Have you ever wondered how much caffeine is in your instant coffee? The caffeine content of regular coffee depends on how you brew it and which beans you’re using ( among other factors).
What factors influence the caffeine in instant coffee? How do the numbers compare to a freshly brewed cup?
This article breaks down the caffeine content of popular instant coffee brands and the factors that come into play.
How Much Caffeine Does Instant Coffee Have?
The average instant coffee delivers anywhere from 30 to 100 mg of caffeine per pack. More serious packs, especially those made with instant Vietnamese robusta coffee contain closer to 150 mg per cup.
The reason why this range is so broad is because there’s no standardization for instant coffee. Most companies optimize profit over value, providing minimal amounts of low-grade coffee per pack. Others use coffee that’s been stored incorrectly or is too low-quality to be sold as whole beans. These beans have deteriorated and contain less caffeine than fresh beans.
The species of coffee also matters. Even a high-grade instant arabica coffee rarely offers more than 70 mg per cup. Instant robustas routinely deliver closer to 90 mg per brew.
Let's compare these figures to different types of brewed coffee.
The average 8-ounce cup of freshly brewed ground coffee contains around 80–100 mg of caffeine. This figure can vary depending on the type of coffee and how it’s brewed.
Caffeine levels in different types of coffee:
- Brewed coffee (8 oz) — 80-100 mg of caffeine
- Decaffeinated brewed (8 oz) — 2 mg of caffeine
- Cold Brew (8 oz) — 100 mg of caffeine
- Espresso (8 oz) — 1 oz shot equals 75 mg of caffeine
- Instant coffee (8 oz) — 30-150 mg of caffeine
Measuring Caffeine In Instant Coffee
Like with fresh coffee, the caffeine content is quite inconsistent. For instant coffee, it’s usually measured by how much caffeine is in one teaspoon. According to the USDA, one teaspoon has 28.3 mg of caffeine, but a study on instant coffee was published by the Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy and found that the average cup contained approximately 80 milligrams of caffeine.
Our independent study, involving over 200 brands of instant coffee, found these figures to be even lower — with the average instant coffee pack coming in at around 57 mg each.
That's why we designed our instant coffee packs to be as strong as possible. We use a high-grade Vietnamese robusta, which delivers a standardized dose of 150 mg of caffeine per pack.
What Factors Affect Caffeine Levels in Instant Coffee?
As with all coffee, the amount of caffeine in instant coffee is affected by several factors:
- Bean type (arabica vs. robusta)
- Roasting process (light vs. dark roast)
- Production process (spray-dried vs. freeze-dried)
- Dosage (quantity of instant coffee per cup)
Bean Type
While there are more than 120 different species in the genus Coffea, only two species are common for brewing coffee — arabica and robusta:
- Arabica beans have a sweet, fruity taste. They also contain twice as much sugar compared to robusta and around half the caffeine.
- Robusta has an intense, rich, full-bodied taste and is packed with twice as much caffeine and half the sugar compared to arabica coffee.
The amount of caffeine in instant coffee depends on which bean the manufacturer uses. Sometimes, they may use a blend of both, offering users a product of varying caffeine strengths.
Roasting Process
Coffee beans are roasted for 5-15 minutes, which removes moisture. A light roast tends to be moist and heavy, but a dark roast is lighter but oilier as the roasting process draws oils out.
Healthline states that the roasting process has a small effect on the caffeine content of beans, with darker roasts having slightly less caffeine than lighter roasts, though the overall difference is negligible.
Most instant coffee blends are medium-dark or dark roast. These flavors tend to hold up more consistently during the drying process.
Production Processes
Instant coffee can be made in one of two ways:
- Freeze Drying — Freshly brewed coffee is poured into trays and then frozen. The ice is vaporized, leaving a shelf-stable coffee powder that can be reconstituted into coffee with water. Freeze drying has a more intense flavor and aroma than spray drying.
- Spray Drying — Concentrated coffee is sprayed into a hot air chamber, atomized, and turned into droplets. On contact with the hot air, water within the droplets evaporates, leaving the dried coffee granules.
Caffeine is lost during both processes, but as caffeine sublimates at 356°F (180°C), the high temperatures (up to 270 °C) used in spray drying chambers have more effect on instant coffee's caffeine content. The result is that spray-dried coffee has less caffeine than freeze-dried.
Some manufacturers may add extra caffeine to their products to boost the caffeine levels.
Comparing Instant Coffee Brands
The caffeine content of instant coffee varies across different coffee brands, from Cafely's weighty 150 mg per packet to Douwe Egbert's 60 mg per packet.
It's important to read the labels on your coffee packet to understand the caffeine content of the coffee you are buying.
Top 10 Instant Coffee Brands:
- Cafely Instant Vietnamese Coffee 2.0 — 150 mg (Strongest Instant Coffee)
- Starbucks Via — 135 mg
- Alpine Start — 120 mg
- Tasters Choice — 98 mg
- Nescafe Blend 48 — 90 mg
- Waka Colombian — 70 mg
- Waka Indian — 70 mg
- Mount Hagen — 70 mg
- Moccona (Douwe Egberts) — 60 mg
- Nescafe Gold — 50 mg
Health Considerations of Instant Coffee
NASM states that caffeine in coffee can wake you up, increase dopamine, give you a mental boost, and enhance focus and concentration [1].
Caffeine improves physical performance by boosting endurance [2], and there is evidence that coffee consumption can lead to a reduced risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease [3], help with diabetes, and relieve symptoms of asthma [4].
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) states that moderate amounts of caffeine, up to 400 mg or four cups of coffee a day, can be beneficial but that too much caffeine can have health risks.
Caffeine remains in the human body for three to five hours, but there is no hard and fast rule for how caffeine will affect a person. The effects depend on metabolism, sex, age, liver function, pregnancy, and interaction with other medications.
The most common side effects of caffeine include:
- Insomnia
- Jitters
- Anxiousness
- Fast heart rate
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Headache
Related: How Long Does Caffeine Last & Stay In Your System?
How to Drink Coffee the Healthy Way
Tolerance to caffeine is individual, and every person consumes it in different quantities. However, everyone should limit how much they use to avoid the risks.
Try these simple tips if you’re worried you drink too much coffee:
- Cut Down — It sounds simple, but the best solution is to drink less coffee or caffeinated drinks. Consider swapping that last cup for water, herbal tea, or chicory coffee. Afraid you’ll be dragging all day? There are other ways to stay energized without caffeine.
- Know What You’re Consuming — Read labels to understand the caffeine content, and watch serving sizes. Many sodas contain caffeine, and it’s easy to underestimate just how much. Opt for one teaspoon of instant coffee or a single shot from your favorite coffee shop rather than a double.
- Choose Decaf — Opt for decaffeinated coffee, which is lower in caffeine than freshly brewed.
Related: Why Doesn’t Caffeine Affect Me?
How Popular is Instant Coffee?
While once viewed as undesireable, instant coffee has become one of the most popular ways of consuming this stimulating beverage around the world. Roughly 34% of all coffee consumed around the world is consumed in instant form.
There are four main reasons why instant coffee is so popular today:
- Convenience — Due to busy lifestyles, today's coffee drinkers look for quick and easy solutions. This demand for convenient, high-quality coffee has shown an increase in sales of instant coffee. Statista states that instant coffee is forecast to grow by an enormous 5.1% between 2024 and 2028.
- Taste — With more coffee brands available than ever before, consumers are looking for high-quality brands that provide coffee with a depth of taste and aroma. Sales of flavored instant coffees are on the rise, with consumers looking for a wider taste profile from their instant cups.
- Sustainability and Ethics — Consumers are more aware of sustainability and ethical sourcing than ever before and look for sustainably sourced products.
- Health — Coffee drinkers are becoming more conscious of what they put in their bodies. According to a recent survey by Statista, 54% of Americans want to reduce their caffeine consumption, which has led to an increase in low-caffeine instant coffees. Consumers are seeking healthy coffee brands that offer lower sugar content or natural additives. Cafely Instant Vietnamese Coconut Coffee uses coconut milk instead of cream and has less than 1 g of sugar per serving.
FAQs: Instant Coffee
1. How much caffeine is in a teaspoon of instant coffee?
It is difficult to give a definitive answer as the caffeine content of instant coffee is affected by the beans used, the roast, and the production process. The caffeine content of instant coffee varies, but you can assume approximately 62 mg per teaspoon, depending on the brand and coffee concentration.
2. Is instant coffee less caffeinated than brewed coffee?
Yes. The caffeine content of instant coffee is affected by the process of turning freshly brewed coffee into instant coffee. Regardless of whether the instant coffee is freeze-dried or spray-dried, most instant coffee contains less caffeine than brewed coffee.
Related: How Much Caffeine is in a Shot of Espresso?
3. Can you control the caffeine content in instant coffee?
Yes. The preparation method enables you to control how much caffeine you are consuming in your cup of instant coffee by adjusting the amount of powder used.
4. What is the safest amount of instant coffee you can consume daily?
The FDA Food and Drug Administration recommends that you restrict your coffee consumption to 400 mg of caffeine per day. This equates to about 4-5 standard cups of instant coffee.
However, this varies as some people are sensitive to caffeine, have health problems, or take medications that need to be considered.
5. Does the flavor of instant coffee affect its caffeine content?
The flavor of instant coffee has no effect on caffeine content, but the type of coffee bean and its roast does. Robusta beans have twice as much caffeine as arabica, and a lighter roast generally contains more caffeine. The quantity of instant coffee you add to your drink will affect both the flavor and the caffeine content.
6. Are there low-caffeine instant coffee options available?
Yes, several brands offer low-caffeine or decaffeinated instant coffee options. For example, Cafely’s DeLat Coffee uses 100% arabica beans, which are lower in caffeine than robusta.
7. How does the caffeine in Cafely Instant Vietnamese Coconut Coffee compare to other brands?
Cafely’s Instant Vietnamese Coconut Coffee is flavored with coconut milk and uses monk fruit to counteract the robustness of the blend. At 150 mg per serving, it's significantly higher than the average for instant coffees.
8. What are the health benefits of moderating caffeine intake?
Limiting your caffeine intake to 400 mg a day reduces the risk of anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and long-term effects.
Pregnant women or people with underlying health issues, such as heart problems, should talk to their doctor about limiting their caffeine and what amount is healthy.
9. How does instant coffee's caffeine content affect its taste?
High caffeine levels offer coffee drinkers a stronger, more intense flavor. However, too much caffeine can cause your coffee to become bitter. Cafely's coffees have a touch of monkfruit, which counteracts the bitterness of caffeine.
10. Are there any instant coffees with caffeine levels comparable to an energy drink?
Energy drinks are designed to boost energy levels; they do this by providing the drinker with a huge burst of caffeine. Some energy drinks have caffeine levels of up to 300 mg per can. That’s nearly your entire daily allocation of caffeine in just one drink. Some high-caffeine instant coffees approach the caffeine levels found in energy drinks. All of Cafely’s Instant Coffees provide you with 150 mg of caffeine per packet.
References
- Bell, D. G., & McLellan, T. M. (2002). Exercise endurance 1, 3, and 6 h after caffeine ingestion in caffeine users and nonusers. Journal of Applied Physiology, 93(4), 1227-1234.
- Goldstein, E. R., Ziegenfuss, T., Kalman, D., Kreider, R., Campbell, B., Wilborn, C., ... & Antonio, J. (2010). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: caffeine and Performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 7, 1-15.
- Chen, J. Q., Scheltens, P., Groot, C., & Ossenkoppele, R. (2020). Associations between caffeine consumption, cognitive decline, and dementia: a systematic review. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 78(4), 1519-1546.
- Welsh, E. J., Bara, A., Barley, E., & Cates, C. J. (2010). Caffeine for asthma. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (1).
