How Much Caffeine Is in Coffee?

WHAT IS CAFFEINE?    

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in seeds, nuts and leaves including tea and cocoa. It can enhance mood, has medical benefits (it can be found in many over-the-counter treatments), may help weight management, and improves alertness. But it’s important to take a healthy approach to it. Not too much, not too little, is the right approach.

Caffeine takes effect about 20 minutes after consumption and reaches maximum impact after about an hour. It is measured in mg (1000^th of a gram) because it is a very small component of coffee (typically around 2.5% by weight).

The recommended daily caffeine intake is as follows:

• ≤400mg/day in adults (about 4 cups of coffee per day)
• ≤200mg/day in pregnant women
• ≤2.5mg/kg per day in children and adolescents.                                                                                                                                   

^{Sources:  National Health Service (NHS) & European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).} 

WHICH TYPE OF COFFEE HAS THE MOST CAFFEINE?                                                                                                                       

Caffeine content varies significantly and is related to a range of factors including:

Type of coffee bean – Robusta coffee beans are naturally higher in caffeine than Arabica, containing nearly twice as much per a given volume of beans.

Immersion brewing methods – Brewing methods such as filter or French press (cafetière) typically result in a higher amount of caffeine because the immersion of the coffee grounds in water maximizes the extraction.

Espresso and instant coffee – Although espresso is believed to be comparatively very high in caffeine, in fact, it isn’t, because water is in contact with the ground coffee for a relatively short time, so less caffeine is extracted. Instant coffee contains the least caffeine.

Roast color – Contrary to popular opinion, dark roast coffees, which have a stronger taste, do not contain more caffeine.

WHAT ABOUT DECAF and how can we help?

Decaf is not completely caffeine free: it contains a negligible amount of caffeine. Sucafina Instant offers an unparalleled range of decaffeinated soluble products, which reduce caffeine to around 3% of normal levels. In other words, 33 cups of decaf coffee contain about the same amount of caffeine as one cup of regular coffee. A variety of processes can be used to remove caffeine from green coffee, such as Mountain Water and CO2.

We offer a wide range of decaffeinated instant coffee varieties, including Fairtrade and ethically certified qualities, sourced from around the world.  

At Sucafina Instant, we are your one-stop shop for instant coffee products. Our aim is to help brands and manufacturers find the right coffee solutions for their needs. We offer an unparalleled range of sustainably sourced instant coffee in bulk and options for finished goods. We offer everything conceivable for brands and retailers – just ask!