Which coffee brand has the most caffeine? Learn how roast, bean type, and brewing method influence caffeine level so you can personalize your buzz based on individual tolerance level.
Caffeine affects everybody differently. For those who are lucky enough to have a high caffeine tolerance, caffeine can raise alertness, improve focus, and give you that extra energy boost you need to get through a long day or a particularly challenging workout.
So, how can you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to your morning coffee buzz? Which coffee has the most caffeine? Can you adjust the amount of caffeine by choosing a certain roast, bean type, brand, or brewing method?
Let’s find out! Here’s how roast, brand, bean type, and brewing method influence caffeine level so you can personalize your buzz based on your individual tolerance level.
Which Coffee Roast Has the Most Caffeine- Light Roast or Dark Roast?
Everyone knows that dark roasts have more caffeine than light roasts, right? Well, not exactly. It turns out that bean for bean, they each have about the same amount of caffeine. Here’s why.
Caffeine levels remain stable throughout the roasting process, whether it’s long or short. But, there’s actually a lot more going on here, so keep on reading.
Although light and dark roasts have the same amount of caffeine per bean, the longer the beans are roasted, the less density they have. That means you’ll have more beans by mass with a dark roast than a light roast.
So, how does this affect the amount of caffeine in your cup of coffee?
Well, if you measure your coffee with a scoop, a scoop of light roast will have more caffeine. But, if you weigh your coffee, dark roasts will have more caffeine by weight because dark roast beans have less mass.
All that being said, when it really comes down to it, the difference in the amount of caffeine in light roast vs dark roast coffee is so negligible, you probably wouldn’t even notice the difference.
Arabica Beans vs Robusta Beans: Which Coffee Beans Have the Most Caffeine?
So, which coffee beans have more caffeine, Arabica Beans or Robusta beans? It turns out, Robusta beans typically have twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans!
Unfortunately, Robusta beans also tend to be more bitter, while Arabica is more sweet, fruity, and mellow. Robusta beans are generally cheaper, which often makes them the bean of choice for cheap gas station and grocery store blends, as well as instant coffee.
In fact, Robusta beans are so high in caffeine, the pests don’t bother the plants. That makes them cheaper to farm than Arabica beans, which require more diligent pest control.
Though most coffee connoisseurs prefer Arabica beans, high-quality Robusta coffees do exist. We really like Farm Fresh Java Very Strong Coffee. It’s made from 100% dark roast premium robusta beans and has an extremely high caffeine content and a smooth taste that’s not too acidic.
Which Type of Coffee Has the Most Caffeine?
The amount of caffeine in a coffee beverage can vary greatly based on the brewing method and the type of drink. This is especially true when it comes to espresso-based drinks. So, how do you know which type of coffee has the most caffeine?
Turns out, it’s actually pretty easy to figure out how much caffeine is in any espresso drink because espresso has about 100 milligrams of caffeine per two-ounce shot. Simply multiply the number of shots used in your drink by 100 to get a pretty good idea of how much caffeine you’re going to get.
French press, pour-over, and drip coffee can have anywhere from 50 to 100 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup. Cold-brew definitely packs a bigger punch since you’ll get around 200 milligrams of caffeine in a typical 16-ounce serving.
Of course, the amount of caffeine in any brew can vary greatly, depending on how fine the grounds are, water temperature, brewing time, serving size, and a variety of other factors. Making some tweaks to your brewing technique can make a major difference in caffeine content, no matter which brewing method you choose.
For example, you can boost the caffeine level in drip coffee and espresso by simply using more grounds and less water or by grinding your beans more finely. Or, if you prefer a pour-over, cold brew, or French press brew, start with a finer grind, hotter water, and let your coffee steep a little longer to extract higher amounts of caffeine.
Which Brand of Coffee Has The Most Caffeine?
So, which brand of coffee has the most caffeine? This is where things get really interesting! Several coffee brands have heard the call for more caffeine and met that demand by engineering “high-performance coffee blends” with astonishingly high caffeine levels. So, if you really want coffee with the highest amount of caffeine, choosing the right brand is where it’s at.
Here’s how the most popular high-caffeine coffee brands stack up:
1. Biohazard Coffee
Biohazard Coffee comes in at a whopping 928 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounce serving. That makes it the strongest coffee on our list at double the daily recommended caffeine limit. It’s no surprise that Biohazard Coffee is made from Robusta beans.
For us, it leaves something to be desired when it comes to flavor. We found it to be surprisingly earthy (almost ashy?) in flavor and more than a little bitter.
But, at the end of the day, if all you really care about is caffeine, Biohazard Coffee will give you the most bang for your buck. And, it does have a pretty loyal following, so it may be more suited to your taste.
Click Here to Shop Biohazard Coffee on Amazon
2. Death Wish Coffee
Next on our list is the increasingly popular Death Wish Coffee. This brand contains an impressive 728 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving. Just for reference, that’s nearly twice the daily limit recommended by the FDA.
Death Wish uses a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans in this incredibly potent brew, and they also claim that each batch is meticulously tested for caffeine content. Although Death Wish coffee is very intense, it’s also surprisingly smooth. It has a hint of cherry and cocoa in the flavor profile, which we really enjoyed. It’s organic and Fair Trade, too!
Click Here to Shop Death Wish Coffee on Amazon: Choose from Whole Bean, Ground, or Death Wish K-Cups
3. Black Insomnia Coffee
Black Insomnia Coffee comes in at 702 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving. There’s been some debate over which one is stronger, Black Insomnia or Death Wish, and it seems no one really knows which one’s right. Let’s just say that both coffee brands are astonishingly strong and leave it at that!
Despite its loyal following overseas, we found that it doesn’t really taste much different from other high-performance coffees. It has a strong flavor, but it’s only slightly bitter. If you like a hint of nutty sweetness in your brew, you might like this one a little more.
Click Here to Shop Black Insomnia Coffee on Amazon
4. Banned Coffee
Banned Coffee contains a blend of Robusta and Arabica beans. It comes in at 474 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving. While it’s not the strongest coffee in the world, it’s still pretty potent. They sell it pre-ground, whole bean, and it’s also available in K-cups and pods.
Basically, Banned coffee is a medium/dark roast blend coffee with extra Robusta beans added in just to amp up the caffeine content. It’s not the tastiest brew on our list, but it’s not bad either.
We noticed a hint of chocolate and berries and it’s pretty smooth with almost no bitterness.
Click Here to Shop Banned Coffee on Amazon
5. Shock Coffee
Shock Coffee doesn’t state how much caffeine is in a cup of their energy-blend coffee, but they do claim it’s 50% stronger than regular coffee. They also say that Shock coffee is served on US military bases to help the troops stay alert, so that’s a pretty high recommendation.
For a high-caffeine coffee, Shock Coffee has a decent flavor and it’s not too bitter. That said, it’s pretty acidic and it doesn’t really have any noticeable undertones. At the end of the day, our tasters preferred the taste of Death Wish.
Click Here to Shop Shock Coffee on Amazon
The Bottom Line
So, which brand of coffee has the most caffeine? Well, if you’re looking for the highest caffeine coffee at your grocery store, check the labels and choose the one that has the highest percentage of Robusta beans. It may not be the best-tasting coffee, but it will probably pack the most caffeine per cup.
But, if you’re shopping for coffee with the highest caffeine content and good flavor, go for Death Wish Coffee. It’s deliciously strong and bold, but also surprisingly smooth.
At the end of the day, Biohazard Coffee contains the highest amount of caffeine per 12-ounce serving of all the coffees on our list. With an astounding 928-milligrams of caffeine per serving, you’ll get more than twice the daily recommended amount of caffeine in just one cup… It’s definitely not for the faint of heart!
Once again, please keep in mind that the FDA recommends a maximum intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. Overdoing it could result in jitters, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and other serious health consequences… especially in those with a low tolerance for caffeine.
