Espresso vs coffee: which has more caffeine?
A shot of espresso has about 63 mg; a mug of drip coffee about 95 mg. The per-ounce truth is the opposite. See why.
Per serving, drip coffee has more. Per ounce, espresso is far stronger. A single shot has about 63 mg; an 8 oz drip coffee about 95 mg. But espresso is about 63 mg per ounce against about 11.9 mg.
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine | Per ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 1 oz | 63 mg | 63 mg/oz |
| Brewed coffee | 8 oz | 95 mg | 11.9 mg/oz |
The classic trap
Espresso tastes stronger and is more concentrated, but the cup is tiny. A double shot latte lands above a small drip; a single shot lands below it.
Go deeper
Full breakdowns: caffeine in espresso and caffeine in coffee. See them side by side on the Caffeine Bubble Map, or add these to your day in the 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
How much caffeine is in a double shot?
About 126 mg, more than an 8 oz drip coffee.
Is a latte stronger than coffee?
Only if it has two or more shots. The milk adds no caffeine.
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