What’s the Strongest Coffee in the World? 20 of the Most Highly-Caffeinated Coffees

The average cup of coffee has between 100mg and 135mg of caffeine in a 12 oz serving…but the strongest coffee in the world has 1,555mg of caffeine, more than ten times what a standard cup delivers. In fact, the top 20 most caffeinated coffees all have more than triple the typical cup of coffee.

In this article, I’ll list the top 20 most caffeinated coffees in the world, give you some tasting notes for each, and provide a little background on the roasters that tip the caffeine scales.

The Top 20 Strongest Coffees in the World

When searching for the world’s strongest cup of coffee, most people are really looking for the most caffeinated coffee. The coffee world can be a bit confusing because “strong coffee” usually refers to a bolder, richer coffee flavor, not necessarily caffeine content. But I suspect that anyone looking for the strongest coffees in the world want to know about highly-caffeinated coffee, so that’s what I’ll be covering.

***Before we dive into these coffees, I have to include an important warning upfront: These coffees are NOT recommended for most people. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine regularly can lead to anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and even dangerous heart complications like arrhythmias. The general recommendation is to cap your daily caffeine intake at around 400mg, and ideally much less. Some of the coffees on this list contain 2 to 3 times that amount in a single serving. Please take this health warning seriously and use discretion if you plan to try any of these highly-caffeinated brews. With great caffeine comes great responsibility.***

With that warning out of the way, here they are: the top 20 most caffeinated coffees in the world, for the true caffeine junkies out there.

1. Black Label Coffee from Devil Mountain Coffee Company

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 1,555mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 11.4x more Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, tobacco, earthy

Hailing from the misty peaks of the Devil Mountain in Hawaii, this notorious coffee company claims to offer some of the world’s strongest coffee blends…and they do, indeed. Their Black Label blend is their crown jewel, with over 1,500 milligrams of caffeine packed into every 12 oz cup. That’s more than 11 times more than your average cup of coffee!

This potent blend uses 100% Robusta beans grown in Hawaii. Robustas naturally contain way more caffeine than the more popular Arabica beans, but they also tend to taste more bitter and harsh. Only serious caffeine lovers need apply.

2. Very Strong Coffee from Great British Trading

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 1,200mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 8.8x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, burnt rubber, motor oil

If the packaging doesn’t make it clear, this is not your average coffee. The UK-based Great British Trading roasts up some of the boldest, most caffeinated beans on earth. Their Very Strong Coffee is aptly named, with about 9 times the caffeine of regular coffee per cup.

They also use 100% Robusta beans grown in Vietnam and roast them to a dark French roast level to try to mellow out that trademark Robusta harshness. The result is an ultra-strong, motor oil-thick coffee not for the faint of heart.

3. Devil’s Brew - Extreme Caffeine from Bean Belt Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 1,167mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 8.6x more Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, spice, tobacco

New Jersey’s Bean Belt Coffee wanted to create “the world’s strongest coffee,” so they packed as much caffeine as possible into their Devil’s Brew blend. Advertised as having “insane caffeine levels,” this brew packs over 1,100mg into each 12 oz cup.

To get the caffeine content so high, they use nearly 100% Robusta beans grown in Indonesia and India. The beans are roasted dark to try to smooth out the harshness expected from Robustas. The result is an ultra-strong coffee with intense bitterness and tobacco notes.

4. High Voltage Coffee from Bones Coffee Company

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 928mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 6.8x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, dark cocoa, molasses

Bones Coffee, based in New York, offers a variety of flavored coffee blends with edgy names like “Coffin Nails” and “Nightmare Brew.” Their High Voltage blend promises to shock your senses awake with its sky-high caffeine content.

They use a mix of Robusta beans from India, Indonesia, and Vietnam to create their unique mega-caffeinated blend. It’s roasted medium-dark. The result is a strong, molasses-like coffee with dark cocoa notes.

5. Extreme Caffeine from Black Insomnia Coffee Company

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 702mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 5.2x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, cocoa, nuts

Hailing from South Africa, Black Insomnia boldly claims to offer the “world’s strongest coffee” just like most other options on this list. Their Extreme Caffeine blend brews out to over 700mg of caffeine in each 12 oz serving. It certainly lives up to its extreme name.

It’s made with 100% Robusta beans sourced from Brazil, Guatemala, and Indonesia. The beans are roasted dark, which add to the bitterness, but over-roasting can also reduce the flavors you expect from the bean origin, which works…kind of well here. This is an ultra-strong coffee with hints of cocoa and nuts. But make no mistake: the bitterness still overpowers the other flavors.

6. Maximum Charge from Cannonball Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 680mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 5x more Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, earthy, rubbery

Texas’ Cannonball Coffee wanted to live up to their brand’s explosive name, so they cranked up the caffeine content in their Maximum Charge blend. Advertised to have “insane caffeine levels” (do you see a trend here, yet?), this coffee delivers about 680mg in each standard cup.

They use mostly Robusta beans grown in Indonesia and Vietnam, which helps drive up the caffeination. The beans are roasted to a dark French level, but that Robusta bitterness is still oh-so-prevalent, and there’s barely any balance. But…you’re not drinking this for the taste, right?

7. Biohazard Coffee from Biohazard Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 645mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.7x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, grainy, earthy

With edgy names like “Black Plague” and “Biohazard,” this company isn’t afraid to embrace the extreme. Their Biohazard blend contains about 4.7 times the caffeine of normal coffee.

It’s a blend of Robusta beans sourced from Indonesia, Guatemala, and Brazil, and the roast is, as you might expect at this point, quite dark. The result is a grainy, earthy coffee with lingering notes of bitterness.

8. Death Wish Dark Roast from Death Wish Coffee Co.

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 660mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.9x more
Type of Bean: Robusta and Arabica blend
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, molasses, dark cocoa

Death Wish Coffee was really the company that put high-caffeine coffee on the map. They were the first company to my knowledge that really embraced caffeine content over anything else. They aired a Super Bowl commercial to advertise their super-caffeinated coffee, and the rest is history. As you can tell, though, other companies have stepped in to bring caffeine levels even higher since then.

Their signature Dark Roast contains about 660mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving, or nearly 5 times that of normal coffee.

They use a combination of high-caffeine Robusta beans along with Arabica for a more balanced flavor. And honestly, this is really the first strong coffee that I’d even think about recommending. I’ve had this black, and it’s the coffee with the most caffeine that I can still stand the flavor of. I suspect that’s all thanks to the Arabica beans. In fact, it made it onto my list of the best coffee on Amazon. It’s there mostly for the caffeine content, but it’s honestly not a bad coffee overall.

Expect a strong, molasses-like coffee with powerful and bitter dark cocoa notes.

9. Sons of Amazon from Sons of Amazon

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 651mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.8x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, tobacco, earthy

Sons of Amazon is a newer extremist coffee roaster trying to carve out their own spot among the world’s strongest coffees. Their Sons of Amazon blend boasts an impressive 650mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving.

They use 100% Robusta beans sourced from India, Indonesia, and Brazil. The Robustas lend that signature bitterness and earthiness, but the lack of Arabica beans make this more or less a clone of many of the other extreme-caffeine coffees. The beans are roasted dark, and that trademark Robusta profile still shines through.

10. Killer Coffee from Killer Coffee Co.

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 645mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.7x more Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Intense bitterness, ash, tobacco

As you may have guessed from the name, Killer Coffee isn’t messing around. Their original Killer Coffee blend contains about 4.7 times the caffeine of a normal cup of joe, still more than enough to reach well above the recommended maximum daily intake of caffeine.

Like most other companies up to this point, they use 100% Robusta beans, this time from India and Indonesia, to achieve the sky-high caffeine content. The beans are roasted quite dark. This is an intensely bitter brew that isn’t for amateur caffeine drinkers.

11. Gunpowder Coffee from Gunpowder Coffee Co.

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 643mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.7x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, ash, tobacco

Gunpowder Coffee is an online-only coffee roaster, and based on their website, they look like a dropshipping company (I could be wrong about that, but their About Us page has basically no information on it, so I can’t verify either way). This coffee has over 640mg of caffeine per serving.

To get the caffeine content so high, they use 100% Robusta beans grown in India and Indonesia. The beans are roasted to a dark French roast, which lends a smoky, ash-like flavor.

Interestingly, the company offers a satisfaction guarantee. If you try their coffee and it isn’t “the best high-caffeine coffee you’ve had,” they’ll give you your money back. If you’re not sure you’ll like Robusta coffee but are curious to try it, this might be the best way to go about it.

12. Stipe Miocic from Fire Department Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 600mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.4x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, dark cocoa, rubbery

Fire Department Coffee was founded by and for first responders, so it’s only fitting they offer some seriously strong coffee. The Stipe Miocic blend is named after a UFC fighter and delivers 600mg of caffeine per cup.

This stout blend uses 100% Robusta beans sourced from Indonesia. They are roasted dark to cover up some of the Robusta harshness, but a definite bitterness still remains. The result is a rubbery, potent coffee that will keep any first responder wide awake.

13. Banned Coffee from Banned Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 588mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 4.3x more
Type of Bean: Robusta and Arabica blend Tasting notes: Strong bitterness, molasses, dark cocoa

With their tongue-in-cheek branding and names like “Blackout Brew”, Banned Coffee leans into the hardcore, rebellious image. Kind of fitting for coffee that has 1.5x the maximum amount of caffeine you can safely have in a day, right? Their signature Banned Coffee blend lives up to the outlaw hype, with nearly 600mg of caffeine per serving.

It’s a blend of Robusta beans and dark-roasted Arabica, which, much like Death Wish Coffee, delivers some balance. I understand the desire to make the strongest coffee in the world, but…it’s nice to have a blend of Robusta and Arabica to deliver “just” borderline unsafe caffeine levels and compliment it with some balance and good coffee flavor.

Expect notes of dark cocoa and molasses. Oh, and this coffee is absolutely not banned anywhere, although…maybe it should be?

14. GymBrew Renegade from Runner Bean Coffee Roasters

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 500mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.7x more
Type of Bean: Robusta and Arabica blend
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, cocoa powder, walnutty

Runner Bean Coffee Roasters offer coffees catered to workout enthusiasts, with names like “Marathon Fuel” and “Renegade.” Their Renegade blend has a higher caffeine content at 500mg per 12 oz serving. Should be enough to get you through those squats.

It’s a 50/50 blend of Robusta and Arabica beans sourced from Indonesia and Central America. The medium roast provides good balance between robust flavor and acidity. It has notes of cocoa powder and walnut, which is quite pleasant. Still packs a punch, but more balanced than some extremist blends.

15. Shock Coffee from Shock Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 477mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.5x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, earthy, grainy

Shock Coffee, based in Canada, is another contender vying for the world’s strongest coffee title, although they’re woefully far behind at this point. Their Shock Coffee blend contains “only” 477mg of caffeine per 12 oz cup. We’re still at more than 3x the caffeine in a standard cup of coffee, and comfortable above the maximum recommended daily amount of caffeine.

Shock Coffee uses 100% Robusta beans grown in Vietnam and India. The beans are roasted to a medium level, which lends more balance than a darker roast. You still get earthy, grainy notes with medium bitterness. Still super strong, but more mellow flavor than some blends.

16. High Voltage from Bones Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 474mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.5x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, nutty, cocoa

Bones Coffee offers a range of badge-wearing, tough-sounding blends like “Coffin Nails” and “Jolt Juice.” Their High Voltage blend lives up to the hype, too, with 474mg of caffeine per 12 oz of coffee.

It’s made with 100% Robusta coffee beans sourced from India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This is a medium roast, so it’s a bit less bitter than some of the previous options. The result is a nutty, cocoa-toned coffee with medium bitterness.

17. Atomic Coffee from Boca Java

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 474mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.5x more
Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, earthy, rubbery

Boca Java is a boutique roaster offering a lineup of strong brews with edgy names and branding—another trend in the seemingly counter-culture world of high-caffeine coffee. Their Atomic Coffee blend supplies 474mg of caffeine per cup.

This is also 100% Robusta coffee sourced from India, Guatemala, and Indonesia. The beans are roasted medium-dark. While not quite as bitter as a French roast, you still get notes of earthiness and rubber with some fairly pronounced bitterness.

18. Perk Up Coffee from Gold Star Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 455mg Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.3x more
Type of Bean: Robusta and Arabica blend
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, nutty, milk chocolate

With nearly 3.5 times the strength of normal coffee—and finally under the maximum recommended dose of caffeine—Utah-based Gold Star Coffee’s properly named Perk Up blend packs a serious caffeine punch. With 455mg per 12 oz cup, this an ideal choice for those seeking a strong coffee without excessive bitterness.

It’s a 60/40 blend of Robusta and Arabica beans sourced from Africa and South America. They use a medium roast to create a brew that’s robust, yet balanced, and those Arabica beans really shine through to give the coffee some depth. You get some nuttiness and milk chocolate notes with medium caffeine kick and bitterness.

I’d have to say that this is really the first coffee on this list that I’d consider drinking on a daily basis if it weren’t for the caffeine. The taste is actually quite good, as compared to the bitter bombs with 1,000mg+.

19. Double Tap Coffee from Patriot Depot

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 441mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.2x more Type of Bean: Robusta
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, earthy, tobacco

Patriot Depot offers a lineup of military-themed coffee blends—possibly taking inspiration from Black Rifle Coffee—for hardcore caffeine seekers. Their Double Tap blend provides more than double the strength of normal coffee—and actually more than triple—with 441mg of caffeine per 12 oz.

They use 100% Robusta beans from Indonesia and India. The medium roast provides just a touch of balance, though the earthiness, tobacco notes, and bitterness still dominate.

20. The Red Goat Coffee from The Red Goat Coffee

Caffeine content per 12 oz brewed: 440mg
Caffeine compared to regular coffee: 3.2x more
Type of Bean: Robusta and Arabica blend
Tasting notes: Medium bitterness, nutty, tobacco

Rounding out our top list of the most caffeinated coffees is The Red Goat Coffee, proudly hailing from the great state of Texas. Their signature Red Goat blend contains 440mg of caffeine per 12 oz cup, STILL over 3 times that of normal coffee.

It’s a carefully crafted blend of 75% high-caffeine Robusta beans from Indonesia and 25% Latin American Arabica beans. The medium roast aims to balance the characteristic bitterness of Robusta with complex nutty and tobacco flavors.

Founded by a husband and wife team, The Red Goat Coffee promises an ultra-strong yet smooth drinking experience. While still packing a serious caffeine punch, their unique bean blend avoids being overpoweringly bitter or harsh. One of the more mellow and drinkable options among the world’s strongest coffees.

What Makes Strong Coffee So Strong?

When it comes to highly caffeinated coffee, five main factors take an average cup of joe from mild to wild: the coffee bean variety, roast level, brew method, extraction time, and serving size. Understanding how these factors affect caffeine levels will help you hone in on your perfect rocket fuel coffee.

Coffee Variety

The two most common varieties of coffee cultivated around the world are Arabica and Robusta (Liberica and Excelsa are the other two, but they’re far less prevalent). Most regular coffee you buy is made with 100% Arabica beans. Arabica coffee contains about 1.2% caffeine by weight. Robusta coffee beans contain about 2.2% caffeine, so almost double. The use of Robusta beans (or mostly Robusta) is a big factor when it comes to why strong is so highly caffeinated.

So why don’t we just drink high-octane Robusta all day every day? Well, there are some trade-offs. Arabica beans have a more complex, nuanced flavor profile with floral, fruity notes. Robustas taste more bitter, harsh, and one-dimensional in comparison. So, while Robusta beans offer more caffeine, Arabica delivers a more pleasant drinking experience for many coffee lovers.

A high-caffeine coffee needs the strength of Robusta, but benefits from a touch of Arabica for balanced flavor. Many ultra-caffeinated coffee blends will use 100% Robusta beans, and some taper that down a bit with a ratio like 80% Robusta to 20% Arabica.

Roast Level

It may seem counterintuitive, but light roasted coffee actually contains more caffeine than dark roast IF you measure by volume. Why? It’s all about chemistry.

Caffeine is extremely stable at high temperatures. It doesn’t break down easily during the roasting process. However, other compounds like sugars and fats do get transformed into carbon dioxide and caramelized flavor compounds when roasted. So, while the caffeine remains steady from light to dark roast, you lose mass in the form of CO2 gas and other compounds. BUT…the beans expand.

If you weigh out 100g of light roast coffee and 100g of dark roast coffee, you’ll notice that the volume is way different. The dark roast takes up much more space because the beans have expanded from longer exposure to heat.

So, if you measure your beans using spoons or scoops, you’ll actually be getting a lower mass of coffee with dark roast beans than you would with light. Since the caffeine content more or less stays constant on a per-bean basis, that means a dark roast coffee measured by volume delivers fewer beans and, as a result, less caffeine.

Coffee also loses some mass as you roast longer, so even weighing out your coffee with a high-quality coffee scale (which I strongly recommend) will yield slight differences in caffeine content.

If you’re looking for maximum caffeine, opt for light roast whenever possible, especially if you measure by volume.

Brewing Method

The brewing method you choose can also affect your caffeine levels. Here are some of the most common ways to make coffee ranked by strongest caffeine concentration per ounce:

Cold Brew: Often made as a concentrate intended to be diluted, cold brew can contain up to around 8 times the caffeine of regular drip coffee per ounce. The long steeping time extracts more caffeine. Your caffeine content depends on the recipe and ratios you use, though, and it’s often closer to 2 to 3 times the caffeine per ounce of regular coffee.
Espresso: This brewing method leverages pressure to extract caffeine and oils rapidly. A 1 oz. shot can contain 75 to 90mg caffeine, far higher than the 10mg or so you’d get per ounce from drip coffee.
French Press: This method involves steeping grounds in hot water for 4 to 6 minutes. You get decent caffeine extraction due to full ground contact, somewhere around 17mg per oz.
Drip: The standard home method delivers medium caffeine extraction, yielding around 10 to 15mg per oz.
Pour Over: With this method, you pour hot water over grounds in a pour over cone. You get less caffeine extraction since water contacts grounds for a shorter time. Expect approximately 12 mg per oz.

To get the highest caffeine boost from your beans, go with cold brew concentrate or espresso. If you prefer standard hot coffee methods, French press is your best bet. Pour over cones and Chemex brewers are the least efficient for extracting caffeine.

Extraction Time

Extraction refers to the amount of caffeine, oils, and soluble compounds that are drawn from the coffee grounds into the brewed coffee. This is affected by brew time: the amount of time the hot water stays in contact with the coffee grounds.

The longer the brew time, the more caffeine and soluble compounds are extracted from the grounds into your mug.

Short brew times lead to under-extraction; you don’t get all of the potential caffeine—or other solubles—out of the grounds, leaving some behind as waste. Overly long brew times lead to over-extraction, pulling out more caffeine but also more oils and acids that can create a bitter, unpalatable brew.

The ideal extraction time varies by brewing method:

Espresso: 25 to 35 seconds
Drip machine: 3 to 6 minutes
Pour over: 2 to 4 minutes
French press: 4 to 6 minutes
Cold brew: 12 to 24 hours

Extraction is a delicate balance. You can extend these for more caffeine, but you really should aim for maximum caffeine extraction while avoiding excessive bitterness from over-extraction.

Serving Size

Last, but certainly not least, serving size has a big impact on your coffee’s caffeine content. The typical 8 oz coffee cup only contains between 100 and 135mg of caffeine. Scale up to a 16 oz cup and you’re getting double the dose: about 200mg. A 20 oz coffee can pack 250mg or more.

Bigger is not always better when it comes to caffeine. Stick to reasonable serving sizes to avoid overdoing it. Also, be aware that coffee shops sometimes underestimate the caffeine levels in their large drinks. A 20 oz house coffee may contain 300 to 400mg, considerably more than the typical figure of 250mg. Know your limits and exercise caution with supersized coffees.

Is Highly-Caffeinated Coffee Any Good?

Here’s the trade-off with high-caffeine coffee: you gain a turbo caffeine boost, but you also lose some flavor nuance.

As mentioned earlier, Robusta beans contain far more caffeine than Arabica, but they lack the aromatic, fruity flavors that make Arabica delicious and smooth.

Robusta beans tend to taste harsh, bitter, and one-dimensional, providing notes of burnt rubber, tobacco, and ash. Some dark roast Robusta blends have a grainy or motor oil-like mouthfeel.

Some hardcore caffeine seekers enjoy the bold flavor as their daily driver. But for many, the bitterness and lack of complexity is too intense for daily drinking.

Using a blend of Robusta and Arabica beans can help balance the bitterness and acidity to make a pleasant, drinkable high-caffeine coffee. But pure Robusta brews are an intense experience not for all palates.

Is Strong Coffee Bad for You?

Coffee and caffeine can be perfectly healthy in moderation, but too much can cause side effects. “Too much” varies by individual; some tolerate caffeine more than others.

The FDA recommends limiting caffeine intake to no more than 400mg per day for healthy adults. High-octane coffee can contain 1,500mg or more per cup, blowing way past the recommended limit.

Potential side effects of excessive caffeine include:

Jitters, anxiety, and nervousness
Insomnia
Increased heart rate
Temporary high blood pressure
Digestive issues like diarrhea
Fatigue or headaches as it wears off

Higher risks come with consistent overconsumption. Caffeine is a stimulant that can stress the cardiovascular system. Long-term risks may include:

Long-term high blood pressure
Irregular heartbeat
Heart attack or stroke

Those with heart conditions or anxiety disorders should limit caffeine or avoid it altogether. Always consult your doctor before starting a coffee habit, and especially before trying the strongest coffees in the world.

While these extreme coffees may seem hardcore and rebellious, they can be legitimately dangerous if consumed recklessly. Use discretion, pay attention to your body’s signals, and limit intake if you experience any side effects. Caffeine moderation is key.

Why Is Highly-Caffeinated Coffee So Popular?

The dawn of today’s ultra-strong coffee movement can be traced to one fateful Super Bowl commercial in 2016.

Death Wish Coffee, which boasted the “world’s strongest coffee” at the time, used crowdfunding to score a 30-second ad during the big game. Their energizing, action-packed spot featured viking warriors crashing the game to the riff of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”

The edgy, disruptive ad was a smash success and, suddenly, everyone was googling “world’s strongest coffee.” Death Wish saw demand skyrocket overnight.

Other coffee companies took notice, and the race for maximum caffeine was on. Dozens of bold upstarts have now joined the quest to create the coffee with the highest caffeine content.

But why the obsession with strong coffee in the first place?

For starters, it attracts publicity. Brands love the extreme, “world’s-strongest” angle. The ultra-caffeinated image resonates with hardcore coffee drinkers looking to prove their grit. High-test coffee has become a machismo status symbol.

There’s also appeal for those seeking a major caffeine jolt first thing in the morning or mid-afternoon slump. With up to 4 to 5x the kick of regular coffee, these high-octane brews offer a serious pick-me-up.

It’s no wonder their popularity took off.

How Should I Brew High-Caffeine Coffee?

Here are my top tips for brewing high-test coffee:

Grind fresh: Investing in a good coffee grinder and grinding right before you brew is the best way to make better coffee at home, whether it has the standard caffeine content or is super-charged.
Avoid pour overs/Chemex: These manual brewing methods shine at highlighting subtle flavors, but they provide less caffeine.
Try cold brew concentrate: Long steep time maximizes caffeine extraction. Dilute to taste.
French press is ideal: Full immersion brings out the dark, bitter notes and maximizes caffeine content.
Store beans properly: Store in a dark, cool place in an airtight container. Caffeine degrades over time with exposure to oxygen and light.
Use a coffee scale: Carefully measure beans and water for proper extraction. This is Coffee Brewing 101.
Pay attention to flavors: Aim for a balance between strength and overextraction bitterness.
Use dairy to your advantage: High-caffeine coffees are bitter. Add cream/sweetener as needed to smooth it out.
Sip slowly and gauge effects: High-caffeine coffee hits harder. And remember: it can seriously be dangerous.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drink a whole pot of high-caffeine coffee in one sitting?

It is not recommended. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine at once can lead to jitters, anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, rapid heart rate, and even caffeine toxicity. Moderation is key. Limit yourself to 1 cup of strong coffee at a time, and gauge effects. Drinking an entire pot at once could easily exceed healthy caffeine limits, so use good judgment.

Can children drink high-caffeine coffee?

No, highly caffeinated coffee should never be given to children. Younger people are more sensitive to caffeine’s effects. Too much can cause excitability, insomnia, fast heart rate, and upset stomach in kids. Children also have lower body mass, so caffeine goes further. Even coffee with standard amounts of caffeine isn’t recommended for children.

Is cold brew or French press stronger?

Cold brew can contain the highest caffeine content since it is normally brewed as a concentrate and diluted after brewing. A 1:1 cold brew concentrate can have up to about 8 times the caffeine content of regular coffee. French press also delivers a strong caffeine punch thanks to the full immersion brewing method. But cold brew ekes out a win for maximum caffeine delivery.

Can I build tolerance to high-caffeine coffee?

Yes, regular consumption of highly caffeinated coffee can build some tolerance over time. Your body adapts to expect the larger doses. However, even with tolerance, moderation is still advised. There are always individual sensitivities and long-term health factors to consider. Never gradually increase consumption with the goal of drinking unlimited caffeine. Moderation and smart consumption habits are critical for your safety.