Foods High in Caffeine: USDA Caffeine per Serving, Ranked

Foods high in caffeine are mostly drinks: in USDA FoodData Central data, an 8-fluid-ounce cup of brewed coffee lists about 95 milligrams of caffeine, an 8-fluid-ounce serving of USDA’s generic energy drink entry about 91 milligrams, a 1-fluid-ounce shot of espresso about 63 milligrams and a 12-fluid-ounce cola about 33 milligrams. The table below ranks 21 USDA generic entries by caffeine per serving, with FDC IDs and calories, and the sections that follow quote FDA’s consumer page on caffeine as written. No brand is named.

Peptide Labs does not sell foods. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.

Foods high in caffeine ranked by USDA caffeine per serving

Servings are USDA SR Legacy portions or simple multiples of them, named in the Serving column; the last column gives caffeine per 100 grams of the same USDA entry. USDA lists no portion for its brewed oolong entry, so the 237-gram cup weight of the brewed black tea entry is applied here. FDA’s Nutrition Facts rule sets no Daily Value for caffeine (21 CFR 101.9), so no %DV column appears.

In USDA data the drinks lead, with the teas at 29 to 57 milligrams and cola at 33 milligrams per can, and only the chocolate-coated coffee beans pass every drink. Our guides to how much caffeine is too much and black coffee calories cover amounts and calories, and our sibling guide to low carb nuts ranks nuts and seeds the same way.

What FDA says about caffeine amounts

FDA’s consumer page on caffeine (content current as of August 28, 2024) says: “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day” (about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee, the page adds) “as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.” The next sentence reads: “However, there is wide variation in both how sensitive people are to the effects of caffeine and how fast they eliminate it from the body.” This page repeats the figure only as FDA’s statement; it is not a target.

FDA adds that “too much” can vary from person to person based on factors such as medications, certain medical conditions and individual sensitivity, and FDA recommends that anyone who is pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding, or concerned about a condition or medication, talk to a health care provider about whether to limit caffeine. FDA lists signs of consuming too much caffeine on the same page; our guide to caffeine side effects walks through that list.

Coffee and espresso in the USDA data

• Brewed coffee: USDA’s brewed coffee entry lists 40 milligrams of caffeine per 100 grams, about 95 milligrams for the 237-gram, 8-fluid-ounce cup; FDA’s page gives a typical range of 113 to 247 milligrams for 12 fluid ounces of regular brewed coffee.
• Espresso: USDA’s restaurant-prepared espresso entry lists 212 milligrams per 100 grams, but a 1-fluid-ounce shot is 29.6 grams in USDA data, so one shot lists about 63 milligrams.
• Decaffeinated: USDA’s decaffeinated brewed coffee entry lists about 2 milligrams per cup and its decaffeinated espresso entry rounds to 0; FDA says decaffeinated does not mean caffeine-free and that decaf coffee typically has 2 to 15 milligrams in an 8-fluid-ounce cup.
• Not in SR Legacy: USDA SR Legacy has no cold brew entry, so none appears; our mushroom coffee guide covers blends that vary by product.

Teas in the USDA data

• Black: USDA’s brewed black tea entry lists 20 milligrams per 100 grams, about 47 milligrams per 8-fluid-ounce cup; FDA’s typical figure is 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces.
• Green: USDA’s brewed green tea entry lists 12 milligrams per 100 grams, about 29 milligrams for its 245-gram cup; FDA’s typical figure is 37 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces.
• Oolong: USDA’s brewed oolong tea entry lists 16 milligrams per 100 grams, about 38 milligrams with the 237-gram cup weight applied.
• Not in SR Legacy: USDA SR Legacy has no entry for either matcha or mate, so neither is ranked; see our guides to matcha and yerba mate.

Chocolate and cocoa in the USDA data

• Chocolate by cacao content: USDA’s 60-69% and 70-85% cacao entries list 24 and 23 milligrams of caffeine per ounce, semisweet 18 milligrams and milk chocolate 6 milligrams; our dark chocolate guide covers the bars.
• Cocoa powder: USDA’s unsweetened cocoa entry lists 230 milligrams per 100 grams, but a tablespoon is 5.4 grams in USDA data, so one tablespoon lists about 12 milligrams; see our guide to cacao vs cocoa.
• Chocolate-coated coffee beans: USDA’s entry lists 839 milligrams per 100 grams, so its 40-gram, 28-piece serving lists about 336 milligrams, the highest figure in the table.

Colas and energy drinks in the USDA data

• Cola: USDA’s regular cola entry lists 9 milligrams per 100 grams, about 33 milligrams per 12-fluid-ounce can; FDA’s typical range for a caffeinated soft drink is 23 to 83 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces.
• Energy drinks: USDA’s two generic energy drink entries, one sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and one sugar free, list 38 and 32 milligrams per 100 grams, about 91 and 77 milligrams per 8 fluid ounces. FDA says the name “energy drink” was developed by the food industry and that FDA does not have a regulation specific to energy drinks, and FDA writes: “Generally, ‘energy drinks’ have 54 to 328 milligrams of caffeine per 16 fluid ounces.” FDA adds that most energy drinks in the U.S. list total caffeine from all sources, such as guarana, on the label. These USDA rows complete the ranking; nothing here suggests them.
• Children and teens: FDA’s page reports that medical experts advise against energy drinks for children and teens because of the levels of sugar and caffeine, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans say drinks containing caffeine should be avoided for children younger than age 2.

Caffeine on the label

• Added caffeine: FDA says all packaged foods must list caffeine in the list of ingredients when it is added as a stand-alone ingredient, and that when a food contains an ingredient that inherently contains caffeine, such as chocolate chips, caffeine itself will not appear on the ingredient list but the chocolate will.
• Unexpected sources: FDA names energy or protein bars, ice cream, chewing gum, dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications among products that may have caffeine as an added ingredient, so foods with caffeine go beyond coffee, tea and chocolate; FDA says the body handles caffeine in foods the same way whether it occurs naturally or is added.
• Where to look: 21 CFR 101.9 does not list caffeine among the Nutrition Facts nutrients, so on a package the ingredient list and any voluntary caffeine statement are where it appears; the USDA rows are generic averages, and FDA says the amount of caffeine in specific products and container sizes can vary and suggests contacting the manufacturer with questions about a product.

Pure and highly concentrated caffeine

FDA’s page says pure and highly concentrated caffeine products “can have serious health consequences, including death,” and that FDA “estimates toxic effects, like seizures, can be observed with rapid consumption of around 1,200 milligrams of caffeine, or less than 1/2 teaspoon of pure caffeine.” FDA adds that although it took action against such products after they appeared in the mid-2010s, some remain on the market and consumers should exercise caution. Our guide to caffeine pills covers that product category separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Last reviewed October 2026.

Related guides: Low Carb Nuts: USDA Carbohydrate per Ounce, Ranked, How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? Daily Limits, Overdose Signs and Label Math, Green Tea Benefits: What the Research Shows, Caffeine and Side Effects, Dark Chocolate: Is It Healthy? Benefits, Nutrition and Caffeine, Types of Coffee: Brewed, Espresso, Instant and Decaf in USDA Data.