Caffeine in Energy Drinks vs Coffee: 13 Drinks Compared
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A 12 fl oz cup of regular brewed coffee has 113 to 247mg of caffeine, according to the FDA. Popular energy drinks run from 80mg (an 8.4 fl oz Red Bull) to 200mg (Celsius and Alani Nu, per 12 fl oz can). ESSELATE sparkling coffee has 80mg per 12 fl oz can: less than most cups of coffee and less than half a Celsius.
Caffeine, sugar and sweetener in 13 drinks
Figures come from each brand's label or site, or a retailer listing that reproduces the label. Formulas change, so the can in your hand always wins. ESSELATE is a coffee soda, not an energy drink, but people reach for both at the same time of day.
| Drink | Size (fl oz) | Caffeine (mg) | mg per fl oz | Sugar (g) | Sweetened with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESSELATE Sparkling Coffee | 12 | 80 | 6.7 | 0 | Stevia |
| Brewed coffee, regular (FDA range) | 12 | 113β247 | 9.4β20.6 | 0 | Nothing, unless you add it |
| Starbucks Cold Brew, Grande | 16 | 205 | 12.8 | 0 | Nothing (unsweetened) |
| Celsius | 12 | 200 | 16.7 | 0 | Sucralose |
| Alani Nu Energy | 12 | 200 | 16.7 | 0 | Sucralose, acesulfame potassium |
| Red Bull | 8.4 | 80 | 9.5 | 27 | Sugar, glucose |
| Red Bull Sugarfree | 8.4 | 80 | 9.5 | 0 | Aspartame, acesulfame K |
| Monster Energy (original) | 16 | 160 | 10.0 | 54 | Sugar |
| Monster Ultra | 16 | 150 (140β155 by flavor) | 9.4 | 0 | Erythritol, sucralose, acesulfame K |
| Zevia Kola Energy | 12 | 120 | 10.0 | 0 | Stevia |
| Coca-Cola | 12 | 34 | 2.8 | 39 | High fructose corn syrup |
| Diet Coke | 12 | 46 | 3.8 | 0 | Aspartame |
| Sparkling Ice +Caffeine | 16 | 70 | 4.4 | 0 | Sucralose |
Last checked: October 2026. Sources: FDA (brewed coffee); Starbucks Cold Brew; Celsius; Alani Nu; Red Bull caffeine and nutrition; Red Bull Sugarfree; Monster; Monster Ultra; Zevia; Coca-Cola label and caffeine; Diet Coke; Sparkling Ice. mg per fl oz is our arithmetic.
Which energy drinks have less than 100mg of caffeine?
From the table: Red Bull and Red Bull Sugarfree (80mg per 8.4 fl oz), ESSELATE (80mg per 12 fl oz) and Sparkling Ice +Caffeine (70mg per 16 fl oz). Diet Coke (46mg) and Coca-Cola (34mg) are lower still if you count soda. Zevia Energy is just over, at 120mg.
Check the mg per fl oz column too. Red Bull and ESSELATE both have 80mg, but Red Bull packs it into a smaller can. If you finish the can either way, the total is what counts. If you sip half, the concentration does.
Which energy drinks don't use sucralose?
In this table: ESSELATE and Zevia Energy (stevia), Red Bull and original Monster (sugar), and Red Bull Sugarfree (aspartame and acesulfame K). Celsius, Alani Nu, Monster Ultra and Sparkling Ice +Caffeine all list sucralose.
Sweeteners change more often than people expect. Alani Nu drinkers noticed when their favorite flavors moved to sucralose (r/AlaniNu). If a sweetener is a dealbreaker for you, read the ingredient list on every new case.
Is there an energy drink sweetened only with stevia?
Yes. Zevia Energy (120mg, with caffeine extracted from the coffee bean, per Zevia) and ESSELATE (80mg, from brewed coffee) are both sweetened with stevia only. The difference is the drink itself: Zevia Kola Energy is a cola, while ESSELATE is sparkling coffee.
An honest note on stevia: some people taste a bitter or licorice-like note at the end, and many say it's more noticeable when the drink isn't cold. Drink stevia-sweetened cans straight from the fridge. If stevia never works for you, no can will change that, and that's fine.
Is caffeine from coffee different from green tea caffeine?
The caffeine molecule is the same wherever it comes from. What differs is everything else in the can. Brewed coffee brings coffee flavor; green tea extract brings other tea compounds; many energy drinks add caffeine alongside taurine, guarana and vitamins. Celsius, for example, lists green tea, guarana and caffeine in its blend (Celsius FAQ). When you compare drinks, look at total caffeine first, then at what else is in the can.
How much caffeine a day is too much?
The FDA puts it this way: "For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day β that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee β as an amount not generally associated with negative effects." It also notes wide variation in how sensitive people are to caffeine and how fast they clear it, and recommends checking with a healthcare provider if you're pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding (FDA).
That's why the dose per can matters more than the brand. One 200mg can is half of that 400mg figure. An 80mg can is a fifth of it.
Quick answers
How much caffeine is in Celsius vs coffee?
Celsius has 200mg per 12 fl oz can. A 12 fl oz cup of regular brewed coffee has 113 to 247mg, per the FDA, so a Celsius sits in the same range as a large coffee.
Is 80mg of caffeine a lot?
It's the same as an 8.4 fl oz Red Bull, and below the FDA's range for a 12 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.
What's a low caffeine energy drink?
Under 100mg in this table: Red Bull, Red Bull Sugarfree, ESSELATE and Sparkling Ice +Caffeine. Choose by sweetener and can size.
Is cold brew stronger than an energy drink?
Often, yes. A Grande Starbucks Cold Brew lists 205mg, slightly more than a Celsius.
Does ESSELATE have taurine or guarana?
No. The only source of caffeine is the coffee.
We make ESSELATE, which is why it's in this table. It sits there with the same columns as everything else so you can judge it on the numbers. If 80mg and stevia sound right, here's the can. Curious about the taste first? Read what sparkling coffee tastes like.