Caffeine in drinks
How much caffeine is in Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One 28 pieces (40 g) of Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans has 335.6 mg of caffeine, according to USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (SR Legacy).
How Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans compares
- Strength: 839 mg per 100 g.
- One 28 pieces (40 g) has as much caffeine as about 3.5 cups of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
- Of the 7 other chocolate foods and drinks in our chocolate chart, 0 have more caffeine per serving and 7 have less.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × 28 pieces (40 g) of Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 111 mg
Range 53–168 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 336 mg by 8:30 AM (average) or 12:16 AM (slow metabolism).
What sleep studies found near this dose
- Gardiner et al. 2023 (meta-analysis): For a pre-workout serving (217.5 mg), the authors suggest at least 13.2 hours before bed.
- Gardiner et al. 2025 (randomized trial): 400 mg reduced deep sleep even when taken 12 hours before bed; the authors advise avoiding it within 12 hours of bedtime.
Estimate from a simple model: half-life of 3, 5 or 8 hours, 50 mg bedtime target. How we calculate
Caffeine by size
| Serving | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| 28 pieces (40 g) | 335.6 mg |
| 1 oz (28.35 g) | 237.9 mg |
How long does Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans stay in your system?
Our model halves caffeine every 5 hours for average metabolism, and every 3 or 8 hours for fast or slow metabolism. From one 28 pieces (40 g) of Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans (336 mg), about 168 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 84 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 141 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one 28 pieces (40 g) (336 mg), using a half-life of 5 hours for average metabolism and 3 to 8 hours for the range. How we calculate
| Had at | Left at bedtime (average) | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM (15 h before bed) | ≈ 42 mg | 11–92 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 73 mg | 26–130 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 111 mg | 53–168 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 168 mg | 106–218 mg |
How many fit in a day?
Reference amounts are for caffeine from all sources combined. Counted at the upper end of the stated amount, one serving at a time:
- Up to 400 mg a day for most healthy adults (FDA, EFSA): about 1 serving.
- Up to 200 mg at one time for healthy adults (EFSA): about 0 servings in one go.
- Up to 200 mg a day in pregnancy (EFSA, NHS): about 0 servings.
These are reference amounts for groups of people, not a personal limit. Some people feel jittery or sleep worse on much less. See the cutoff calculator for timing.
Good to know
USDA's figure is an estimate, and CSPI's chart lists one labelled brand, Taza Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, at 135 mg per 1 oz.
How the serving amount was worked out: USDA lists 839 mg per 100 g (estimated formulation, label claim); 40 g × 8.39 = 335.6 mg; 28.35 g × 8.39 = 237.9 mg.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans?
USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (SR Legacy) gives 335.6 mg of caffeine per 28 pieces (40 g). Other sizes are in the table on this page.
How many Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans servings can I have in a day?
The FDA and EFSA cite up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, from all sources combined, for most healthy adults. At 335.6 mg per 28 pieces (40 g), that is about 1 serving if Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 8:30 AM for average metabolism, or 12:16 AM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
How long does Dark chocolate-covered coffee beans stay in your system?
Of the 336 mg in one 28 pieces (40 g), roughly 168 mg remains after 5 hours and 84 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 33 and 141 mg.
Where the number comes from
- Candies, dark chocolate coated coffee beans. USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (SR Legacy). FDC ID 169634, nutrient "Caffeine" (262): derivation FLC; portion "1 serving 28 pieces" = 40 g. Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
- Caffeine chart. Center for Science in the Public Interest. row "Taza Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans | 1 oz. | 135" Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
Recipes and labels change. If a number here no longer matches the label, the label wins.
General information, not medical advice
If you feel unwell after caffeine — for example chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat that does not settle, fainting, confusion or trouble breathing — get urgent medical help. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, take medication, or have a heart, liver or anxiety condition, high blood pressure or a sleep disorder, ask a doctor or pharmacist what amount is right for you.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2024). Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? FDA Consumer Updates. fda.gov ↗
- European Food Safety Authority. Caffeine | EFSA. EFSA topic page (summary of the 2015 Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine). efsa.europa.eu ↗
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy. NHS. nhs.uk ↗
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