When it comes to coffee drinkers, there are two extremes and you’re either one or the other. You either live for your morning caffeine fix, longing for a black americano with a double shot of espresso or you want a simple sweet treat such as french vanilla cappuccino.
Cappuccinos are a popular coffee drink that is drunk all over the world but as there is more milk in the beverage than coffee content, you might be wondering just how much caffeine it contains.
Luckily we have written this article to tell you a little more about the caffeine content of a cappuccino and how it compares to a normal coffee. Let’s jump right in.
What Is A Cappuccino?
A cappuccino is a blend of espresso and steamed or frothed milk. They respect a ratio of espresso to milk, which we will explore later in the article and you will find them in pretty much any coffee shop all over the world.
The quality might vary from place to place, as well as the caffeine content but if you’re looking for a smooth milky coffee, it might be your new favorite drink.
It’s made with the same beans as drip or a French press or any other kind of regular coffee, yet it’s made with only espresso, and making it with any other kind of coffee will mean it cannot be considered as a cappuccino.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Cappuccino?
Since a cappuccino has coffee in it, it does contain caffeine. Cappuccino is traditionally made with one shot of espresso but this contains a lower caffeine content than you would find in an 8-ounce cup of regular coffee.
On average, a cappuccino that only has one shot of espresso in it has around 80mg of caffeine in each serving. This equals about 6 ounces. It does not however mean that a cappuccino is weaker than regular coffee.
The caffeine content simply differs because a regular coffee is 8 whole ounces of brewed coffee and a cappuccino contains just one single shot of espresso which is about 1.5 ounces. The rest of the beverage is topped with steamed milk.
Though it is common for a cappuccino to only be made with one shot of espresso, you can ask your barista for an extra shot and this means the caffeine content would also be doubled.
You would now find yourself with a beverage with 160mg of caffeine. This is similar to a regular cup of brewed coffee.
Variables That Effect Caffeine Content
Although we have mentioned a regular cappuccino contains around 80mg of caffeine and a regular cup of brewed coffee contains around 160mg, these figures are not exact and they do depend on many other variables.
The most common variable is the type of coffee bean you are using to make the drink. Arabica beans have less caffeine than Robusta beans and some beans in both these families have more caffeine than others.
Some manufacturers of the coffee also make blends with higher caffeine content and these are usually a mix of Robusta and Arabica beans which have a large amount of caffeine in each serving.
Therefore, if you made a cappuccino with these coffee blends, the caffeine content would increase significantly.
If you want to check how much caffeine is in your cappuccino or regular cup of coffee, you need to check the product label on your coffee beans. Some manufacturers include how much caffeine is included in each serving.
When comparing cappuccino and coffee caffeine content, it is also important to consider the volume of the drink you are drinking.
A 12-ounce cup of coffee for example has nearly 300mg of caffeine, yet a cappuccino of the same volume made from two espresso shots still only has around 160mg of caffeine.
Aren’t Cappuccinos Stronger Because Of The Espresso Content?
Though this is confusing, cappuccino and espresso drinks are stronger than drip coffee despite their lower caffeine content and the taste is a lot more intense too. The reasons for this include:
- Once espresso shot is 1.5 ounces and contains 80mg of caffeine.
- One drip coffee (or filter/french press etc) coffee is 8 ounces and contains 160mg of caffeine.
This means that if you drank the same volume of cappuccino or espresso, you would need almost 5 shots to get the full 8 ounces and you would have consumed 400mg of caffeine!
It also depends on the number of coffee grounds you are using. If you used enough for only one shot of espresso, and you pulled 5 shots from this, it would be a weak and very diluted drink.
However, if you pulled 5 shots from 5 servings of coffee ground, you would get that hefty 400mg of caffeine.
How Many Calories Are In A Cappuccino?
A cappuccino has a higher calorie count than a regular drip coffee, especially if you decide to buy your beverage from a chain coffee shop each day where you might be tempted with extra flavorings like sauces or syrups and even some whipped cream on top.
Regular drip coffee only has around 1 or 2 calories in an 8-ounce cup if you drink it black and even if you add a tablespoon of 2% milk and a teaspoon of sugar to sweeten up the bitter taste, it only brings it to 25-30 calories per cup.
If you drink coffees that are any bigger than this, simply multiply the figures accordingly.
A cappuccino on the other hand is made of a shot of espresso which is only around 1-2 calories but is paired with around 4 ounces of steamed milk, bringing the total number of calories to around 60-70 per cup.
As we just mentioned, if you’re a regular visitor to a chain coffee shop, however, they will serve you sizes that are roughly around 10-12 ounces and therefore the calories will have to be adjusted accordingly, and could even double.
This means it becomes an easy way for you to quickly add up those calories without realizing it, especially if you add extra sugar, syrup, or whipped cream.
Extra calories aren’t always bad and if you’re only drinking these extra tasty cappuccinos in moderation, they’re perfectly fine to enjoy! However, maybe stick to the simple cappuccinos or drip coffee if you are having multiple cups a day.
Cappuccino Mixes
Instant cappuccino has around 30-100mg of caffeine per serving. The amount of caffeine varies so much in instant coffee is because manufacturers use different beans and blends when making it.
As a result, it’s difficult to say how much caffeine is actually in the beverage and the only way to find out accurately is by reading the label. The range of caffeine in each cup can change significantly from brand to brand.
For example, Tim Horton’s Instant Cappuccino (French Vanilla) has around 60 mg of caffeine per serving, whereas Folgers Cappuccino Mix (French Vanilla) only has around 10-20mg of caffeine per serving.
Therefore, whether you opt for gas station coffee or make it at home, you can expect a caffeine content of around this value.
Cappuccino K-Cups
Grove Square is a company that makes the famous K-Cup cappuccinos, which have around 30mg of caffeine in each cup. A typical Keurig K-Cup contains about 100mg of caffeine, however, and this is a similar caffeine content to around 2 ounces of espresso.
K-Cup Cappuccinos however are ‘fake’ cappuccinos and therefore that is why there is usually more flavoring in the cup over actual coffee.
Cappuccino Espresso To Milk To Foam Ratio
When it comes to making a cappuccino, you have to take into account the ratio of espresso to milk to foam.
The ratio has been debated for years and no one can agree on one exact ratio. Illy, the famous coffee brans recommend a 1:3, nearly 1:4 espresso to milk ratio, and the rest is then topped off with milk foam.
A 1:2 espresso to steamed milk ratio has also been recommended and this includes the 2cm layer of foam on top.
Overall, it’s most common to stick with the 1:4 espresso to milk ratio and this allows the foam of the steamed milk to fill the rest of the cup.
The coffee needs to shine through the milk, yet have a smooth, velvety texture and taste. This means if you use higher fat content milk, you will have a better taste and creamier steamed milk.
Cappuccino Variations
If you want to make your cappuccino even milkier, you might want to go for the latte. This is a shot of espresso combined with steamed milk and less foam.
However, if you want to strong coffee taste, with less milk but the same amount of foam, you might want to try a macchiato.
All of these drinks are still served with only one shot of espresso and therefore if we go by the rough guide of an espresso shot containing around 80mg of caffeine, you’ll still be left with the same amount of caffeine, despite switching up the drink.
The content still may vary if you use different beans for the different drinks. The caffeine content will also have to be adjusted accordingly if you decide to double or triple the amount of espresso in your beverage.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, a cappuccino has coffee in it, and this means it contains caffeine. Cappuccinos are made with one shot of espresso yet this contains a lower caffeine content than you would find in an 8-ounce cup of regular coffee.
If you love the milky drink, however, but want that extra caffeine fix, simply ask your barista to add in an extra shot of espresso and you’ll be good to go.
Also bear in mind caffeine content can vary from coffee place to coffee place depending on what beans they use, but generally, it should not vary too significantly as a cappuccino is made the same way all over the world.
Don’t be afraid to add those delicious sauces and syrups too every so often, for a tasty treat and to make the most out of your cappuccinos. But bear in mind the extra calories that are associated with these and that’s why it might be best to keep them for special occasions!