Coffee vs Tea: Which Has More Caffeine?

Coffee has more caffeine per cup. An 8 oz cup of drip coffee averages 95mg. An 8 oz cup of black tea averages 47mg. Green tea averages 28mg. White tea averages 15 to 30mg.

On a per-cup basis, coffee delivers roughly double the caffeine of black tea and three times as much as green tea.

95mg for drip coffee, 47mg for black tea, 28mg for green tea. Simple math with real variation.

But those are averages. A strongly brewed breakfast tea at Starbucks contains more caffeine than a lightly pulled espresso. Cold brew coffee can contain 200mg per serving. Matcha has 70 to 140mg per serving because you consume the whole leaf, not just an infusion.

"Matcha is the caffeine exception in the tea world. You drink the whole leaf, not just the infusion. The caffeine content can match a double espresso."

Why coffee caffeine feels different from tea caffeine

Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that moderates caffeine's effects. The combination produces a steadier, more focused alertness with less of the spike-and-crash some people experience from coffee. Many people describe tea caffeine as "calmer" even when the dose is similar.

Coffee caffeine hits faster and more intensely because there is no L-theanine to moderate it. This is why espresso feels more like a punch and tea feels more like a gradual lift.

If you want tea at a specialty coffee shop

Many specialty shops now carry serious tea programs. In London, which has 3,621 specialty coffee shops, tea culture means even serious espresso bars carry quality loose-leaf options. A dirty chai adds espresso to tea, combining both caffeine sources. Read more in what is a dirty chai and matcha latte vs coffee. Try specialty cafes in New York or shops like Verve Coffee that carry both programs.

Related: Caffeine in coffee, Caffeine in espresso, Matcha latte vs coffee.