Question:
Caffeine in drip coffee compared to espresso?
Ok, so I've been into coffee for a while now. I've roasted for 3-4 years and been a barista in a local coffee house for a year and a half. Needless to say it's become my life. One thing has always perplexed me though... I've done a decent amount of study on caffeine contents mostly for the fact of what to recommend someone in terms of tea, but I've also done a lot in the way of caffeine content in drip coffee compared to espresso. I know there are many factors to take in but I'm going to go ahead and take a middle of the road stance just for the sake of figuring this out. I know that per shot, espresso is 50-60mg caffeine and an 8oz drip coffee is 120mg, +-/10. Now coming from the viewpoint of pulling a double shot, 2-2.5oz (so 100-120mg in the espresso) compared to the 8oz cup of drip containing more or less the same equivalent off caffeine, there should be no different in the amount of caffeine consumed per cup. What I have noticed is that most people I observe, as well as in my own experiences, show that 6 shots of espresso compared to 3 cups (18oz) of coffee affects a person very differently. My question is that though the caffeine levels are very close, does the body process the caffeine in a different way since espresso is the concentrated oils? I've been wondering about this for quite some time and though I consider myself pretty coffee savvy, this is one thing I still can't find an answer to. Then again, it could just be a mental thing. Any ideas?
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Because espresso is concentrated compared to standard brew, the caffeine enters the system more quickly. And, because espresso contains larger particles than standard brew you digest it for a longer period of time. So, you get a quick jolt that lasts, without the need to urinate every 20 minutes.
So you know, 6 oz, not 8oz, is considered a "cup" when referring to coffee. So it would be about 4 shots (1.5oz each) of espresso to equal the volume of a cup of coffee. 1 6oz cup of coffee contains about 120 mg of caffeine. 4 shots of espresso contains about 240mg. That means espresso, by volume, has about double the caffeine of standard drip coffee.
