How Much Caffeine Is in Cold Brew Coffee?

Cold brew concentrate has more caffeine per ounce than brewed hot coffee

A typical cold brew concentrate made with a 1:4 ratio runs roughly 150–300mg of caffeine per 8 oz serving of concentrate, before dilution — noticeably higher than an 8 oz cup of drip coffee, which averages around 95mg. Once you dilute concentrate 1:1 with water or milk for serving, the caffeine per glass lands closer to 75–150mg, depending on your ratio and the beans used.

Why cold brew is stronger, despite no heat

It comes down to concentration, not extraction efficiency. Cold water actually extracts caffeine and flavor compounds more slowly than hot water, but immersion brewing uses a much higher coffee-to-water ratio and a long steep time (12–24 hours) to compensate — producing a concentrate that’s meant to be diluted, which is why the undiluted number looks so high.

Factors that change the caffeine content

• Roast level — contrary to popular belief, darker roasts have slightly less caffeine by volume than lighter roasts of the same bean, since roasting burns off a small amount of caffeine
• Steep time — longer steeps extract more caffeine, up to a point around 24 hours
• Dilution ratio — how much water or milk you add before drinking has the biggest effect on your actual dose

If you’re sensitive to caffeine

Dilute more generously (closer to 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water) or switch to a shorter steep time around 12 hours. See our ratio guide for exact measurements.