The Strongest Coffees and High-Caffeine Teas: How Do They Do It?

Written By Kacie Goff June 27, 2019

If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, the odds are high that you have a deep appreciation for caffeine. It shakes the cobwebs out of your head in the morning, gives you what you need to start your day strong, and can even help you keep a smile on your face through that unnecessarily long morning meeting. Caffeine is linked to increased energy and improved mood[1], after all.

So what’s the deal with high-caffeine coffees and teas? Can that extra boost help you feel more energized longer? Is there too much of a good thing?

We rounded up some of the most frequently asked questions about high-caffeine coffee and tea and answered them. Check out what you need to know before you start chasing that caffeine high.

How much caffeine is in a normal cup of coffee or tea?

To understand high-caffeine coffee and tea, we first need to get clear on a baseline. Here are some of the caffeine levels of the most commonly consumed beverages:[2]

1 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee: 95-165 mg
1 1-ounce shot of espresso: 47-64 mg
1 8-ounce cup of brewed black tea: 25-48 mg
1 8-ounce cup of brewed green tea: 25-29 mg

For tea drinkers looking for the most caffeine, black tea, matcha, and yerba mate will be the best option.

What is the recommended daily caffeine limit?

Now, if you like coffee, you’re probably not sticking to a single 8-ounce cup each day. So you should know that when it comes to caffeine, you can have too much of a good thing. In addition to a serious case of the jitters, excessive caffeine can cause sleep issues[3] and high blood pressure[4].

How much is too much? Experts say that around 400 mg a day is completely safe for adults[5]. So you can have about four cups of coffee and still be in the clear. And if you like tea, you can have about seven cups before you’re getting into the danger zone.

Which coffee roast has the most caffeine?

Since the human body can safely consume quite a bit of caffeine, you might be on the hunt for the coffee with the highest caffeine content. Does dark roast or light roast give you more pep in your step?

They’re actually fairly equivocal. If you measure the coffee beans by the scoop, light beans take a slight edge but the difference isn’t significant.

Is espresso a good way to get more caffeine?

That leaves many looking for high-caffeine coffee doctoring up their drink at their local coffee shop. And there too many names for coffee drinks with added espresso (e.g., Hammerhead, Black Eye, Shot in the Dark) to list here.

For those who prefer a make-at-home approach to their morning joe, there’s always the option to add our Power Blend Espresso to your usual mug of VitaCup coffee.

So, yes, people looking for a caffeine high can certainly add espresso to their cup of coffee for the additional energy boost. But that can be inconvenient. We’ve got an alternative for you when you’re on the go.

200 mg of caffeine in a tiny, delicious package.

If you want to wake up and charge the day, try our new Lightning Shots. We’ve leveraged fair trade, organic, 100% Arabica dark roast cold brew coffee and green coffee beans to cram 200 mg of naturally derived caffeine (about the same amount as two cups of coffee) into a tiny 2.5 ounce ready-to-drink beverage. Whether you sip it or shoot it, it’s designed to help you champion your day. Plus, it’s got all the essential vitamins and antioxidants you expect from VitaCup and is sugar-free.

Each Lightning Shot delivers double energy, key vitamins, and delicious flavor in a drink designed for grab-and-go convenience. Try it for yourself when you’re looking for the right high-caffeine coffee to put some extra pep in your step.