Espresso vs Black tea: which has more caffeine?
A cup of espresso has on average about 2× more caffeine than black tea.
Per 100 ml: espresso has about 16.1× more caffeine than black tea.
The ranges overlap, so in a particular cup the difference can go the other way.
| Espresso | Black tea | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per cup | 40–63 mg | 14–48 mg |
| Volume | 30 ml | 237 ml |
| mg / 100 ml (average) | 210 | 13.1 |
| Cups to reach 400 mg a day (adult) | 6 | 12 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more caffeine: Espresso or Black tea?
A cup of espresso has on average about 2× more caffeine than black tea. The ranges overlap, so in a particular cup the difference can go the other way.
How many cups of black tea equal one cup of espresso?
Using average values, one cup of espresso (63 mg) equals about 2 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 63 mg for espresso). 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.