Death Wish Coffee built its reputation on one claim: the strongest coffee in the world. Put its canned cold brew next to Bare Brew and the two cans split the question in two. One has the higher concentration. The other has the larger total dose in a single can. If you are comparing high-caffeine canned coffee, here is the breakdown, including the part that favors Death Wish.
The Caffeine Comparison: 320mg per 12 fl oz vs 300mg per 8 fl oz
Bare Brew has 320mg of caffeine in a 12 fl oz can. Death Wish Coffee's ready-to-drink canned cold brew is listed at 300mg in an 8 fl oz can. Normalized to a common basis, Death Wish is the more concentrated drink at 37.5mg per fluid ounce, against Bare Brew's 26.7mg per fluid ounce. Bare Brew's edge is only total dose in one can: 320mg versus 300mg. The Death Wish figures were transcribed from its published listing and should be checked against the can you are holding, since brands change formulas and sizes.
For a ranking by concentration across more brands, see our strongest canned coffee ranking.
Ingredients and Sugar
Bare Brew's label lists 2 ingredients: coffee and water. Sugar is 0g. The can is 12 fl oz and 20 calories, with 5g total carbohydrate, so we call it low calorie, not zero calorie. We have not verified Death Wish's current full label in time for this update, so we are not printing its ingredient list or calorie count here. Read the label on the can before you compare. For a broader look at what to check on any can, see what to look for and what to avoid in canned cold brew and our guide to the cleanest cold brew.
If you track macros or follow a keto or fasting protocol, use the label numbers above and make that call yourself. Our take on one common fasting question is in does cold brew break a fast.
The Side-by-Side Breakdown
| Feature | Bare Brew | Death Wish RTD |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine per can | 320mg | 300mg |
| Can size | 12 fl oz | 8 fl oz |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 26.7mg | 37.5mg |
| Ingredients on our label | 2 (coffee, water) | Check the can |
| Calories, carbohydrate | 20 calories, 5g total carbohydrate | Check the can |
| Coffee origin | Honduran Arabica | Check the can |
Bare Brew figures are from our own label. Death Wish caffeine and size are from its published listing. Cells marked "check the can" are not verified here.
Price
Bare Brew is $6.00 per can in a 4-pack ($23.99), $5.50 in a 6-pack ($32.99), and $4.50 in a 12-pack ($53.99), the one-time floor. At $4.50 a can that is about $0.0141 per milligram of caffeine. That is not the cheapest per milligram in the category; Celsius is cheaper. Shipping is a flat $8.99 on every US order, with no minimum and no free-shipping threshold. We did not compare Death Wish's price here because it varies by retailer.
Who Should Choose Which?
If you want the most milligrams in the least liquid, Death Wish is the stronger drink at 37.5mg per fluid ounce. If you want the larger single-can dose and a two-ingredient label, Bare Brew's 12 fl oz can has 320mg. If you are weighing the whole set of options, our canned black coffee roundup and healthiest canned coffee pages go through more brands. Disclosure: Bare Brew is our own product.
Founder's Take
I would rather tell you where Bare Brew loses than hide it. On concentration, Death Wish wins, and that is plain arithmetic: 37.5mg per fluid ounce against our 26.7. Our case is narrower. A 12 fl oz can with 320mg, 0g sugar and two ingredients. If that is what you are shopping for, the link is above. If you want the most caffeine in the smallest can, buy theirs. Anyone sensitive to caffeine, pregnant, or on medication should ask their doctor how much is right for them.
The Bottom Line
Bare Brew has more total caffeine per can (320mg per 12 fl oz vs 300mg per 8 fl oz) and a two-ingredient label. Death Wish is the more concentrated of the two per fluid ounce. Pick the one that matches what you are buying for. Related reading: the clean caffeine cold brew guide, Bare Brew vs La Colombe, and cold brew vs energy drinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has more caffeine, Bare Brew or Death Wish?
Per can, Bare Brew has more: 320mg in 12 fl oz versus 300mg in 8 fl oz. Per fluid ounce, Death Wish has more: 37.5mg versus 26.7mg.
Is Bare Brew the cheapest per milligram of caffeine?
No. At $4.50 a can in a 12-pack it is about $0.0141 per milligram, and Celsius is cheaper.
How much is shipping?
$8.99 flat on every US order, with no minimum and no free-shipping threshold.
