Filter coffee vs Black tea: which has more caffeine?
A cup of filter coffee has on average about 3.1× more caffeine than black tea.
Per 100 ml: filter coffee has about 3.1× more caffeine than black tea.
| Filter coffee | Black tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per cup | 80–107 mg | 14–48 mg |
| Volume | 237 ml | 237 ml |
| mg / 100 ml (average) | 40.5 | 13.1 |
| Cups to reach 400 mg a day (adult) | 4 | 12 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more caffeine: Filter coffee or Black tea?
A cup of filter coffee has on average about 3.1× more caffeine than black tea.
How many cups of black tea equal one cup of filter coffee?
Using average values, one cup of filter coffee (96 mg) equals about 3.1 cups of black tea (31 mg). This is a guide, since both drinks vary by batch and preparation.
Which is better in the evening?
Black tea has less caffeine per cup (about 31 mg versus about 96 mg for filter coffee). 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)
- Ayakdaş & Ağagündüz, Foods 2025;14(13):2313 (68 tea samples)
- Caffeine Informer: brewed tea (lab averages and brew-time tests)
Data checked 2026-10-24. Ranges are shown because studies report different numbers. General information, not medical advice.
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