Caffeine in green tea vs coffee: Which has more?

If you’re like most adults, caffeine is a part of your daily routine. But do you know the how much caffeine in green tea vs coffee?

Caffeine is found naturally in various foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, and chocolate, and is thought to be the world’s most often used stimulant chemical, according to a 2015 study published in Current Neuropharmacology.

While both green tea and coffee contain caffeine, coffee has a far higher concentration per cup. Other components in coffee and green tea have been linked to significant health benefits.

Any caffeinated beverage, however, has the potential to be harmful to one’s health. Some people should limit or avoid caffeine for health reasons, so decaffeinated tea or coffee may be the best option.

Caffeine’s side effects

People consumed caffeine for hundreds of years, and research on its level of safety has gone back and forth.

People know caffeine as a stimulant because of its effects on the central nervous system. Moreover, many people use caffeine to improve alertness, attention, and athletic performance, according to a 2015 study published in Advances in Nutrition.

It is also a diuretic, which means it can cause excessive urination and dehydration. People used caffeine in headache, appetite, pain treatment, and asthma drugs.

What is the caffeine content of green tea?

Green tea contains caffeine, but if you drink a cup every day, you will only be getting a small amount. According to the Mayo Clinic, eight ounces of green tea contain roughly 25 milligrams of caffeine, which is about half the amount found in black tea.

However, decaffeinated tea, which contains between 2 and 5 milligrams of caffeine per cup, is still more significant. When drinking iced green tea or green tea lattes, keep in mind that they may include added sugar, which means more calories.

What is the caffeine content of coffee?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the average cup of coffee (8 ounces) contains 95 to 165 mg of caffeine. That’s roughly equivalent to three glasses of green tea. For reference, it’s probably advisable to keep your caffeine intake to no more than 400 milligrams each day.

A cup of decaffeinated coffee contains approximately 2 to 5 milligrams of caffeine. A one-ounce shot of espresso has only 47 to 64 milligrams of caffeine, thus a 16-ounce latte contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as an 8-ounce cup of coffee (but well over 200 calories from added milk and sugar).

Which has more caffeine — Tea or Coffee?

Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee. An 8 oz cup of coffee typically contains 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, according to the FDA. An 8 oz cup of green tea, on the other hand, normally contains 30 to 50 mg of caffeine.

Naturally, there are exceptions, as there are a variety of factors that influence the caffeine level of tea and coffee. Some coffees contain more caffeine than others, similar to how some teas contain more caffeine than others.

Factors that affect the caffeine content in green tea

Tea Variety — The caffeine level of different tea varieties varies.

Tea Leaf Harvesting Season — Tea leaf harvesting season can impact caffeine levels, with earlier harvests of the same plants containing more caffeine.

Temperature – As the temperature rises, the caffeine content of the brew decreases.

Brewing Time –Steeping/brewing for a longer amount of time produces more caffeine. However, brewing time is proportional to temperature since hotter water extracts caffeine from the brew more quickly. This is why, although steeping for longer, cold-brewed tea contains less caffeine than hot-brewed tea.

Brewing Method – Cold brewing extracts less caffeine from green tea than hot brewing, which is also proportional to temperature. Iced tea, on the other hand, is typically made hot and then iced to cool down. Therefore, it contains the same amount of caffeine as a regular hot brew.

Factors that affect the caffeine content in coffee

Caffeine Content by Coffee Species and Grind Size — Arabica contains less caffeine than Robusta. It is also affected by the coffee grind size, with finer grinds releasing more caffeine.

Brewing Method — Brewing methods such drip coffee, percolator, and French press, as well as the espresso method, have been discovered to provide more caffeine per serving than espresso. This is based on normal espresso (1 oz/shot) and brewed coffee (8 oz/cup) serving amounts.

The amount of coffee used – The more coffee used in the brew, the more caffeine it contains.

Brewing Time — Brewing time is another element that influences the amount of caffeine in coffee; the longer the brewing time, the more caffeine is extracted.

Temperature – When coffee is brewed at a higher temperature, more caffeine is extracted. As a result, cold-brewed coffee has less caffeine than hot-brewed coffee.

Caffeine in green tea vs coffee vs other caffeine sources

Depending on how the coffee was brewed, an 8-ounce cup of coffee could have more caffeine than a 12-ounce can of ordinary cola, which has about 12 milligrams of caffeine, according to the USDA. Green tea, on the other hand, has a lower caffeine content than coffee or soft drinks. Most sodas and energy drinks just have added sugars and artificially added vitamins, however, coffee and tea can supply you with additional naturally occurring nutrients.

Coffee has a number of health advantages in addition to providing an energy boost. According to Harvard Health Publishing, moderate coffee consumption can reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, uterine and liver cancer, and gout, as well as death from cardiovascular disease, according to a 2015 study published in Circulation.

How much caffeine should you have a day?

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, but pregnant women should drink no more than 200 mg.

If you’re anxious or have trouble sleeping after drinking coffee, it’s a good idea to cut back a little, whereas others can handle bigger doses without issue. If you decide to reduce your intake, do so gradually to minimize headaches and other withdrawal symptoms. It’s also a good idea to speak with a physician if you have any questions or concerns about caffeine intake.