
There are many misconceptions about coffee and caffeine content, so here’s a simple explanation of how much is in your favourite cup, from a single espresso to a filter coffee. (Brace yourself for some serious myth-busting in between.
What Is Caffeine?
Caffeine (or 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine for the chemistry wizards among you) is a natural stimulant found in plants – namely the tea, coffee and cocoa variety.
Caffeine Myths
We’ve broken down a couple of widely held myths…
Myth 1
“The darker the roast, the higher the level of caffeine”
The caffeine in a coffee bean is the same whether it’s a light or dark roast. The roast level alters the flavour profile of your brew, but doesn’t remove caffeine.
Myth 2
“Decaffeinated drinks have zero caffeine”
No decaffeination process can remove 100% of the caffeine; decaf coffee contains approximately 3mg of caffeine.
Did you know how you brew your coffee can affect the caffeine content?
Here’s our little guide to which coffee has the most caffeine* – and which has the least…
It’s a good idea to bear in mind that these figures vary a lot depending on which specific coffee you drink and how you brew it.

60mg caffeine
30ml single espresso or espresso-based coffee

120mg caffeine
300ml filter (V60), AeroPress or cafetière coffee