Do you love lattes but need to cut back on your caffeine consumption? Here, I unravel the caffeine content of a latte, including lattes from various coffee shops and in different sizes. I also include some tips to enjoy your cup of coffee without going over the recommended caffeine intake so that you can make informed decisions about your coffee consumption.
Sneak Peek: On average, a classic double espresso shot latte contains around 128 milligrams of caffeine per serving(1).
Table of Contents
What makes a latte?
Latte is a popular coffee beverage made with espresso and milk, topped with a thin layer of milk foam. A traditional latte contains about one to two shots of espresso, which is a concentrated form of coffee made by pushing water through finely ground coffee beans under high pressure.
In the past, lattes were prepared with a 1:2 coffee-to-milk ratio, resulting in a stronger coffee flavor. However, modern lattes typically employ a ratio of 1:3 to 1:5, yielding a milder and creamy coffee taste. This is exactly why many would prefer a latte to other coffee beverages.
Curious about espressos? Check out “30+ Types of Espresso Drinks” or “What is Espresso?”
How much caffeine is in a latte?
Since milk doesn’t affect the caffeine content, so really, the amount of caffeine in a latte mainly depends on how much espresso you add to it. Generally, the caffeine content in a latte is directly proportional to the number of espresso shots used.
The caffeine amount of a latte made with one shot of espresso contains approximately 63 milligrams of caffeine (2). On the other hand, a double espresso latte has about 128 grams of caffeine per serving.
However, the case would be different if you were to have a decaffeinated latte.
A decaffeinated latte uses decaf coffee or espresso, in which 1 fl. oz. would contain about 0.3 mg of caffeine (3). So, ordering a decaf latte served with a single shot of espresso would only give you 0.3 mg of caffeine, while one a double espresso has 0.6 mg of caffeine.
So, whether you order a 16-ounce or an 8-ounce latte, the caffeine content in your latte would be determined by the amount of shots put in it.
Caffeine Content in Latte ( Common Brands )
Latte is a widely popular choice for coffee and understandably so, they are available in most coffee shops. However, because these coffee chains use different kinds of coffee beans and gear, the caffeine content in a Starbucks latte would vary from a Dunkin’s latte.
Check the table below if you get your delicious latte from a popular coffee establishment. Let us know in the comments which other brands we should include.
| LATTE BY BRANDS | SERVING SIZE (fl oz.) | CAFFEINE (mg) |
| McDonalds (McCafe)(4) | 16 | 142 |
| Starbucks(5) | 16 | 150 |
| Peet’s(6) | 16 | 140 |
| Biggby(7) | 16 | 100 |
| Death Wish(8) | 8 | 300 |
| Dunkin’ Donuts (iced)(9) | 14 (24) | 166 |
| La Colombe(10) | 9 | 120 |
How many lattes can you drink in a day?
According to the US FDA recommendation, a healthy daily caffeine intake is under 400 milligrams (11).
So, suppose that you only take a latte as your caffeine source for the day. You can have three servings or about 48 oz. of latte daily. It uses six espresso shots, which would contain about 384 mg of caffeine. That is well under 400 milligrams.
Three double-shot lattes in a day is the magic number if you want to max out on your caffeine limit.
Just remember that too much caffeine can make you uncomfortable and it can even be dangerous. So, just be careful.
Final Thoughts
A latte can be quite addicting, but we don’t want to overdose on caffeine, do we? Finding just the right amount of caffeine allows us to enjoy a tasty latte while still being healthy! I hope this article answers your question!
If you’re curious about which coffee has the most caffeine, check out this article!
Happy Drinking!
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