The Short Answer
A typical 12-ounce mug of brewed coffee has roughly 140 to 200 mg of caffeine. But caffeine in coffee is not one fixed number, and a double espresso, a French press, and a cold brew can land in very different places. Here is the full breakdown.
Caffeine by Brew Method
| Brew method (12 oz serving, unless noted) | Typical caffeine range |
|---|---|
| Drip / batch brew | 140 to 200 mg |
| Pour over (V60, Chemex) | 150 to 220 mg |
| French press | 150 to 220 mg |
| Cold brew | 200 to 300 mg |
| Espresso (double shot, 2 oz) | About 125 mg |
| Instant coffee | 90 to 120 mg |
| Decaf (any method) | 5 to 15 mg |
Typical ranges only. Actual caffeine varies with the beans, the coffee to water ratio, grind size, and brew time.
What Actually Determines the Caffeine in Your Cup
1. How much coffee you use
This is the big one. Caffeine scales almost directly with dose: more grounds, more caffeine. A 1:15 ratio will always out-caffeinate a 1:17 ratio of the same beans.
2. The bean species
Robusta beans contain roughly twice the caffeine of arabica. Most specialty coffee, including everything we roast at ARDITO, is 100% arabica, which means smoother flavor and moderate caffeine. That extra strong gas station coffee? Often robusta.
3. Brew method and contact time
Longer water contact extracts more caffeine. That is why French press and cold brew, with their long steep times, tend to run higher than a quick pour over, and why cold brew concentrate can be the heavyweight of the group.
4. Serving size
An espresso shot (about 63 mg per ounce) is more concentrated than drip, but a full 12-ounce mug of drip contains more total caffeine than a double shot. Concentration and total content are different things, and total content is what you feel.
Does Dark Roast Have More Caffeine?
No, and this is the most common caffeine myth in coffee. Roasting burns off a tiny bit of caffeine, but the difference between light and dark roast is negligible. Measured by weight, they are virtually identical. Measured by scoop, light roast actually has slightly more caffeine, because light roast beans are denser and you fit more coffee mass in the same scoop. That bold feeling comes from the stronger flavor, not the chemistry. For the full flavor story, see our light roast vs dark roast guide.
How ARDITO Roasts Compare
Since roast level barely moves the needle, what matters is how you brew. Here is where our lineup lands in a typical 12-ounce brew:
| Coffee | Style | Caffeine level |
|---|---|---|
| Riserva Nero | Dark roast espresso | Bold flavor, standard arabica caffeine |
| Riserva Velocità | Medium dark, built for milk drinks | Standard, cuts through milk without the jitters |
| Riserva Originale | Balanced daily drinker | Your everyday baseline |
| Riserva Essenza | Light medium | Same caffeine, brighter and livelier cup |
| Monorigine Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelbesa | Organic single origin | Delicate flavor, standard caffeine |
Want the most caffeine per cup? Brew any of them as a strong French press or cold brew. Want less? Go half-caf by blending with decaf, or brew a smaller ratio.
Coffee vs. Everything Else
| Drink | Serving | Typical caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| ARDITO drip (typical) | 12 oz | 140 to 200 mg |
| Starbucks Pike Place | 16 oz (Grande) | About 310 mg |
| Dunkin' brewed | 14 oz (Medium) | About 210 mg |
| Celsius energy drink | 12 oz | About 200 mg |
| Red Bull | 8.4 oz | About 80 mg |
| Black tea | 8 oz | About 47 mg |
| Coca-Cola | 12 oz | About 34 mg |
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
The FDA cites 400 mg per day, roughly two to three mugs of strong coffee, as an amount not generally associated with negative effects in healthy adults. Sensitivity varies a lot from person to person, and caffeine's half-life is about 5 to 6 hours, which is why that 4 PM cup can still be with you at 10 PM. If coffee ever makes you jittery, the fix usually is not a different roast. It is a smaller dose, a coarser grind, or an earlier cutoff time.
The Bottom Line
Caffeine is mostly about how much coffee you use and how you brew it, not the roast level, not the brand, and not the price tag. Dial your ratio and method, and you control the caffeine. Dial your beans, and you control everything else: flavor, freshness, and quality.
Fresh roasted in small batches in Dearborn, MI and shipped nationwide. Find your next bag and match a roast to your taste and your caffeine needs.
FAQ
Does espresso have more caffeine than drip coffee?
Per ounce, yes. Espresso is far more concentrated, about 63 mg per ounce versus 12 to 17 mg per ounce for drip. But a 12-ounce mug of drip contains more total caffeine, 140 to 200 mg, than a double espresso shot at about 125 mg.
Does light roast or dark roast have more caffeine?
By weight, they are nearly identical. By scoop, light roast has slightly more because the beans are denser. The difference is small either way.
How long does caffeine last?
Caffeine's half-life is roughly 5 to 6 hours, meaning half is still in your system that long after your last sip. Most people feel peak effects 30 to 60 minutes after drinking.
Is 200 mg of caffeine a lot?
It is about one strong 12-ounce coffee, well within the FDA's 400 mg per day reference for healthy adults, but sensitivity varies.
Which ARDITO roast has the most caffeine?
All five are 100% arabica, so caffeine is comparable across the lineup. Brew method and dose matter far more than which bag you pick.