How much caffeine is in cold brew?
Cold brew has about 200 mg of caffeine per 16 oz, more than hot or iced coffee. See Starbucks, Dunkin, and bottled brands compared, plus nitro.
A standard 16 oz cold brew has about 200 mg of caffeine, more than the same size hot or iced coffee. Cold brew is brewed with more coffee and less water, so it comes out concentrated. Nitro cold brew and bottled black cold brews can run even higher. All figures here are approximate and vary by brand, beans, and brew.
Cold brew at the major chains
| Cold brew | Size | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Starbucks Cold Brew | Tall 12 oz | ~155 mg |
| Starbucks Cold Brew | Grande 16 oz | ~205 mg |
| Starbucks Cold Brew | Venti 24 oz | ~310 mg |
| Starbucks Cold Brew | Trenta 30 oz | ~360 mg |
| Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew | Tall 12 oz | ~215 mg |
| Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew | Grande 16 oz | ~280 mg |
| Dunkin' Cold Brew | Medium 16 oz | ~198 mg |
For every drink and size, see the Starbucks caffeine chart, the Dunkin' caffeine chart, or the full coffee chain caffeine comparison.
Caffeine in bottled and canned cold brew (store-bought)
Bottled black cold brews are deceptively strong, because a small bottle holds concentrated coffee. The "with milk" versions are usually much lower. Figures vary by product and size, so check the label.
| Bottled cold brew | Size | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|
| Stumptown Cold Brew (original) | 10.5 oz | ~279 mg |
| Califia Farms Black Label | 10.5 oz | ~260 mg |
| Chameleon Black (RTD) | 10 oz | ~230 to 270 mg |
| High Brew Triple Shot | 11 oz | ~225 mg |
| La Colombe Cold Brew | 9 oz | ~180 mg |
| High Brew Double Espresso | 8 oz | ~140 mg |
| Califia / Chameleon "with milk" versions | ~10 oz | ~80 to 120 mg |
Cold brew vs iced coffee vs hot coffee
Short version: cold brew usually wins. For a 16 oz cup, cold brew is around 200 mg, iced coffee around 165 mg, and a 16 oz hot coffee lands roughly 165 to 210 mg depending on how it's made. Cold brew is steeped cold for 12 to 24 hours with a high coffee-to-water ratio, so even though cold water pulls caffeine more slowly, the extra grounds more than make up for it. Nitro is the strongest per ounce.
Compare with a regular cup of coffee and a shot of espresso, or see how cold brew stacks up against energy drinks. Add up your real daily total in the free Caffeine Calculator.
Written by Mike Zagare · Published
Mike Zagare is the founder of Knuckle. He tapered off a 500 to 600mg-a-day habit and built Knuckle from that protocol.
Common questions
Is cold brew stronger than regular coffee?
Usually yes. A 16 oz cold brew (~200 mg) tends to beat a 16 oz iced coffee (~165 mg) and often a same-size hot coffee, because it's brewed concentrated.
Does nitro cold brew have more caffeine?
Per ounce, yes, it's the strongest cold coffee option. A Grande nitro is about 280 mg.
Why is bottled cold brew so high in caffeine?
The black ready-to-drink bottles are concentrated coffee in a small volume, so 180 to 280 mg in a 10 oz bottle is common. The "with milk" versions are much lower.
How much caffeine is in cold brew concentrate?
A lot, because it's meant to be diluted. Multiply the concentrate's mg per ounce by how much of your drink is concentrate.
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