# More caffeine--tea or coffee?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 11, 1999, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659 "1999-11-11T16:25:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659/1 "1999-11-11T16:25:00Z")

</div>

I have been told by several people that tea actually has more caffeine than coffee; however, I have had just as many tell me the opposite is true. I know that certain blends of coffee and tea have higher amounts of caffeine and that brewing times will affect the amount produced, but how do they compare in general?

Personally I like drinking both, but I usually stick with strong tea because it’s easier on my stomach.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659/2 "1999-11-11T16:31:00Z")

</div>

Been answered in the Mailbag: [Which softdrinks have the most amounts of caffeine?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcaffeine.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guy_incognito/32/3920_2.png) [@Guy\_Incognito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659/3 "1999-11-11T16:41:00Z")

</div>

Whoops! Sorry, should’ve dug in a little further before posting. I’ve been lurking for awhile on the boards and didn’t want to ask about something already covered.

Thanks for the quick reply, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@sly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sly)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659/4 "1999-11-11T16:44:00Z")

</div>

On average, a cup-a-joe has nearly twice the caffeine as tea. The average cup of coffee has about 100mg of caffeine vs. 50-60mg in tea. These numbers can vary greatly depending upon bean and leave types, though.

A can of Mountain Dew contains about 55mg of caffeine, Pepsi: about 38mg. Jolt weighs in at a tad over 70mg.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@sly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sly)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659/5 "1999-11-11T16:47:00Z")

</div>

That 15 minutes of research sure paid off, didn’t it. Foiled again!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 1999, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-caffeine-tea-or-coffee/4659/6 "1999-11-11T16:47:00Z")

</div>

The way I always heard it, pound-for-pound, black leaf tea has twice as much caffeine as coffee beans.

However, since a pound of tea makes four times the beverage that a pound of coffee makes, cup-for-cup, coffee’s twice as strong.

* * *

Uke