For some, it’s the flavor. For others, the craft.

But for many of us that start our day with a cup of coffee, it’s the jolt of caffeine that drives the ritual.

Not surprisingly, the question that’s asked about as often as roast degree is “how much caffeine is in my coffee”?

And the answer is about as complex as the flavor profiles we seek.

Several factors contribute to caffeine content, such as the origin of the coffee beans, the species or varietal of the trees, and the volume of coffee used to name a few.

On average, an 8 oz serving of drip brewed coffee delivers about 96 mg of caffeine while a double shot of espresso comes in at 128 mg. That said, there are a few variables that can influence the exact amount of caffeine a particular beverage contains.

We’ve answered some of the most common questions about caffeine and other coffee-related curiosities in this post. Read below for our recommendations on proper storage techniques, the difference between single origins and blends, and even a shout out to the one of the latest trends in coffee: nitro cold brew.

So what is the biggest impact on how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?

By far the largest impact on caffeine content is the ratio of coffee grounds to water used to produce the coffee.  

A portafilter of tamped ground beans to produce a 1 oz shot of espresso yields 64 mg of caffeine. Whereas common drip brews, which can vary from 1 to 4 ounces of coffee by weight, deliver around 96 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz cup.

This means the thin, watery stuff trying to pass for coffee indeed has far less caffeine than the so-strong-you-can-stand-a-spoon-in-it cup of Joe.