Starbucks
How much caffeine is in Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can)?
Data checked against the source on 2026-10-03 by Oleksii Y.
One 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml) of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) has 155 mg of caffeine, according to PepsiCo Product Facts.
How Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) compares
- Strength: 55 mg per 100 ml.
- One 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml) has as much caffeine as about 1.5 cups of brewed coffee, which has 94.8 mg per 8 fl oz cup.
How much will be left at bedtime?
1 × 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml) of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can)
Left at 11:00 PM (8 h later), average metabolism
≈ 51 mg
Range 24–78 mg (fast to slow metabolism)
To be at 50 mg or less by bedtime, have 155 mg by 2:05 PM (average) or 9:12 AM (slow metabolism).
What sleep studies found near this dose
- 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.
- Gardiner et al. 2023 (meta-analysis): For a pre-workout serving (217.5 mg), the authors suggest at least 13.2 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 Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) 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 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml) of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) (155 mg), about 78 mg is still in your body 5 hours later and about 39 mg after 10 hours. If you clear caffeine slowly (an 8-hour half-life), about 65 mg is left after 10 hours.
Estimated caffeine left at 11:00 PM from one 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml) (155 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) | ≈ 19 mg | 5–42 mg |
| 12:00 PM (11 h before bed) | ≈ 34 mg | 12–60 mg |
| 3:00 PM (8 h before bed) | ≈ 51 mg | 24–78 mg |
| 6:00 PM (5 h before bed) | ≈ 78 mg | 49–101 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 2 servings.
- Up to 200 mg at one time for healthy adults (EFSA): about 1 serving in one go.
- Up to 200 mg a day in pregnancy (EFSA, NHS): about 1 serving.
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
In Starbucks stores, a 12 fl oz Tall Nitro Cold Brew lists 215 mg, against 155 mg in this 9.6 fl oz can.
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) vs other Starbucks cold coffee drinks
- Starbucks Cold Brew: Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) has more caffeine than Starbucks Cold Brew per 100 ml (55 vs 43 mg). Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can): 155 mg per 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml); Starbucks Cold Brew: 205 mg per Grande, 16 fl oz. Per serving the order flips, because the servings differ in size.
- Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew: Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) has less caffeine than Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew per 100 ml (55 vs 59 mg). Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can): 155 mg per 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml); Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew: 280 mg per Grande, 16 fl oz.
- Starbucks Iced Coffee: Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) has more caffeine than Starbucks Iced Coffee per 100 ml (55 vs 39 mg). Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can): 155 mg per 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml); Starbucks Iced Coffee: 185 mg per Grande, 16 fl oz. Per serving the order flips, because the servings differ in size.
Common questions
How much caffeine is in Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can)?
PepsiCo Product Facts gives 155 mg of caffeine per 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml).
How many Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) 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 155 mg per 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml), that is about 2 servings if Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) is your only source. In pregnancy the reference is 200 mg a day.
How late can I drink Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can)?
With an 11:00 PM bedtime, our model suggests having one serving by about 2:05 PM for average metabolism, or 9:12 AM if you clear caffeine slowly. This is an estimate, not a rule.
Does Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) have more caffeine than Starbucks Cold Brew?
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) has more caffeine than Starbucks Cold Brew per 100 ml (55 vs 43 mg). Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can): 155 mg per 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml); Starbucks Cold Brew: 205 mg per Grande, 16 fl oz. Per serving the order flips, because the servings differ in size.
How long does Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweet (can) stay in your system?
Of the 155 mg in one 9.6 fl oz can (284 ml), roughly 78 mg remains after 5 hours and 39 mg after 10 hours with our average 5-hour half-life. From fast to slow metabolism, 10 hours later it is between 15 and 65 mg.
Where the number comes from
- Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew - Black Unsweet - 9.6 fl oz. PepsiCo Product Facts. GTIN 00012000192869, nutrition facts: "Caffeine 155mg" Accessed 2026-10-02. Source ↗
- Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew. Starbucks Coffee Company. Nutrition "Caffeine" field for each size (Tall 215, Grande 280 mg); page data from /apiproxy/v1/ordering/2121912/iced. 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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