Caffeine in drinks
How much caffeine is in Espresso macchiato?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g) of Espresso macchiato has 85.2 mg of caffeine, according to USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS).
How Espresso macchiato compares
- Strength: 144 mg per 100 ml.
- One 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g) has as much caffeine as about one cup of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
- Of the 13 other coffee drinks in our coffee chart, 5 have more caffeine per serving and 8 have less.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g) of Espresso macchiato
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 28 mg
Range 13–43 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 85 mg by 6:25 PM (average) or 4:08 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
How long does Espresso macchiato 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 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g) of Espresso macchiato (85 mg), about 43 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 21 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 36 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g) (85 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) | ≈ 11 mg | 3–23 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 18 mg | 7–33 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 28 mg | 13–43 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 43 mg | 27–55 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 4 servings.
- Up to 200 mg at one time for healthy adults (EFSA): about 2 servings in one go.
- Up to 200 mg a day in pregnancy (EFSA, NHS): about 2 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 entry is the small espresso macchiato, built from 62 g of espresso and 30.5 g of milk, not the large latte macchiato sold by coffee chains.
How the serving amount was worked out: USDA lists 142 mg per 100 g; 60 g × 1.42 = 85.2 mg.
Espresso macchiato vs other espresso drink drinks
- Caffè latte: Espresso macchiato has more caffeine than caffè latte per 100 ml (144 vs 37 mg). Espresso macchiato: 85.2 mg per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g); Caffè latte: 86.4 mg per 8 fl oz cup (240 g). Per serving the order evens out, because the servings differ in size.
- Cappuccino: Espresso macchiato has more caffeine than cappuccino per 100 ml (144 vs 37 mg). Espresso macchiato: 85.2 mg per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g); Cappuccino: 86.4 mg per 8 fl oz cup (240 g). Per serving the order evens out, because the servings differ in size.
- Caffè mocha: Espresso macchiato has more caffeine than caffè mocha per 100 ml (144 vs 35 mg). Espresso macchiato: 85.2 mg per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g); Caffè mocha: 81.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup (248 g). Per serving the order evens out, because the servings differ in size.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in Espresso macchiato?
USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS) gives 85.2 mg of caffeine per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g).
How many Espresso macchiato 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 85.2 mg per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g), that is about 4 servings if Espresso macchiato is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink Espresso macchiato?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 6:25 PM for average metabolism, or 4:08 PM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
Does Espresso macchiato have more caffeine than Caffè latte?
Espresso macchiato has more caffeine than caffè latte per 100 ml (144 vs 37 mg). Espresso macchiato: 85.2 mg per 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g); Caffè latte: 86.4 mg per 8 fl oz cup (240 g). Per serving the order evens out, because the servings differ in size.
How long does Espresso macchiato stay in your system?
Of the 85 mg in one 2 fl oz espresso cup (60 g), roughly 43 mg remains after 5 hours and 21 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 8 and 36 mg.
Where the number comes from
- Coffee, macchiato. USDA Agricultural Research Service, FoodData Central (FNDDS). FDC ID 2710382, nutrient "Caffeine" (262): portion "1 espresso cup (2 fl oz)" = 60 g; recipe ingredients. 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 ↗
An app for better sleep is on the way
We’re working on a mobile app to help you sleep better. It isn’t out yet. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it launches.