How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?

Around 95 mg of caffeine can be expected from an average cup of coffee. A cup is 8oz or 237g.

The amount varies, however, between different coffee types and can range from almost zero to over 500 mg. The caffeine in an 8oz cup of coffee varies according to whether it’s brewed, instant or decaf.

Brewed Coffee

Also called filter coffee, brewed coffee involves brewing ground coffee in hot water. The mixture usually sits in a paper, metal, or plastic filter that separates the grounds from the brewed coffee.

This type of coffee comes in a variety of ways, usually using a filter, a percolator, or a French press.

An 8oz cup of brewed coffee typically contains around 95 mg of caffeine.

Decaffeinated Brewed Coffee

Though it’s mentioned as “decaf,” it still may contain a minimal amount of caffeine. Depending on the decaffeination process, it's not always 100% free. 

Cold Brew

Sometimes mistaken as “iced coffee,” cold brew is far too different. To make cold brew coffee, the coffee grounds are steeped in the water at room temperature for anywhere between 8 and 24 hours.

A 12oz cup of cold brew coffee can contain between 153 mg and 238 mg of caffeine according to a 2017 study.

Instant Coffee

This typically involves adding hot water to instant coffee powder or granules.

It usually contains less caffeine than freshly brewed coffee. A typical 8oz cup of regular instant coffee contains about 62 mg of caffeine.

Espresso

Espresso is a strong coffee beverage. It is made by forcing hot water or steam through very fine coffee grounds. To make an espresso coffee, it involves the use of a machine or stovetop Moka pot. 

In comparison to brewed coffee, espresso serving sizes are generally much smaller because of its high caffeine content.

A single 1oz shot of espresso contains approximately 63 mg of caffeine.

Related videos:

How to extract your espresso coffee?

How to make a french press coffee

Type of Coffee	Caffeine content
Brewed coffee	95mg (per 8 oz cup)
Decaffeinated Brewed	2 mg (per 8 oz cup)
Cold Brew	153 - 238 mg (per 12 oz cup)
Instant Coffee	62 mg (per 8 oz cup)
Espresso	63 mg (per 1 oz shot)

In general, remember that caffeine can be included in a healthy diet and is generally considered safe. Though excessive intake, like almost about anything, can cause unwanted side effects. We always recommend seeking advice from a health care professional.