A single espresso shot is very flavorful and has a lot of strong coffee flavors. With most espresso-based drinks having 2 shots of espresso in them, you might wonder how much caffeine you are consuming.
In this article, I will be covering how much caffeine is in 2 shots of espresso and the factors that affect its caffeine content. I will also be talking about how much caffeine is in the espresso shots of some of the most popular coffee chains.
In this article:
- Amount of Caffeine in 2 Shots of Espresso
- Factors Affecting Caffeine Content
- Caffeine Content at Different Famous Coffee Chains
- How Do You Order 2 Shots of Espresso?
Amount of Caffeine in 2 Shots of Espresso
There is no standard amount of caffeine in a single espresso shot but on average, you can have about 64 mg of caffeine in 1 fluid ounce or a single espresso shot. So, if we do the math, 2 shots of espresso should have about 128 mg of caffeine in it.
The amount of caffeine in espresso shots can vary depending on several things. Your favorite coffee shop could have 75 mg of caffeine while another coffee shop could have 100 mg of caffeine in a single shot of espresso.
As much as you can ask for more espresso shots to put in your coffee, the recommended amount of caffeine you can consume in a day can be no more than 400 mg. If a single espresso shot contains 75 mg of caffeine, you can have up to 5 espresso shots daily.
Factors Affecting Caffeine Content
You might wonder why the amount of caffeine differs in an espresso shot. That is because of factors such as the brewing method, the type of coffee bean used, roasting levels, extraction time, water temperature, grind size, and more.
Brewing Method
Not all brewing techniques are the same and not all require the same amount of caffeine to brew.
For example, a single shot of espresso typically needs 7 g of coffee grounds and about 15 g for each cup if brewing on a Moka pot. The more coffee grounds you have, the more water you will use. With the Moka pot technique, the coffee grounds will be in contact with the water longer which results in more caffeine content.
Water Temperature
The water’s temperature can also play a huge factor in the amount of caffeine content espresso shots have. The hotter the water you use, the more caffeine you can extract from the coffee grounds.
However, there is an ideal temperature if you want to get the most caffeine out of your coffee. You don’t want to pour water that is too hot as the coffee grounds can burn.
Grind Size
You might wonder why an espresso shot has a lot of caffeine if it only requires 1 fluid ounce of water (30 ml). That’s because espresso shots use fine-ground coffee and a fine grind has higher caffeine content.
So, a double shot of espresso will have more caffeine than if you would drink a regular cup of coffee.
Caffeine Content at Different Famous Coffee Chains
As I mentioned earlier, the amount of caffeine in a double espresso varies because of several factors. Well-known coffee shops such as Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, and Dunkin' will also have different amounts of caffeine content in their espresso shots.
Starbucks has 75 mg of caffeine in a single shot of espresso. So, if you ask for 2 shots of espresso, you will be getting 150 mg of caffeine.
At Dunkin', their single espresso shot has 118 mg of caffeine and 2 shots of espresso will have 236 mg of caffeine. If you go to Tim Horton’s, a single shot of espresso is just 45 mg. A double espresso will give you 90 mg of caffeine.
The difference between the amount of caffeine in these three coffee chains is huge. If you are looking to cut the amount of caffeine that you consume daily, make sure to ask the barista about how much caffeine is in their espresso shot.
Related article: How Much Caffeine is in 3 Shots of Espresso
How Do You Order 2 Shots of Espresso?
Ordering 2 shots of espresso is fairly easy and you can ask the barista for a double espresso. If you are ordering at Starbucks, you can also ask for a “doppio”. It means “double in Italian and is another way of ordering a double espresso.
You can even order a single or even a quad in most coffee shops.
If you are ordering espresso-based drinks, most drinks will typically already have 2 shots of espresso. But, you can clarify with the barista that you’d like a double shot. You can also ask if you can have a single shot or have more shots of espresso in your drink.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the amount of caffeine in a double espresso depends on a lot of factors.
It can be higher or lower depending on the coffee shop you go to. If you are brewing your own espresso shot, it can depend on your coffee beans, roasting levels, and more.
If you want to know how much caffeine is in 4 shots of espresso, head on to this article.
