The caffeine content in your coffee varies based on what you’re drinking. So some people may find themselves looking for a more robust cup of joe if their current one isn’t cutting it anymore.
You should stick to lighter roast coffee when looking for coffee with more caffeine. You can also order coffee drinks with more espresso shots in them, like a macchiato or a red eye. But 400 milligrams of caffeine daily is a healthy adult’s recommended daily limit.
If you’re looking for a stronger cup of coffee, it helps to have a scale on the average amount of caffeine to ingest daily. So let’s go through this topic in a little more detail to help you form an informed opinion.
How Much Caffeine is in a Typical Cup of Coffee?

The amount of caffeine in your coffee depends on a multitude of different factors. These include the roast type, brewing method, and the type of bean you use. However, the average cup of coffee made using a drip coffee maker contains around 142 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounces.
The average cup of espresso contains around 63 milligrams of caffeine per ounce. These amounts are not even close to the maximum amount of caffeine a cup of coffee can hold.
What is the Caffeine Content of Different Types of Coffee?
When searching for a strong cup of coffee, most people will turn to drinks with espresso shots. A two-ounce shot of espresso will contain about 80 milligrams of caffeine.
Let’s go through a few drinks with espresso shots to help you determine which one is right for you.
Americano/Cappuccino
The simplest espresso drinks are the americano and the cappuccino. These drinks typically will not contain any caffeine additives besides the shot of espresso. The americano is simply a shot of espresso with hot water on top, and the cappuccino is a shot of espresso with both hot milk and milk foam.
This means that a standard cup of either will contain about 80 milligrams of caffeine, as that is how much caffeine you get from an espresso shot. This number is for a 12-ounce cup of americano and a 6-ounce cup of cappuccino.
Latte
Next up is the latte, which is very similar to the cappuccino when it comes to ingredients, made using espresso, hot milk, and milk foam. However, the latte uses a different ratio for these three ingredients and stirs them together rather than leaving them layered.
This means the average latte has more caffeine than the average cappuccino. The average latte usually has between 100 and 200 mg of caffeine, depending on whether the drink is 12 ounces or 24 ounces.
Flat White
The following two drinks are very similar to the first two. The Flat White is an americano with two shots of espresso instead of one, and the macchiato is two shots of espresso with enough milk to add texture. These drinks come out to around 100 milligrams of caffeine for 5 ounces and 4 ounces, respectively.
Red Eye
Finally, we have the red eye. A red eye consists of a shot of espresso mixed with a cup of coffee. This is usually one of the most potent drinks you can order at a cafe, containing around 160 milligrams of caffeine per 10 ounces.
Which Roast Type Has the Highest Caffeine Content?
This answer isn’t as clear-cut as you might think. Roast type does not have a traditional effect on caffeine content. A coffee bean with 10 milligrams of caffeine will still have 10 milligrams of caffeine no matter how long you roast it.
This means that if you weigh out and make coffee using 2 grams of light roast grounds and two grams of dark roast grounds that both use the same coffee beans, you should end up with two cups of coffee with the same caffeine content.
However, the problem with this is that most people making coffee don’t measure their coffee grounds in grams. Instead, when making coffee, people tend to measure their coffee using teaspoons.
When measuring out a teaspoon of light roast and a teaspoon of dark roast, the teaspoon of light roast is denser than the dark roast. This means that there are more coffee grounds in a teaspoon of light roast than in a teaspoon of dark roast, resulting in more caffeine in the light roast teaspoon.
Basically, if you’re measuring your coffee through teaspoons rather than weight, light roast coffee will have a higher average caffeine content than dark roast coffee.
Which Coffee Brands Have the Highest Caffeine Content?

If you’re trying to maximize your caffeine intake, this is the section for you. In this section, we will go through the top 3 most robust bags of coffee you can get your hands on.
These are the strongest coffee brands in the world, so these should not be your daily cups of coffee. But if you have a more potent caffeine tolerance, you may be able to find some enjoyment in trying them.
1. Black Label Coffee by Devil Mountain
Black Label coffee by Devil Mountain is the world’s strongest coffee. Black Label coffee hits a jaw-dropping 1,500 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounces. Just a reminder that the average cup of coffee is around 142 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounces. Black Label coffee is a non-GMO, USDA-certified organic coffee.
They also claim that despite the crazy amount of caffeine, the coffee still produces a drinkable, smooth, bitter-free flavor. You may also be surprised to learn that obtaining this coffee will not cost you an arm and a leg. It can be purchased right here on Amazon for around $20.
2. Very Strong Coffee
Boasting with a very appropriate name, Very Strong Coffee reaches an astounding 1,350 of caffeine per 12-ounce cup. Very Strong Coffee is a UK-based product that uses 100% Robusta coffee beans to create a coffee with naturally higher caffeine levels.
Their website directs you to “enjoy it responsibly,” so be careful with this one. Once again, this coffee comes surprisingly cheap at only $16.75 (on Amazon).
3. Devils Brew Extreme Caffeine Coffee
This is another coffee with an extremely appropriate name. Devils Brew Extreme Caffeine Coffee hits an impressive 1,325 mg of caffeine per 12-ounce cup.
Devils Brew Extreme Caffeine Coffee uses Rubusta beans to create a nicely flavored dark roast. Despite this being the third strongest coffee, it is still recommended that only those with high tolerance to caffeine drink this.
How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily is the safe amount for most healthy adults. This would be around 3 cups of standard coffee, ten cans of soda, or two energy drinks.
That 400-milligram limit is an average, though, and things can affect this. For example, some people have a higher tolerance for caffeine. This leads to them being able to handle more caffeine. But, of course, you can also take more caffeine if you’re full.
On the flip side, you can’t handle as much caffeine if you’re hungry. Also, specific medical conditions or medications can affect how you respond to caffeine. It ranges from person to person, but around 400 milligrams per day is the safe amount.