Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world, and the majority of adults use some form of caffeine on a consistent or occasional basis to provide a boost of energy.
But, knowing how much caffeine is in Coke, how much caffeine in Diet Coke vs coffee, how much caffeine is in Coke Zero, and how the caffeine in Coke vs coffee can help you understand how much caffeine you are drinking and whether you want to have coffee vs Coke for the jolt you’re looking for.
In this caffeine in Coke vs coffee guide, we will discuss how much caffeine is in Diet Coke and regular Coke vs coffee and much caffeine is in different types of Coke and popular soft drinks.
We will look at:
- How Much Caffeine In Coke vs Coffee?
- Coffee vs Coke Caffeine Tables
Let’s get started!
How Much Caffeine In Coke vs Coffee?
Comparing the amount of caffeine in coffee vs Coke or other colas is not straightforward because certain types of coffee and Coca-Cola contain more caffeine than others.
The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee depends on various factors such as the type of coffee beans used, how long the coffee beans are roasted, how long the coffee is brewed, and how concentrated the coffee is in terms of the ratio of coffee grounds to liquid.
Furthermore, a “cup” or “serving” of coffee varies depending on the establishment where you buy your coffee, if you make your coffee at home, or the style of coffee drink you are having (e.g., espresso, Americano, cafe latte, etc.).
Although somewhat counterintuitive, darker roasts typically contain less caffeine than lighter ones.
For example, a 12-ounce cup of Starbucks dark roast has 193 mg of caffeine, while 12 ounces of the medium and blonde roasts have 235 and 270 mg, respectively.
As a comparison, a 12-ounce cup of McDonald’s coffee contains about 109 mg of caffeine, which is only about half as much caffeine.
Then, there are highly-caffeinated coffees, such as Death Wish Coffee, which packs a whopping 728 milligrams of caffeine in a single 12-ounce cup.As an overarching guiding principle, coffee contains more caffeine in a serving than Coke or other normal caffeinated soft drinks (“normal” meaning not extremely caffeinated versions or soft drinks with energy drinks added, etc.).
According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 12 ounces of Diet Coke has 46 mg of caffeine, while 12 ounces of regular Coke Coke or 12 ounces of Pepsi each have 38 mg of caffeine.
It is interesting that Diet Coke has slightly more caffeine than regular Coke or regular Pepsi, and the same can be said for Diet Pepsi caffeine vs regular Pepsi caffeine, but Coke Zero has only 34 mg of caffeine.
The same source reports that 2 tablespoons (which makes 12 ounces) of:
- Folgers Classic Roast has 120-160 mg of caffeine
- 14-ounce medium Dunkin’ Coffee has 210 mg of caffeine
- Most Keurig K cups have about 75-150 mg of caffeine
- 1.5-ounce Starbucks Espresso has 150 mg of caffeine
- 20-ounce venti Starbucks Coffee, Pike Place Roast, has 410 mg of caffeine
Even after we adjust the cited coffee serving sizes to 12 ounces for an ounce-to-ounce comparison of the caffeine in Coke vs coffee, it’s very apparent that there is more caffeine in standard coffee and Coke or Diet Coke.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are about 96 milligrams of caffeine in a standard 8-ounce cup of black coffee.
If we extrapolate this up to 12 ounces to match an equal volume with the Coke caffeine amount listed, this works out to 144 mg of caffeine versus 38 mg for coffee caffeine vs Coke caffeine.
Coffee vs Coke Caffeine Tables
We have put together the tables below that show the caffeine content in different types of popular coffee beverages and the caffeine in Coke and other colas and soft drinks so that you have a reference that can compare the amount of caffeine in Coke vs coffee of various types:
How Much Caffeine Is In Coffee?
How Much Caffeine Is In Diet Coke, Coke, and Other Sodas?
Caffeine is a stimulant that functions by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine.
In doing so, whether you are having caffeine in Diet Coke vs coffee or any other caffeinated beverage, the caffeine increases brain activity and removes the “brakes“ that would otherwise be slowing you down and causing fatigue.
Ultimately, some people find that they can have 3 to 4 cans of Cokes or a triple espresso shot and feel just energized enough to feel at the top of their game.
On the other hand, others drinking this amount of caffeine will be overcome with jitters and experience symptoms of caffeine hypersensitivity, such as anxiety, excessive jitteriness, diarrhea, racing heartbeat, high blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, agitation, headache, and rapid breathing.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you may be interested in our article about how much is too much caffeine.
