A single shot of espresso, which is about 1 ounce (30 milliliters), typically contains approximately 63 to 75 milligrams of caffeine. The average is often cited around 63-64 mg, but some sources note it can range from about 60 to 80 mg depending on factors like bean type, roast, grind size, and brewing method
. Key points influencing caffeine content in an espresso shot include:
- Type of coffee bean: Robusta beans have roughly twice the caffeine of Arabica beans.
- Roast level: Lighter roasts tend to have slightly more caffeine than darker roasts.
- Grind size and tamping: Finer grind and firmer tamping can increase caffeine extraction.
- Water temperature and volume: Hotter water and the amount used affect caffeine yield.
Though espresso is more concentrated in caffeine per ounce than regular drip coffee (which has about 12-16 mg per ounce), a typical 8-ounce cup of coffee usually contains more total caffeine (around 95-96 mg) because of the larger volume
. In summary, a standard 1-ounce shot of espresso generally contains about 63-75 mg of caffeine, making it a potent but small serving of caffeine compared to a full cup of brewed coffee. Double shots contain roughly twice that amount, around 140-150 mg
