What Brew of Coffee Has the Most Caffeine? Unpacking Cold Brew vs. Espresso

December 30, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study cited by Australia's ABC News, while an espresso has the highest concentration of caffeine per ounce, a large serving of cold brew can often contain the highest total amount of caffeine. This reveals that the 'strongest' coffee experience depends heavily on how you measure it, and understanding these nuances is key to getting your ideal buzz.

Quick Summary

This article explores various coffee brewing methods, comparing their caffeine levels by both concentration and typical serving size. It clarifies the common misconception that espresso always offers the most caffeine and explains why cold brew often wins in total caffeine content. Factors like bean type and roast level are also discussed.

Key Points

Cold Brew Wins for Total Caffeine: A typical 16-ounce glass of cold brew coffee contains more total caffeine than a single or even double shot of espresso, due to the larger serving size and longer steeping time.
Espresso is Most Concentrated: Ounce for ounce, espresso is the most potent and concentrated coffee brew, packing the highest caffeine dose into the smallest volume.
Bean Choice is Critical: Robusta coffee beans contain almost twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans, regardless of the brewing method.
Lighter Roasts Have Slightly More Caffeine: By weight, a lighter roast retains more caffeine than a darker roast because the extended roasting process burns off some of the bean's mass.
Extended Steeping Increases Caffeine: Longer brew times, as with cold brew or French press, allow for a higher overall extraction of caffeine into the water.
Commercial Blends Can Be Extreme: Specialty brands specifically formulate blends with Robusta beans to achieve extremely high caffeine levels, often far exceeding standard brews.
Measurement Matters: The perception of 'strongest' is subjective. It is important to distinguish between caffeine concentration (mg/oz) and total caffeine per serving (mg).

The quest for the most caffeine often leads coffee drinkers down a winding path of competing claims and conflicting information. Many assume that the intense, concentrated shot of espresso must be the hands-down winner. While this is true for concentration, a deeper look at brewing methods, serving sizes, and bean types reveals a more complex answer, with cold brew often taking the crown for the highest total caffeine per typical serving.

The Great Debate: Concentration vs. Total Caffeine

To understand which brew reigns supreme, you must first differentiate between caffeine concentration and total caffeine per cup. A highly concentrated brew packs a lot of caffeine into a small volume, but if you drink a much larger serving of a less concentrated brew, the total caffeine intake could be higher.

Espresso: The Concentrated Powerhouse

Espresso is made by forcing hot, high-pressure water through finely-ground, compacted coffee beans. This rapid, high-pressure process results in a highly concentrated brew with a thick layer of crema on top. For this reason, a single 1-ounce shot of espresso has an average of about 63 mg of caffeine. Gram for gram, espresso extracts caffeine more efficiently than other methods, making it the most concentrated coffee on the market.

Cold Brew: The Total Caffeine Winner

Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coarse-ground coffee in cold water for an extended period, typically 12 to 24 hours. This long, slow immersion process, combined with a higher coffee-to-water ratio, extracts a significant amount of caffeine. While its concentration per ounce is lower than espresso, a standard 12-16 ounce serving of cold brew contains substantially more total caffeine—often ranging from 150 to 200 mg.

Key Factors Influencing Caffeine Content

Brewing method is only one piece of the puzzle. Several other variables play a crucial role in determining the final caffeine level of your cup.

Coffee Bean Type

The choice of coffee bean is a primary factor. The two most common species are Arabica and Robusta.

Robusta Beans: Contain nearly twice the caffeine of Arabica beans, with concentrations of 2.2% to 2.7% by weight. Robusta beans are often used in high-caffeine specialty blends. They offer a bolder, more bitter flavor profile.
Arabica Beans: The most common coffee bean, known for its smooth, complex flavor and aroma. Arabica contains 1.2% to 1.8% caffeine by weight.

Roast Level

Contrary to popular belief, a darker roast doesn't mean more caffeine. In fact, the roasting process burns off some of the bean's mass, including a small amount of caffeine. Therefore, when measured by weight, a lighter roast will contain marginally more caffeine than a darker roast. However, the difference is negligible and flavor is the primary factor affected by roast level.

Coffee-to-Water Ratio and Brew Time

For any brewing method, adjusting the coffee-to-water ratio can significantly impact caffeine content. A higher ratio (more coffee, less water) will result in a more caffeinated and potent cup. Similarly, methods with longer brew times, like cold brew, allow for greater extraction of caffeine.

The Ultimate Caffeine Comparison Table

To help visualize the differences, here is a breakdown of common brewing methods, comparing their caffeine concentration and typical serving size.


Brewing Method	Typical Serving Size	Average Caffeine Concentration	Average Total Caffeine	Key Factor
Cold Brew	12–16 oz	12.5 mg/oz	150–200 mg	Long steeping time
Espresso (Single Shot)	1 oz	63 mg/oz	63 mg	High pressure, high concentration
Drip Coffee	8 oz	12 mg/oz	95 mg	Balanced extraction
French Press	8 oz	12.5–17 mg/oz	100–137 mg	Full immersion
Moka Pot	8 oz	13 mg/oz	105 mg	Steam pressure extraction

High-Caffeine Commercial Blends

If maximizing caffeine is your sole priority, certain specialty coffee brands are designed for just that. These often use high-caffeine Robusta beans and special roasting techniques to create extremely potent blends.

Devil Mountain Coffee Black Label: Claims to contain 1,555 mg per 12 oz cup, making it one of the world's most caffeinated coffees.
Biohazard Coffee: A Brazilian Robusta blend that boasts 928 mg per 12 oz serving.
Death Wish Coffee: Made with a combination of Arabica and Robusta beans, it is well-known for its high caffeine content, at around 473 mg per 12 oz.

Conclusion

For most people seeking a strong, flavorful coffee, cold brew is the champion for total caffeine intake per typical serving, while espresso remains the king of concentration. For those who prioritize pure, unadulterated caffeine levels, specific commercial blends made with Robusta beans provide the most extreme jolt. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your personal preference for flavor, concentration, and total caffeine. Consider factors like bean type, roast level, and brewing time to find your perfect balance. A reliable resource for learning about brewing techniques is the channel of coffee expert James Hoffmann, which can be found with a search online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Espresso is stronger in caffeine concentration per ounce, but a typical serving of cold brew contains more total caffeine due to its larger size and longer steeping time.

Robusta coffee beans contain significantly more caffeine—almost double—than the more common Arabica beans.

No, lighter roasts have slightly more caffeine by weight because the darker roasting process reduces the bean's overall mass and burns off a small amount of caffeine.

Yes, longer contact between the coffee grounds and water, as in cold brew or French press, typically extracts more total caffeine.

You can increase the caffeine in drip coffee by using a finer grind, a higher coffee-to-water ratio, and opting for a blend that includes Robusta beans.

At most coffee shops, a large cold brew will likely have more total caffeine than an espresso-based drink like a latte or cappuccino, even with multiple shots.

Brands like Devil Mountain Black Label and Biohazard produce extremely high-caffeine coffees, often by using Robusta beans and specialized blends, with some reporting over 1,000 mg per serving.