When you’re buying different types of coffee during the week, it can be difficult to keep track of exactly how much caffeine you end up consuming over a 24 hour period. The caffeine content can vary considerably from one type to the next, and an inconsistent dose might lead to withdrawal symptoms that can be debilitating to a productive workday. Similarly, you won’t be able to achieve too much with a higher-than-usual dose leaving you hyperactive and potentially even heading for a crash. Knowing more about the caffeine levels in different coffee drinks is a good way to keep your intake as stable as better. 

Understanding Caffeine Better

Caffeine is well known around the world, but what it does in the body is generally little understood among the general population. It is a natural stimulant that is found in a variety of sources, including tea leaves, cocoa beans and coffee beans, of course. It affects the CNS (central nervous system), boosting brain activity and triggering an adrenaline and cortisol release shortly after it enters the bloodstream. People tend to have different reactions to coffee, predominantly due to different levels of sensitivity to caffeine. Finding your sweet spot means doing a bit of safe experimentation first. 

How Much is Too Much Coffee?

In the United States, adults consume an average of 135 mg of caffeine every day. This amounts to about a cup and a half. Some experts suggest that anywhere up to 400 mg per day should be safe for most adults, although this does seem excessive when you consider that it equals around ten cans of sugary fizzy drinks. Looking more closely at the potential disease prevention quality of coffee (and its related studies), it makes more sense to limit your intake to no more than 270 mg of caffeine a day, which is roughly three cups every day. Always consult a doctor for advice if you’re experiencing adverse effects from doing so. 

Caffeine Counts for Different Types of Coffee

Filter coffee contains roughly 96 mg of caffeine per 240 ml serving. Its decaf counterpart comes in at just 2 mg of caffeine. Iced coffee comes in at significantly less than its filtered counterpart, with around 27 mg of caffeine for the same serving size. Two teaspoons of instant coffee dissolved in water averages out at around 65 mg per cup. These should give you an idea about how much caffeine you’re putting into your body every single day. Do your own research if there are other coffee types that you enjoy, and plan your intake in the best way possible at the start of every week. 

Make It Yourself: Control Your Caffeine Intake

Armed with everything you need to know about caffeine, and with an idea about how much of it is in the average coffee cup, you can take managing your intake a step further thanks to Aquaspresso. By making your coffee yourself — preferably with a good quality machine that gives you different options for doing so — you can regulate how much you consume every day. Our machines are available to rent or to buy, so why not get started sooner rather than later?