Nitro brewed coffees have been around for a bit now, but this coffee beverage didn’t find its true place in the coffee world until Starbucks introduced their own version known as the nitro cold brew. Since then, people find themselves grabbing a nitro-infused drink at their local Starbucks, or at the grocery store, thanks to Starbucks’ ready-to-drink version found there.
Like with any coffee drink on the market, many of those who love a good beverage may find themselves wondering how much caffeine is in Starbucks nitro cold brew? The answer is somewhat staggering. Starbucks’ beloved nitro drink has 280 mg of caffeine in one 16–ounce cup. For some, this may be an extreme amount. For others, it may simply be the perfect way to start their day. Let’s take a deeper look at Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee and what the caffeine amount inside means for you.
What Is Nitro Brewed Coffee?
When you step into a Starbucks coffee shop, one of the things you’ll notice is a keg of cold brew coffee at the counter. This one keg of Narino cold brew features two lines. One line provides those who stop by Starbucks for one of their famous cold brew coffees with a drink that will tickle their taste buds. It’s the other line, the one that infuses tiny nitrogen bubbles into the cold brew coffee that answers the needs of nitro cold brew coffee lovers around the world.
A Starbucks nitro cold brew coffee is a mixture of both light and dark colorings. What drives people wild, however, besides the taste, is the foamy top that is rich and looks a bit like beer from the tap. This frothy texture is keeping this drink one of the most beloved at most Starbucks locations. If you haven’t tried it, you definitely should.
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew’s Caffeine Content
As you would expect from a coffee drink called nitro, this one hits a bit differently. In one 16-ounce cup, better known as Starbucks’ grande size of black nitro cold brew, you’ll find 280 mg of caffeine. Like with many of Starbucks’ coffee drinks, you can personalize things up when it comes to the nitro cold brew. Adding cream or trying other varieties doesn’t only change the taste, but also the caffeine content. For example, when adding sweet cream, your grande nitro is only 265 mg of caffeine. If you’re curious about how much the caffeine content changed, take a look at the chart below to see the differences.
Here’s a peek at the variations in caffeine depending on how you tailor your cold brew at Starbucks.
| Nitro Latte | 155 mg per grande |
| Cold Foam Cascara Nitro | 270 mg per grande |
| Salted Crème Nitro | 270 mg per grande |
| Torched Vanilla Nitro | 280 mg per grande |
| Nitro Freddo | 285 mg per grande |
| Cold Foam Dark Mocha | 290 mg per grande |
| Dark Mocha Nitro w/ Milk | 295 mg per grande |
| Reserve Nitro Cold Brew | 400 mg per grande |
Here’s a look at how Starbucks nitro cold brew compares to other popular caffeinated drinks.
| Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew | 280 mg per 16-ounce cup |
| Black coffee | 95 mg per 8-ounce cup |
| Tea | 26 mg per 8-ounce cup |
| Coke | 34 mg per 12-ounce can |
| Pepsi | 37.5 mg per 12-ounce can |
| Red Bull | 111 mg per 12-ounce can |
Is the Caffeine in Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Safe?
With the caffeine amount in Starbucks nitro cold brew considered a bit on the extreme side, you may be wondering if it’s considered safe. According to the FDA, it is recommended that an adult should only drink 400 mg of caffeine per day. This can be a slippery slope to navigate, however, considering caffeine is present in many of the foods and drinks we consume each day. If you have more than one cold brew nitro, a piece of chocolate, and possibly a soda later in the day, your caffeine recommendation is easily exceeded.
One of the easiest ways to keep up with the caffeine amount you’re taking in each day is to check the packaging of foods and drinks you buy. Most companies list not only the ingredients, but the amounts of caffeine found inside their products. If you find yourself taking in large amounts of caffeine, keep your eyes open for possible caffeine sensitivity signs such as jitteriness, headaches, or even nausea.
Conclusion
The velvety goodness of a Starbucks nitro cold brew could be the next coffee drink on your list of beverages to sample. If it is, be aware that in comparison to other caffeinated drinks, the 280 mg of caffeine found in a grande is a bit much. If you’re new to the jolt a nitro can give you, take it easy your first time. You’ll thank yourself for slowly indulging in such a great drink and keeping an eye on the amount of caffeine you have in the process.
See Also: How Much Caffeine in Chick-fil-A Iced Coffee? What to Know!
Featured Image Credit: Happy cake Happy cafe, Shutterstock
