The generally recommended safe limit for espresso consumption is up to about 400 mg of caffeine per day for most healthy adults. Since a single shot of espresso contains roughly 63 to 68 mg of caffeine (depending on bean type and shot size), this translates to about 6 single shots or 3 double shots daily without exceeding the FDA's caffeine guideline
. However, individual tolerance varies widely. Some people may feel jittery, anxious, or experience a racing heart after just 2-3 shots, while others can tolerate more. Pregnant women, people with heart conditions, and those sensitive to caffeine should limit intake further-often to about 200 mg per day or fewer shots
. Consuming an extremely high number of shots-on the order of 75 to 156 shots in a day-could be lethal due to caffeine overdose, but such amounts are far beyond typical consumption and would likely cause severe symptoms well before reaching that point
. In summary:
- Safe daily limit: About 6 single shots (400 mg caffeine) for most adults
- Lower limits: Pregnant women and sensitive individuals should consume fewer shots
- Signs of too much: Jitteriness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, insomnia
- Lethal dose: 75+ shots in a day (extreme and rare)
Listening to your body and spacing shots throughout the day helps avoid negative effects
