Top 10 Foods and Drinks High in Caffeine
Caffeine is a chemical naturally found in several plant foods and drinks. Synthetic supplemental forms of caffeine are also produced and added to foods. Due to caffeine's stimulating and addictive qualities, it is finding its way into more and more unhealthy foods including sodas, candies, and energy drinks.
The health benefits and costs of caffeine are controversial with numerous studies to document both benefits and health problems due to caffeine. The upper intake limit (UL) of caffeine intake is 400mg for adults and less than 85mg for kids.
High caffeine foods and drinks include chocolate-covered coffee beans, coffee, energy drinks, espresso, sodas, green tea, black tea, dark chocolate, coffee liqueur, and baked goods containing chocolate.
For all these foods and drinks the amount of caffeine is an average. The actual amount of caffeine can vary based on how strongly tea or coffee is brewed, and as to how much caffeine is added to various colas and energy drinks.
List of High Caffeine Foods and Drinks
#1: Dark Chocolate Coated Coffee Beans
| Caffeine per oz(28 Beans) | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 336mg (84% UL) | 839mg (210% UL) | 311mg (78% UL) |
#2: Coffee
| Caffeine per 8oz Cup | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 95mg (24% UL) | 40mg (10% UL) | 8000mg (2000% UL) |
#3: Energy Drinks
| Caffeine per 8oz Cup | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 91mg (23% UL) | 38mg (10% UL) | 123mg (31% UL) |
Energy drinks are typically high in sugar, sweeteners, and other artificial additives and should be avoided.
#4: Espresso
| Caffeine per 1oz Shot | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 63mg (16% UL) | 212mg (53% UL) | 4711mg (1178% UL) |
#5: Sodas
| Caffeine per 16oz Bottle | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 49mg (12% UL) | 10mg (3% UL) | 49mg (12% UL) |
Energy drinks are typically high in sugar, sweeteners, and other artificial additives and should be avoided.
#6: Green Tea
| Caffeine per 8oz Cup | Caffeine per 100g |
|---|---|
| 28mg (7% UL) | 12mg (3% UL) |
#7: Black Tea
| Caffeine per 8oz Cup | Caffeine per 100g |
|---|---|
| 26mg (7% UL) | 11mg (3% UL) |
#8: Dark Chocolate
| Caffeine per 1oz Square | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 24mg (6% UL) | 86mg (22% UL) | 30mg (7% UL) |
- Cocoa powder provides 198mg of caffeine per cup
- Hot cocoa provides 5mg per cup
#9: Coffee Liqueur
| Caffeine per 1.5oz Shot | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 14mg (3% UL) | 26mg (7% UL) | 15mg (4% UL) |
#10: Chocolate Cake with Frosting
| Caffeine per Slice | Caffeine per 100g | Caffeine per 200 Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 8mg (2% UL) | 6mg (2% UL) | 3mg (1% UL) |
Other baked goods containing caffeine include chocolate cake, chocolate-coated cookies, and anything with chocolate frosting.
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About the Data
Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.
You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.
Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.
About Nutrient Targets
Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.
Some of the most popular targets include:- Daily Value (%DV) - The %DV is a general guideline for everyone and takes into account absorption factors. It is the most common target in the U.S. and found on the nutrition labels of most products. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
- Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) - The Reference Dietary Intake (RDI) accounts for age and gender. It is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization. The daily value (%DV) builds on the reference dietary intake to create a number for everyone.
- Adequate Intake (%AI) - Sets a target for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats. The Adequate Intake is also set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. It represents a number to ensure adequacy but lacks the same level of evidence as the Reference Dietary Intake. In short, the number is less accurate than the RDI.
See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.
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- Foods High in Caffeine
- Foods Low in Caffeine
- Vegetarian Foods High in Caffeine
- Breakfast Cereals High in Caffeine
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