Does Coffee Have More Caffeine Than Tea?
Caffeine consumption is growing daily and is constantly reaching new levels. According to Alan and Iris Macfarlane in their book "The Empire of Tea," tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world next to water. With coffee not being too far behind it and new energy drinks being released frequently, caffeine content is becoming a more popular factor for people to consider. Does this Spark an idea?
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Caffeine by Weight
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More often than not, you probably won't be consuming your coffee or tea raw. However there are instances where it may happen, whether it be chocolate-covered coffee beans or a Chinese dish seasoned with green tea leaves. In these instances, tea, which is between 3 and 5 percent caffeine by weight, is the more significant source of caffeine than coffee, which is between 1 and 1.5 percent.
Caffeine Content in Beverages
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You would think that tea, since it has a larger content of caffeine per ounce, would be the more potent beverage in terms of caffeine. This is not true. In brewing the drinks, one ounce of coffee beans doesn't yield much more than two cups of coffee while an ounce of tea can brew upwards of twenty cups of tea. The caffeine in the tea leaves diffuse through a larger content of water than the coffee beans, therefore the beverage comes out with less caffeine per ounce of fluid.
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Tea Variables
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Different results come from different varieties. Generally speaking, black tea has the highest content of caffeine amongst tea while white tea has the lowest. There are a lot of factors that can have an effect on the amount of caffeine content, including soil chemistry, altitude, position of leaf on the tea bush, type of plant and other cultivation practices. Typically, younger leaves that are located near the top of the bush have a higher content in caffeine than those at the bottom of the bush.
By the Numbers
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According to the U.S. Department of Nutritional Services, here is how the caffeine content breaks down in different coffee and tea drinks:
Coffee:
Drip, regular 106-164 mg./ 5 oz.
Percolated, regular 93-134 mg./ 5 oz.
Instant, regular 47-68 mg./ 5 oz.
Decaffeinated 2-5 mg./ 5 oz.Loose-leaf tea (imported tea):
Black 25-110 mg.
Oolong 12-55 mg.
Green 8-36 mg.Tea (black tea assumed):
Brewed, major U.S. brands 20-80 mg.
1 minute brew 21-33/mg./ 5 oz.
3 minute brew 35-46 mg./ 5 oz.
5 minute brew 39-50 mg./ 5 oz.
Canned iced tea 22-36 mg./ 5 oz.
Iced tea 67-76 mg./ 12 oz.
Instant tea 22-36 mg./ 5 oz.
Getting the Kick You Need
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According to CoffeeResearch.org, American men drink 1.9 cups of coffee per day and American women drink 1.4. Due to its higher caffeine content than tea, Americans seem to be making the right choice to stay awake. There are other, more potent options than coffee and tea, however. Monster Energy drinks claim 160 mg of caffeine per 16 oz and Red Bull claims 80 mg of caffeine per 8.3 oz. Chaser 5-Hour Energy comes in 2 oz bottles that have 138 mg of caffeine, making it one of the most potent options out there.
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