Starbucks and Dunkin’ are currently two of the most popular coffee chains in the United States. As you are about to find out, Dunkin vs. Starbucks caffeine content and their drinks can vary quite a bit.
If you’re on a coffee budget and want the most jolt for your buck or looking to keep tabs on exactly how much caffeine you’re consuming daily, read on to find out more about specific Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks drinks.
Caffeine Consumption and Personal Limits
Approximately 90% of Americans rely on caffeine, in one form or another, to stay awake, improve their focus, and make it through their day. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average healthy person can safely consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day.
Pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day, and teenagers should limit their intake to about 100 mg per day.
Your response to caffeine also depends on your individual caffeine sensitivity. If you are more sensitive, you may experience symptoms like jitters, insomnia, nervousness, and muscle tremors after consuming smaller amounts of caffeine than the average person.
If you’re still unsure about how much caffeine you should be consuming, several caffeine calculators are available online, like this one. You can use these calculators to get a general idea of how much coffee is enough for you each day. Then use our guide below to choose a popular Starbucks or Dunkin’ drink based on your desired caffeine level.
Caffeine Content Factors
Before we dive into our comparison, it should be noted that the caffeine counts listed in this post are not exact. The caffeine content of a batch of coffee or espresso depends on many factors, including the quality and temperature of the water being used. Different batches of the same type of brew can have different caffeine levels, even when they are brewed at the same store.
Additionally, there are slight differences in the cup sizes at Starbucks and Dunkin’. For example, a Starbucks Tall hot coffee cup is 12 oz, and a Grande is 16 oz. A Dunkin’ small hot coffee is 10 oz, and a medium is 14 oz. The two chains’ Venti and large hot coffee sizes are the same, at 20 oz.
Keep this in mind when you’re looking at the caffeine content of similarly sized drinks.
Most Caffeinated Drinks Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks
There are two clear winners when it comes to the Starbucks and Dunkin’ drinks with the most caffeine.
The Starbucks Blonde Roast comes out on top with 180 mg of caffeine in a Tall, 360 mg in a Grande, and a whopping 475 mg in a Venti size. As previously mentioned, most people should only consume up to 400 mg of caffeine in a day, and a Venti Blonde Roast is well above that limit.
At Dunkin’, on the other hand, the Dunkin’ iced coffee has the highest amount of caffeine. There is 198 mg of caffeine in a small, 297 mg of caffeine in a medium, and 396 mg in a large size, which is just 4 mg below the daily caffeine limit!
Lowest Caffeine Drinks Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks
As expected, Starbucks and Dunkin’ decaf drinks have the lowest amount of caffeine. If you didn’t realize it, yes, even decaffeinated drinks have small amounts of caffeine. The decaffeination process typically removes approximately 97% of the caffeine in coffee beans, leaving a small amount behind.
A small decaf coffee at Dunkin’ has about 7 mg of caffeine, a medium has 10 mg, and a large has 15 mg. Starbucks decaf coffee weighs in a bit heavier, with 20 mg of caffeine in a Tall, 25 mg in a Grande, and about 30 mg in a Venti.
Now for a more detailed breakdown of Starbucks caffeine content versus Dunkin’ caffeine content. Here’s who tallies the most caffeine content in this battle of the brews.
Dunkin’ vs. Starbucks Caffeine Score Chart
Regular Coffee – (Winner Starbucks)
Dunkin’ Regular Coffee
Small: 150 mg
Medium: 210 mg
Large: 300 mg
Starbucks Pike Place Coffee
Tall: 235 mg
Grande: 310 mg
Venti: 410 mg
Americano – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Americano
Small: 237 mg
Medium: 284 mg
Large: 371 mg
Starbucks Americano
Tall: 150 mg
Grande: 225 mg
Venti: 300 mg
Latte – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Latte
Small: 118 mg
Medium: 166 mg
Large: 252 mg
Starbucks Latte
Tall: 75 mg
Grande: 150 mg
Venti: 150 mg
Macchiato – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Macchiato
Small: 237 mg
Medium: 284 mg
Large: 371 mg
Starbucks Macchiato
Tall: 75 mg
Grande: 150 mg
Venti: 150 mg
Espresso Shots – (Winner Starbucks)
Dunkin’ Espresso Shots
Small: 118 mg
Medium: 237 mg
Large: 354 mg
Starbucks Espresso
Single: 75 mg
Doubleshot: 225 mg
Tripleshot: 375 mg
Cold Brew Coffee – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Cold Brew
Small: 174 mg
Medium: 260 mg
Large: 347 mg
Starbucks Cold Brew
Tall: 155 mg
Grande: 205 mg
Venti: 310 mg
Iced Coffee – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Iced Coffee
Small: 198 mg
Medium: 295 mg
Large: 396 mg
Starbucks Iced Coffee
Tall: 120 mg
Grande: 165 mg
Venti: 235 mg
Iced Lattes – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Iced Latte
Small: 118 mg
Medium: 166 mg
Large: 252 mg
Starbucks Iced Latte
Tall: 75 mg
Grande: 150 mg
Venti: 225 mg
Frozen Coffee – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Frozen Coffee
Small: 196 mg
Medium: 295 mg
Large: 393 mg
Starbuck’s Frappuccino
Tall: 70 mg
Grande: 100 mg
Venti: 130 mg
Cappuccino – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Cappuccino
Small: 118 mg
Medium: 166 mg
Large: 252 mg
Starbucks Cappuccino
Tall: 75 mg
Grande: 150 mg
Venti: 225 mg
Chai Tea Latte – (Winner Starbucks)
Dunkin’ Chai Tea Latte
Small: 54 mg
Medium: 80 mg
Large: 107 mg
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
Tall: 70 mg
Grande: 95 mg
Venti: 145 mg
Iced Tea – (Winner Dunkin’)
Dunkin’ Iced Tea
Small: 45 mg
Medium: 67 mg
Large: 90 mg
Starbucks Iced Tea
Tall: 30 mg
Grande: 40 mg
Venti: 70 mg
Now it’s Time for a Drink
Dunkin’ outscores Starbucks 9-3 for the most caffeine in the basic drink categories above.
Whether you’re trying to reduce your caffeine intake or need the maximum amount to make it through your day, there is a drink out there for you.
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