Caffeine in drinks
How much caffeine is in Espresso?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g) of Espresso has 62.8 mg of caffeine, according to USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (SR Legacy).
How Espresso compares
- Strength: 209 mg per 100 ml.
- One Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g) has as much caffeine as about three quarters of a cup of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
- Of the 13 other coffee drinks in our coffee chart, 8 have more caffeine per serving and 5 have less.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g) of Espresso
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 21 mg
Range 10–32 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 63 mg by 8:35 PM (average) or 7:35 PM (slow metabolism).
What sleep studies found near this dose
- Gardiner et al. 2025 (randomized trial): In 23 healthy young men, 100 mg taken 12, 8 or 4 hours before bed had no significant effect on measured or self-rated sleep.
- Gardiner et al. 2023 (meta-analysis): To avoid losing sleep time, the authors suggest a coffee (107 mg per 250 ml) at least 8.8 hours before bed.
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 |
|---|---|
| Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g) | 62.8 mg |
| Double shot, 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g) | 127.2 mg |
How long does Espresso 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 Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g) of Espresso (63 mg), about 32 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 16 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 26 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g) (63 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) | ≈ 8 mg | 2–17 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 14 mg | 5–24 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 21 mg | 10–32 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 32 mg | 20–41 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 6 servings.
- Up to 200 mg at one time for healthy adults (EFSA): about 3 servings in one go.
- Up to 200 mg a day in pregnancy (EFSA, NHS): about 3 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
Lab measurements of 104 espressos bought in Scotland, Italy and Spain found 48 to 317 mg of caffeine per serving.
How the serving amount was worked out: USDA lists 212 mg per 100 g for both records. Single shot: 29.6 g × 2.12 = 62.8 mg (FDC 171891, 2 analysed samples). Double shot: 60 g × 2.12 = 127.2 mg (FDC 2710378).
Espresso vs other espresso drinks
- Cuban coffee (cafecito): Espresso has about the same amount of caffeine as Cuban coffee (cafecito) per Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g): 62.8 mg vs 61.7 mg.
- Decaf espresso: Espresso has more caffeine than decaf espresso per Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g): 62.8 mg vs 0.3–15.8 mg.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in Espresso?
USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (SR Legacy) gives 62.8 mg of caffeine per Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g). Other sizes are in the table on this page.
How many Espresso 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 62.8 mg per Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g), that is about 6 servings if Espresso is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink Espresso?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 8:35 PM for average metabolism, or 7:35 PM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
How long does Espresso stay in your system?
Of the 63 mg in one Single shot, 1 fl oz (29.6 g), roughly 32 mg remains after 5 hours and 16 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 6 and 26 mg.
Where the number comes from
- Beverages, coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared. USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (SR Legacy). FDC ID 171891, nutrient "Caffeine" (262): portion "1 fl oz" = 29.6 g. Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
- Coffee, espresso. USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS). FDC ID 2710378, nutrient "Caffeine" (262): portion "1 espresso cup (2 fl oz)" = 60 g. Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
- Variations in caffeine and chlorogenic acid contents of coffees: what are we drinking? Food & Function. PMID 25014672, abstract. 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, take medication or have a heart, liver or anxiety condition, 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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