Tag: Espresso vs cold brew

The average 8-ounce cup of coffee contains around 95 mg of caffeine, but some brews pack a significantly more powerful punch. Finding which coffee has the highest concentration of caffeine requires looking at bean type, roast, and brewing method, rather than just the final cup size.

A standard 16-ounce nitro cold brew can contain up to 280 mg of caffeine, while a single shot of espresso typically has around 63 mg. So, what's stronger, espresso or nitro cold brew? The answer depends entirely on how you measure it: by concentrated volume or total serving size.

Per serving, a standard shot of espresso has significantly less caffeine than a typical glass of cold brew. This might surprise those who associate espresso's intense flavor with a massive caffeine kick, but the comparison depends heavily on how you measure it.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most healthy adults can consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day without negative effects. When asking which coffee drink is stronger, the answer depends entirely on how you define 'strong'—by total caffeine per serving or by caffeine concentration.