Caffeine is an essential part of the coffee drinking experience for many people, so it’s not surprising that we’re often curious about which brewing method has the most caffeine.
After searching on the internet, there seem to be a lot of conflicting information with some results suggesting espresso has the highest caffeine, some suggesting it's the cafetiere. So which one right?
The results of the study by Angeloni et al, at Food Research International, showed that espresso had the highest caffeine content of any brewing method, at 4.2 mg/ml. The next highest, drip coffee, had 2.2mg/ml, followed by French press with 2.1mg/ml, and cold brew with 1.2mg/ml.
So why is espresso so much higher in caffeine? The answer lies in the pressure used to extract the caffeine. Coffee grounds are compressed and then forced through a fine filter using hot water and pressure. This results in a more concentrated cup of coffee, with more caffeine extracted than in other brewing methods.
However, it’s important to note that the amount of caffeine in your cup of coffee can be affected by a number of other factors. Grind size, water temperature, extraction time, and the amount of coffee used can all influence the amount of caffeine in your cup.
So there you have it - espresso is the winner when it comes to caffeine content. But if you’re looking for a more concentrated cup of coffee, be sure to factor in the other elements that contribute to the caffeine content.
The good news is that a study conducted by Crema Coffee Garage and the University of Newcastle has shed some light on this question. The study compared the caffeine levels in several popular brewing methods - espresso, cold brew, stovetop, pour-over, and cafetiere.
sources: https://cremacoffeegarage.com.au/caffeine-study
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-29/coffee-caffeine-espresso-filter-plunger-percolated-instant/101376430
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/study-reveals-which-cup-of-coffee-delivers-the-biggest-caffeine-kick#:~:text=An%20Australian%20study%20investigating%20five,the%20highest%20concentration%20of%20caffeine.
