# Which has more caffeine and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156 "2000-01-14T20:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/1 "2000-01-14T20:25:00Z")
A coworker and I were discussing the caffenated (sp?) merits of both tea and coffee. He claims that tea has twice as much caffeine as coffee does. I say exactly the opposite. I tried to narrow it down more, for example: "I said that even if tea in the bag has twice as much caffeine than equivalent amount of coffee it would not make a difference because the percolating (i.e. distilling) of coffee concentrates the basis of the coffee which would include the caffeine thus making it a more potent, caffeinatically (like that word, I made it up myself) speaking. 🙂 On the other hand, he claims that the simple fact (I am not sure if his “fact” is true, but I assumed it was for arguments purpose) that tea has twice as much caffeine then the liquid, consumable form would still have twice as much caffeine. I pointed out that the distilling process doesn’t make tea jet black like coffee and that they are essentially the same color beforehand, but it seems to not have made a difference. If anyone could find some sites supporting either hypothesis, I would appreciate it. Also, any running commentary would be appreciated. HUGS! Sqrl * * * Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/2 "2000-01-14T20:39:00Z")
Here’s something: [http://www.cs.unb.ca/~alopez-o/Coffee/caffaq.html](http://www.cs.unb.ca/~alopez-o/Coffee/caffaq.html) ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/3 "2000-01-14T20:44:00Z")
According to the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board: > [@](#): > > It’s tricky to directly compare them. The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee or tea depends on a bunch of factors, in particular the type of bean/leaf (some species are more loaded than others) and the amount of brewing/steeping time (the stronger your drink, the more caffeine is in it.) > > In general, however, the dread “average” cup of coffee contains more caffeine than the “average” cup of tea. According to the Stash Tea Company ([http://www.stashtea.com](http://www.stashtea.com)), a 5-ounce cup of percolated coffee contains 40-170 mg, while a 5-ounce cup of brewed tea (imported, of course) contains 25-110 mg of caffeine. So, the average weakest or strongest cup of coffee contains about half again as much caffeine as the average weakest or strongest cup of tea. The full article is in the archive at [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcaffeine.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcaffeine.html) * * * “Drink your coffee! Remember, there are people sleeping in China.” Dennis Matheson — [dennis@mountaindiver.com](mailto:dennis@mountaindiver.com) Hike, Dive, Ski, Climb — [www.mountaindiver.com](http://www.mountaindiver.com) ---
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/4 "2000-01-14T21:16:00Z")
Thanks guys. HUGS! Sqrl * * * Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/5 "2000-01-14T21:21:00Z")
Celestial Seasoning’s tea has a little gauge on the side of the box that indicates just where the particular type of tea you’re holding fits. My “Emerald Gardens Green Tea” tells me the following: CAFFEINE METER Double Espresso : 160 mg per 8 oz cup Drip Coffee : 90 mg EMERALD GARDENS : 50 mg Cola : 45 mg Chocolate bar : 25 mg Decaf coffee : 5 mg Sorry I can’t reproduce the little graphy thing… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/6 "2000-01-14T23:08:00Z")
Mountain Dew has more than all of them. ---
**Author:** ![AzRaek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azraek/32/16739_2.png) [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-more-caffeine-and-why/6156/7 "2000-01-15T01:43:00Z")
JOLT JOLT JOLT Ever heard of Water Joe? It’s plain water with caffeine added. We make instant espressos from it. ZZZZIIIINNNNNGGG! * * * “That was a hell of a thing.”