Coffee is the main source of caffeine in our diet. You can count on around 95 mg of caffeine in coffee from one medium-sized cup. However, the amount of caffeine varies depending on the types of coffee drinks and can range from almost zero to over 500 mg. Let’s check how much caffeine there is coffee. How much caffeine in a cup of coffee?
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a chemical compound (purine alkaloid) contained in many different plants, among others it is found in coffee beans. It was discovered in 1819 by the German chemist Friedrich Rung. For plants, it serves as a natural pesticide and is supposed to repel insects. It has a paralyzing effect. For many people, it is an integral part of every morning. Some drink coffee, not necessarily because of its taste (especially the bad one), but they just want to get a kick in the rest of the day, which is what caffeine guarantees them. We prefer to combine the positive effects of caffeine with the fantastic taste of coffee. Caffeine is a psychoactive agent also used in many carbonated and energy drinks. However, it is also naturally found in tea, chocolate or yerba mate. Contained in such forms is known as theine, guaranine or mateina.
How much coffee is in the coffee cup?
The main factor deciding about the caffeine content is the type of coffee you drink.
Brewed Coffee
“Brewing,” or pouring hot ground coffee into water is the most popular way to make coffee in Europe. One glass of brewed coffee (220-240 ml) contains about 70-140 mg of caffeine, on average it is about 95 mg.
Espresso – how much caffeine does it have?
Espresso is a way of brewing coffee by “squeezing” a small amount of hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans. Although the ratio of caffeine to espresso volume is much higher than compared to regular coffee, it is quite low in one serving.
One espresso, i.e. about 25-35 ml of a highly concentrated drink contains about 63 mg of caffeine. A double espresso therefore contains approximately 125 mg of caffeine.
Espresso-based drinks, coffee with milk
Many popular coffee drinks are made on the basis of espresso, and then mixed with different types and amounts of milk, e.g. latte, cappuccino, macchiato. Because milk does not contain caffeine, these drinks contain the same amount of caffeine as a regular espresso. The addition of milk does not reduce the amount of caffeine in the finished coffee.
Instant coffee
Instant coffee is nothing but coffee brewed in the traditional way and then dried. It usually comes in the form of large, dry pieces that dissolve in water. To make instant coffee, simply mix one or two teaspoons of coffee with hot water.
Instant coffee usually contains less caffeine than brewed coffee, and from one glass (about 220 ml) we get about 50-80 mg of caffeine.
Decaffeinated coffee
Although the name can be misleading, decaf coffee is not completely caffeine free. It may contain various amounts, from 1 mg to 7 mg per cup and about 3 mg for a medium-sized cup. It is worth remembering that some varieties may also contain larger amounts of caffeine and depending on the type of coffee, decaffeination method and cup size.
