[FreeAtlanta]

I don't think you can get much more caffeine from roasting technique. To get more caffeinated beans, you use the much cheaper low altitude Robusta coffee. Even then, I don't know how you double the caffeine without adding it.

I would think after the nicotine and cigarette fiasco, companies would be super sensitive about artificially adding to the addictiveness of their product. However, it is suspicious.

[svcw]

All I can say for sure, unless things have changed in the last four years is that STBX does not add caffeine to their coffee.
I very well could be wrong about the pops (crack), what I learned that in general most coffee houses use one pop. STBX two and Pete’s three.
I don’t care for Pete’s, way to smoky for my palate.
STBX (again unless changed the last four years) uses only the highest quality beans (one of their “leftest” deals, pays higher, sustainable farms.....yada ydda yada - I guess)
Anyway, like wine coffee is personal taste. I really favor high altitude, shade grown coffee from Columbia.
I do not care for African coffees at all, way to earthy.
Asian coffees are ok, but given a choice I choose South American beans.
Oh, well.........

[B Knotts]

I suspect the answer is much simpler.

It’s stronger.

More coffee, less water.