70 mg | Medium |
| Yerba Mate 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 40–80 mg | Medium |
| Affogato 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Cappuccino 5–6 oz (≈150–180 ml) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Espresso 30 ml (≈1 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Espresso Tonic 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Matcha Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Oat Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Pistachio Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Spanish Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Vanilla Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–80 mg | Medium |
| Masala Chai 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 50–90 mg | Medium |
| Ristretto 15–30 ml (≈0.5–1 oz) | 50–90 mg | Medium |
| Thai Iced Tea 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 50–90 mg | Medium |
| Mocha 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 60–90 mg | Medium |
| Cortado 4–5 oz (≈120–150 ml) | 60–120 mg | Medium-High |
| Flat White 5–6 oz (≈150–180 ml) | 60–120 mg | Medium-High |
| Macchiato 2–3 oz (≈60–90 ml) | 60–120 mg | Medium-High |
| Iced Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 65–130 mg | Medium-High |
| Iced Oat Latte 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 65–130 mg | Medium-High |
| Dirty Chai 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 110–135 mg | Medium-High |
| Caramel Macchiato 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 80–150 mg | Medium-High |
| Mazagran 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 80–150 mg | Medium-High |
| Drip Coffee 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 100–150 mg | Medium-High |
| Iced Coffee 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 80–160 mg | High |
| Protein Coffee 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 80–160 mg | High |
| Americano 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 120–160 mg | High |
| Cold Brew 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 120–200 mg | High |
| Nitro Cold Brew 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 120–200 mg | High |
| Pour Over 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 120–200 mg | High |
| Vietnamese Iced Coffee 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 150–200 mg | High |
| Red Eye 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) | 180–200 mg | High |
Tap a drink name to see details, including why caffeine varies.
How to Read the Caffeine Levels
The levels in the table are editorial categories for scanning, not medical categories. They are based on the upper end of each drink’s typical caffeine range.
- None: 0 mg — no coffee or caffeinated tea.
- Low: 1–50 mg — typically herbal infusions, very light teas, or trace caffeine from cocoa.
- Medium: 51–100 mg — most standard espresso drinks and brewed teas.
- Medium-High: 101–150 mg — larger espresso drinks, drip coffee, and tea-plus-espresso combinations.
- High: 151+ mg — cold brew, americanos, and other concentrated coffee drinks.
Which Café Drinks Have the Most Caffeine?
For a standard 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) serving, a red eye typically lands around 180–200 mg of caffeine, while cold brew and nitro cold brew often land around 120–200 mg depending on concentration. Vietnamese iced coffee is also typically high in caffeine because it uses strongly brewed coffee.
Cold brew is often made as a concentrate, so the final caffeine amount depends heavily on how much it is diluted before serving. Red eye combines drip coffee with an added espresso shot, which is why it consistently ranks high.
Which Café Drinks Have the Least Caffeine?
Drinks made without coffee or caffeinated tea contain no caffeine. Babyccino, steamer, lavender steamer, turmeric latte, ube latte, and rooibos latte are all caffeine-free by default.
Among drinks that do contain caffeine, hot chocolate contains only a small amount from cocoa (typically under 15 mg). Hojicha latte is also low because roasting reduces some of the caffeine in green tea leaves.
Chai latte usually contains less caffeine than coffee drinks of the same size, and noticeably less than a matcha latte.
Why Caffeine Varies by Café
Two cups of the same drink can have noticeably different caffeine amounts. The main reasons are:
- Number of espresso shots (one vs two)
- Cup size (larger drinks may include more shots to keep the ratio balanced)
- Brew strength for drip coffee and pour-over
- Cold brew concentration and how much it is diluted before serving
- Amount of tea powder, concentrate, or steep time
- Whether chocolate, cocoa, or other small caffeine sources are included
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
For most healthy adults, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cites 400 mg of caffeine per day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects. This is not a target amount, and individual tolerance varies. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking certain medications, or sensitive to caffeine should ask a healthcare professional about their own limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which coffee drink has the most caffeine?
Among common café drinks, red eye and cold brew are usually among the highest-caffeine options. A 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) red eye typically contains around 180–200 mg of caffeine, while cold brew often contains 120–200 mg depending on concentration and dilution. Vietnamese iced coffee is also typically high in caffeine because it uses strongly brewed coffee.
Does a latte have caffeine?
Yes. A 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) latte typically contains about 60–80 mg of caffeine if made with one espresso shot. A latte made with two shots contains more.
Does a matcha latte have caffeine?
Yes. A 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) matcha latte typically contains about 60–80 mg of caffeine, depending on how much matcha powder is used.
Which has less caffeine, chai latte or matcha latte?
Chai latte usually has less caffeine than matcha latte. A 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) chai latte typically contains 40–70 mg, while a matcha latte usually contains 60–80 mg.
Does hot chocolate have caffeine?
Hot chocolate usually has only a small amount of caffeine from cocoa — typically under 15 mg per 250 ml (≈8.5 oz) serving. This is much less than coffee or tea-based café drinks.