As a coffee drinker, cappuccino is probably one of your most treasured beverages. Statistics show it is always in high demand in cafes and coffee shops, thanks to its classic, creamy taste. But as you go on trying a new cappuccino recipe from time to time, have you ever wondered how much caffeine is in every mug of cappuccino you drink? While caffeine is a health-benefiting anti-oxidant, an excessive intake of it has been linked with heart palpitation and anxiety. So, to help you regulate the amount of caffeine you introduce into your body, I have written this analysis detailing the amount of caffeine in your cappuccino.
Calculating The Amount of Caffeine in a Cappuccino
You have a chance at calculating the caffeine content of a cappuccino only if you know the amount of espresso used to brew it. Ideally, a small cup size cappuccino drink is made from at least a shot of espresso, and that shot contains about 40-80 mg of caffeine. Two shots contain twice those numbers.
But these are merely estimations because the amount of caffeine released in every espresso shot varies. And this variation is largely dependent on the accuracy of the measurement, length of shot run, as well as the quality of the espresso used.
At Starbucks, for example, they use one shot of espresso to brew an 8 oz cappuccino which they said has 75 mg of caffeine. This means that a 16 oz has about 175 mg. But if you want a stronger and better cappuccino, Starbucks makes a double-shot that contains more caffeine. This means that you’re likely to take more caffeine in the coffee shop, depending on your order.
Now you may be wondering; since what the eyes can see in a cup of cappuccino is milk and foam, does it have the same caffeine contents as a straight espresso? Does the milk content of your cappuccino potentially affect the measure of caffeine?
Well, I got you here. It’s a no for both! The milk and foamy content in a cappuccino only distribute caffeine to every corner of your cup to prevent concentration as you will find in straight espresso. And lastly, regardless of the milk and foam quantity, you still get the same amount of caffeine in every ounce of cappuccino made with the same amount of espresso shot. Good enough?
But how about a decaf cappuccino?
You can make a decaf cappuccino by using decaf coffee beans to pull a shot of espresso. But the sad news is, you may get about 3% of caffeine, or a bit more if you invite your barista to whip it out.
So this is not too common as people prefer more jolts of caffeine in their system. In other words, a decaf cappuccino could be the best option if you don’t want to consume much caffeine.
Caffeine Measurement According to Espresso Types
You may need some engagement with your barista on this procedure. A regular cappuccino, in the barista’s style, would take about 120-170mg of caffeine in a 6 oz cup. The caffeine content may be more if extra espresso is added. The caffeine content of this regular cappuccino may however vary from shop to shop.
Just as mentioned above, espresso comes in various sizes. Ristretto, the smallest and strongest, has half the water of the usual espresso. Normale is your regular cappuccino. Lungo has twice the amount of water of a Ristretto but with the same coffee measure. Each gets its varied caffeine content.
The coffee type also determines the caffeine quantity in your cappuccino. Now, there are two commonly used coffee bean types: Arabica and Robustus. Both are used to make the espresso, which in turn, makes the cappuccino. However, the Robustus takes higher caffeine content than the Arabica. So if your espresso is made of Robustus, be sure of more caffeine consumption. Again, you could consult your barista to confirm.
In Conclusion
Here’s a question, now that you have an idea of the caffeine content of your cappuccino, how many cups do you think you should be taking in a week?
As you would expect, this is based on your personal preference. But remember, excessive intake of that coffee comes with side effects. It’s the same effects an overdose of stimulants will offer. All the same, the FDA recommends about 400 milligrams or less of caffeine intake daily. Well, that should be a luxury on cappuccino considering the nutritional benefits you’ll get from cocoa, chocolate, and milk. By the way, you can also see this post to know whether coffee beans are edible or not.
