Posted on 08/01/2026 5:48:57 PM PDT by Red Badger
Caffeinated drinks aren’t just for mornings any longer. But do you know how much caffeine you’re getting when you drink coffee, tea, sodas or energy drinks?
Experts say up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day may be safe for most adults. But if you get headaches or are restless or nervous after having caffeine, you may want to rethink how much caffeine is right for you.
Also, people who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with their healthcare professionals about limiting caffeine.
Check the charts to see how much caffeine is in popular drinks. Drink sizes are in fluid ounces (oz.) and milliliters (mL). Caffeine is in milligrams (mg).
Keep in mind that the caffeine content of a cup of coffee or tea can vary. Factors such as how the product is grown and brewing time affect the caffeine level. Also, caffeine is in many products and foods you might not expect, such as medicines and processed foods. So you might be getting more than you think.
Also keep in mind that some products, such as energy drinks, may have other stimulants. They may increase the effect of caffeine.
Use these numbers as a guide.
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT LISTING GO HERE:
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/the-caffeine-database
Updated on 05/26/2026.
(Excerpt) Read more at mayoclinic.org ...
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Caffeine content varies significantly by brand and type, with energy drinks and citrus-flavored sodas generally containing more caffeine than standard colas, while root beers and citrus sodas like Sprite are typically caffeine-free.
Cola Sodas (per 12 oz)
Diet Coke: ~46 mg
Dr Pepper: ~41 mg
Pepsi: ~38 mg
Diet Pepsi: ~35 mg
Coca-Cola / Coke Zero: ~34 mg
Higher-Caffeine Sodas (per 12 oz)
Mountain Dew: ~54 mg
Diet Mountain Dew: ~54 mg
Mountain Dew Code Red: ~54 mg
Mello Yello: ~51 mg
Sunkist Orange: ~41 mg
Caffeine-Free Options
Most root beers (e.g., A&W, Mug), citrus sodas (e.g., Sprite, 7-Up, Fanta), and ginger ales contain 0 mg of caffeine.
Coffee and tea generally contain significantly higher amounts; for example, an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee typically has 95–165 mg, and black tea has 40–70 mg.
If you like caffeine, you might want to consider yerba mate. That said, I don’t like it. Too much sulfur.
Those are rookie numbers. Us GWOT vets started with 400mg and kept it flowing all day/night as required.
I drink about three cups of coffee each morning. That usually keeps me up until about 3pm. Then I will have a Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar..............
The Nazis used to give their soldiers methamphetamine and other things.................
I drink about three cups of coffee each morning.
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If you really like the caffeine, you could have a little more easily with 100 or 200 mg caffeine pills.
That’s because some drink it too hot, which you don’t have to.
I used those when I was young and in the Marines to stay awake on guard duty and for long drives home, 480 miles!........
“..people who are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant...”
caffeine in Sunkist orange soda must be added.
Did you know the US Army has a program to “pep” up Aviators in extreme conditions involving amphetamines? I’ve only seen the Air Force actually execute the program, the Army just said, “here’s some more caffeine.”
> “..people who are pregnant, or trying to become pregnant...”
Pro Tip: Such people are called “women”.
If I had 3 cups of coffee in the morning, that would keep me up well past 3 am the next day!
I have restless legs syndrome, so I limit my caffeine intake to one cup of coffee before noon. That’s it.
It’s already hard enough to fall asleep with one cup of 50/50 coffee in the morning. I even take sleep supplements.
The British gave their servicemen benzedrine. What of it?
The stuff the Nazis used was sold over the counter under the brand name "Pervitin." They only used at the first of the war because they found there was in inevitable "crash" when they came down off it that took too long to recover from. But that's exactly how they overwhelmed the retreating French and the British on their flight to Dunkirk.
I have 3 cups before noon, 1 cup around 2:00, and 1 cup around 7:00. That’s on a normal day. I sleep fine.
So stop drinking caffinated beverages.
For health i had to stop in 73. I drink great coffee from locally roasted water decaf beans in several roasts.
Works well.
I’ll wait a week for the next “scientific” report.
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