Espresso vs Yerba mate: which has more caffeine?
Espresso and yerba mate have similar caffeine per cup (a difference of under 20%).
Per 100 ml: espresso has about 7.4× more caffeine than yerba mate.
| Espresso | Yerba mate | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per cup | 40–63 mg | 54–80 mg |
| Volume | 30 ml | 237 ml |
| mg / 100 ml (average) | 210 | 28.3 |
| Cups to reach 400 mg a day (adult) | 6 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more caffeine: Espresso or Yerba mate?
Espresso and yerba mate have similar caffeine per cup (a difference of under 20%).
How many cups of yerba mate equal one cup of espresso?
Using average values, one cup of espresso (63 mg) equals about 0.9 cups of yerba mate (67 mg). This is a guide, since both drinks vary by batch and preparation.
Which is better in the evening?
Espresso has less caffeine per cup (about 63 mg versus about 67 mg for yerba mate). After 6 hours roughly half to a third of what you drank remains, but sensitivity varies a lot.
Try it
Sources and method
- Mayo Clinic: Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more
- EUFIC: EFSA opinion on the safety of caffeine (2015)
- Markowicz Bastos et al., Acta Farm. Bonaerense 2005;24(1):91–95 (yerba mate)
- Caffeine Informer: yerba mate (producer data)
Data checked 2026-10-24. Ranges are shown because studies report different numbers. General information, not medical advice.