How Much Caffeine is There in a Cup of Coffee

Have you ever given it a thought? I sincerely doubt it. The only 'thinking' that a coffee drinker usually does, is to contemplate on whether to opt for an espresso, a decaf, a cappuccino, a latte or a mocha, etc. In any case, the caffeine content in coffee is the last thing on our minds. However, as the wise old men say, "too much of anything is bad", similarly, the same applies in case of caffeine as well. Too much intake of caffeine is harmful to one's health. But then, just how much is too much? Well, in order to answer that question, it would be necessary to have an accurate idea about the amount of caffeine in coffee, wouldn't it? Of course it would. Here are some interesting numbers regarding the same.

Caffeine Content in One Cup of Coffee
Well, to answer the above question, a general estimate is about 100 mg per cup. However, in reality, there can be no universal absolute number as such. Simply because, the caffeine content in a cup of coffee depends on a variety of factors, such as the type or the variety of coffee, the method of preparation, the serving size, etc. However, for your benefit, here is a sample chart to provide you with some useful numerical values pertaining to a few types of coffee.

Comparative Chart

Type of Coffee	Amount of Caffeine
Instant Coffee (8 oz)	70 mg (approx)
Brewed Coffee (8 oz)	125 mg (approx)
Drip Coffee (8 oz)	145 mg (approx)
Cappuccino (8 oz)	75 mg (approx)
Espresso (2 oz)	90 mg (approx)
Cafè Latte (8 oz)	75 mg (approx)
Starbucks Espresso Solo (1 oz)	75 mg
Starbucks Espresso Doppio (2 oz)	150 mg
Dunkin' Donuts Coffee (16 oz)	180 mg (approx)
Starbucks Vanilla Latte (16 oz)	150 mg
Coffee Decaf (brewed) 8 oz	6 mg (approx)
Coffee Decaf (instant) 8 oz	3 mg (approx)

Adverse Effects of Caffeine
For those of you who are heavy coffee drinkers, beware! Excessive intake of caffeine is harmful for your health. Caffeine side effects are aplenty, and when consumed in an addictive manner or in excessive proportions, caffeine can have the following adverse effects on a person's health:

• A person who gets addicted to caffeine (through coffee) may suffer from sleep disorders i.e. Insomnia. Drinking coffee (or for that matter, even tea) at, or around bed time is a bad idea simply because, once caffeine gets into your blood stream and begins to have its effect on your body, your tiredness will temporarily fade away and you will experience a state of alertness. This will naturally delay the process of sleep.
• Excessive caffeine consumption may trigger panic attacks.
• Contrary to what people think, coffee actually dehydrates you. Caffeine has diuretic properties and over-intake of caffeine may leave you severely dehydrated.
• Addiction and dependency are two common side-effects of excessive caffeine intake. An addicted person cannot do without his daily dose of coffee, and failure to satisfy his caffeine cravings may lead to depression, nervousness and anxiety, in addition to other caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

Pretty sure as I am, the next time you order coffee in Starbucks, you won't be able to help but check the caffeine content in it. Come back here, and tell me your experience!