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Types of coffee in USDA FoodData Central fall into four main groups: brewed coffee, espresso, instant coffee and decaffeinated versions of each. This guide to coffee types lists USDA SR Legacy caffeine values per serving and per 100 grams, notes the two coffee types, Arabica and Robusta, that USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service tracks in its market reports, and explains what FDA says about caffeine and decaf on labels.
Peptide Labs does not sell foods. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Per 8 fluid ounces in USDA SR Legacy data, brewed coffee lists about 95 milligrams of caffeine and instant coffee prepared with water 62 milligrams.
- USDA lists about 63 milligrams of caffeine in 1 fluid ounce of restaurant-prepared espresso, or 212 milligrams per 100 grams against 40 milligrams for brewed coffee.
- USDA lists about 2 milligrams of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces of brewed decaf, and FDA says decaffeinated coffees still contain some caffeine.
- USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service reports world coffee production as two types, Arabica and Robusta.
Types of coffee in USDA FoodData Central
USDA SR Legacy, the reference data set in USDA FoodData Central, files coffee in its Beverages group and names each entry by how it is made. The table lists the entries this guide uses, with USDA’s own description. USDA SR Legacy also keeps entries for instant coffee with chicory and for ready-to-drink coffee drinks made with milk, which are not compared here.
| Coffee type (USDA FDC ID) | USDA SR Legacy description | USDA SR Legacy food group |
|---|---|---|
| Brewed (171890) | Beverages, coffee, brewed, prepared with tap water | Beverages |
| Brewed, breakfast blend (171881) | Beverages, coffee, brewed, breakfast blend | Beverages |
| Brewed decaf (171889) | Beverages, coffee, brewed, prepared with tap water, decaffeinated | Beverages |
| Espresso (171891) | Beverages, coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared | Beverages |
| Espresso decaf (174125) | Beverages, coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared, decaffeinated | Beverages |
| Instant (174130) | Beverages, coffee, instant, regular, prepared with water | Beverages |
| Instant decaf (171894) | Beverages, coffee, instant, decaffeinated, prepared with water | Beverages |
USDA files espresso under brewed coffee, as the description shows, and keeps restaurant-prepared espresso as its own entry. Instant coffee appears in USDA data both dry and prepared with water; this guide uses the prepared entries so they compare with brewed coffee in the cup. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, in its trade notes, uses the separate trade terms soluble coffee and roasted coffee.
Caffeine in coffee types per serving
The table lists USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy values per serving, ranked by caffeine. Brewed and instant rows all use the same weight, 237 grams, the 8-fluid-ounce cup portion USDA gives for brewed coffee, so those rows compare; espresso rows use USDA’s own 1-fluid-ounce portion of 29.6 grams. Because the servings differ, the USDA caffeine per 100 grams column puts every row on the same weight. Caffeine has no FDA Daily Value, so the caffeine columns carry no %DV; potassium and magnesium use the FDA Daily Values of 4,700 milligrams and 420 milligrams.
| Coffee (USDA FDC ID) | Serving | Calories | Caffeine | Caffeine per 100 g | Potassium (% DV) | Magnesium (% DV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee, brewed (171890) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 2 | 95 mg | 40 mg | 116 mg (2%) | 7 mg (2%) |
| Coffee, brewed, breakfast blend (171881) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 5 | 88 mg | 37 mg | 118 mg (3%) | 9 mg (2%) |
| Espresso, restaurant-prepared (171891) | 1 fl oz (29.6 g) | 3 | 63 mg | 212 mg | 34 mg (1%) | 24 mg (6%) |
| Coffee, instant, prepared with water (174130) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 5 | 62 mg | 26 mg | 71 mg (2%) | 9 mg (2%) |
| Coffee, brewed, decaffeinated (171889) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 0 | 2 mg | 1 mg | 128 mg (3%) | 12 mg (3%) |
| Coffee, instant, decaffeinated, prepared with water (171894) | 8 fl oz (237 g) | 5 | 2 mg | 1 mg | 85 mg (2%) | 9 mg (2%) |
| Espresso, restaurant-prepared, decaffeinated (174125) | 1 fl oz (29.6 g) | 3 | 0 mg | 1 mg | 34 mg (1%) | 24 mg (6%) |
In USDA data, brewed coffee lists about 95 milligrams of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces and the brewed breakfast blend entry 88 milligrams, while instant coffee prepared with water lists 62 milligrams. One fluid ounce of espresso lists 63 milligrams in USDA data, close to a cup of instant coffee in a much smaller serving.
Per 100 grams the ranking changes: USDA lists about 212 milligrams of caffeine for espresso, 40 milligrams for brewed coffee and 26 milligrams for instant coffee prepared with water. All rows list 0 to 5 calories per serving in USDA data, before milk, cream or sugar. USDA SR Legacy figures are averages of the samples USDA analyzed, not a measurement of any one cup. Our guide to black coffee calories covers what common additions change.
Arabica and Robusta coffee types
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports world coffee production as two types, Arabica and Robusta, in its “Coffee: World Markets and Trade” report (July 2026). FAS says “Arabica trees naturally alternate between high-yielding on-years and lower-yielding off-years.” The USDA FAS report also says “Brazil accounts for nearly 40 percent of world production.” The FAS report tracks harvests and trade, not caffeine, and USDA SR Legacy does not split its coffee entries by Arabica or Robusta, so no USDA caffeine values are shown for either type.
A package may name the coffee type, and the ingredient list and label on that package are the reference for that product. USDA FAS describes Arabica trees in Brazil as cultivated on elevated plateaus and rolling hills, and links changes in each type’s harvest to weather such as rainfall and drought.
Decaf and caffeine on labels in FDA's words
FDA says “Decaffeinated” does not mean caffeine-free: “Decaffeinated coffees and teas have less caffeine than their regular counterparts, but still contain some caffeine.” USDA SR Legacy shows the same pattern, about 95 milligrams per 8 fluid ounces for brewed coffee against 2 milligrams for brewed decaf, and 63 milligrams per fluid ounce for espresso against 0 milligrams for decaf espresso after rounding.
FDA says packaged foods must list caffeine in the list of ingredients when it is added as a stand-alone ingredient, but when an ingredient inherently contains caffeine, caffeine will not appear on the list. Under that FDA rule, a bag of ground coffee may name coffee without naming caffeine. FDA adds that restaurants and other retail food establishments are not required by law to tell you how much caffeine is in the products they serve, and encourages people to ask.
FDA’s consumer page on caffeine says “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day” as “an amount not generally associated with negative effects,” and adds that there is “wide variation in both how sensitive people are to the effects of caffeine” and how fast they clear it. FDA advises anyone who is pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding to talk to a healthcare provider about caffeine. Our guides to foods high in caffeine and too much caffeine cover the rest of that FDA page.
- Tea instead: the guide to types of tea lists USDA caffeine values for brewed teas, and matcha has its own guide.
- Other coffee guides: mushroom coffee is covered separately.
- Milk in coffee: types of milk lists USDA values per cup, and the sibling guide to types of eggs covers another breakfast staple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of coffee?
USDA SR Legacy lists brewed coffee, espresso and instant coffee, each with a decaffeinated entry; USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service reports production as Arabica and Robusta.
Which coffee types list the most caffeine per serving?
Per 8 fluid ounces in USDA SR Legacy data, brewed coffee lists about 95 milligrams and instant coffee 62 milligrams; 1 fluid ounce of espresso lists 63 milligrams.
Is espresso stronger than brewed coffee?
Per 100 grams, USDA lists about 212 milligrams of caffeine for espresso against 40 milligrams for brewed coffee, but a USDA espresso serving is 1 fluid ounce.
Is decaf coffee caffeine-free?
No. FDA says decaffeinated coffees have less caffeine than their regular counterparts but still contain some; USDA lists about 2 milligrams for 8 fluid ounces of brewed decaf.
Does USDA list caffeine for Arabica and Robusta separately?
No. USDA SR Legacy does not split its coffee entries by type; USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service reports Arabica and Robusta only in its production and trade data.
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.