What is caffeine?

Beverages made from the nuts, seeds or leaves of these plants are currently major sources of natural caffeine. These include coffee, made from the seeds of the Coffea arabica plant; soft drinks, like Coca Cola, made from Kola nuts; tea made from the leaves of Thea/camellia sinensis; and mate' tea made from the leaves of the yerba mate. Cocoa, ground from seeds and used to make chocolate, contains caffeine as well as theobromine, another xanthine.

Caffeine is also extracted from these natural sources to be added back to other products as a food additive. In the USA, its use and labeling is regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food and beverage manufacturers in the US are legally required to list caffeine on their products' label ONLY when caffeine has been ADDED to a food. Caffeine naturally present in various ingredients used in the production process is NOT required to be listed on the label. For example, chocolate naturally contains caffeine, but it usually is not listed as an ingredient in candy bars. To avoid caffeine, you must avoid natural plant sources when making food choices.

The FDA also regulates caffeine's use as a stimulant in some over-the-counter and prescription medications. Check the labels; you may see caffeine listed as an active ingredient in some stimulants, cold remedies, and various pain killers.

Why is caffeine added to foods?

Which types of coffee contain the most caffeine?

Three factors that affect caffeine levels in coffee can be modified by the consumer. These are how finely the beans are ground before coffee making and the method and length of time used for brewing the coffee.

The press method, where the water sits on finely ground coffee that is not separated from the liquid until serving, extracts the highest amount of caffeine. The drip method, with fine ground coffee, used in machines like Mr. Coffee, generally yields the next highest amount of caffeine, ranging from 110-150 mg per five ounce cup. Percolated coffee is third in caffeine, ranging from 64-124 mg. Expresso brewing, because it allows the water to stay on the grounds so briefly, actually extracts less caffeine than the previous methods. Instant coffee is usually lower still, averaging between 40-108 mg per cup. Decaffeinated coffee is low in caffeine, but not caffeine-free. About 2-5 mg of caffeine per five ounce cup is typical.

Decaffeinated beverages are NOT caffeine free

Is decaffeinated coffee SAFE?

In the direct solvent extraction process, decaffeination is accomplished by direct application of methylene chloride, ethyl acetate or carbon dioxide to the coffee beans. The beans are then steamed to remove the residual solvent, dried, and roasted. Methylene chloride received a great deal of attention when it was found to be an animal carcinogen when given by inhalation. Later studies found the administration of methylene chloride to mice in drinking water (which more closely resembles human exposure through coffee drinking) resulted in no adverse health effects. So the FDA continues to permit the use of methylene chloride to decaffeinate coffee because it has determined that any potential health risk is so low "as to be essentially non-existent" (FDA, 1985).

How much caffeine is in tea?

Because of difference in fermentation and brewing techniques, caffeine varies by types of tea as well:

What stimulant besides caffeine is in tea?

How much caffeine is in soft drinks?

How much caffeine is in soft drinks?

Which over-the-counter medications contain caffeine?

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration regulates caffeine's use in over- the-counter medications and requires manufacturers to list caffeine as an active ingredient on each product's label. Consumers may want to carefully read the label of any over-the-counter preparation they are planning to use, as this caffeine added to the amount regularly consumed, in soda drinks or coffee, could contribute to caffeine overdose and unwanted side effects.

Does chocolate contain other stimulants beside caffeine?