How much caffeine is in cold brew? It depends on the recipe, the brand and the serving size. For a reference point, the FDA lists 113 to 247mg of caffeine in a 12 fl oz cup of regular brewed coffee. Canned and bottled cold brews vary at least as much, and they don't all state caffeine the same way.
Below are the caffeine figures that black, unsweetened ready-to-drink cold brews state on their own product pages, named by product and size, with a link to every source. Where a page states no figure, we say so rather than borrow one from somewhere else. Disclosure: Bare Brew is our own product. Brands are listed alphabetically.
Caffeine by Product: Black, Unsweetened Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew
Brand pages checked October 30, 2026 (Starbucks via PepsiCo's product facts site). Products are reformulated from time to time, so check the label on the can or bottle in your hand.
| Brand and product | Caffeine (as stated) | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Brew Cold Brew, 12 fl oz can (our own product) | 320mg | Per can | Product page |
| Bizzy Organic Medium Roast, 48 fl oz bottle | 250mg | Per serving (serving size not stated on the page) | Bizzy |
| Death Wish Organic Cold Brew Unsweetened, 48 oz | "Approximately 250mg" | "Based on a standard 6oz serving" | Death Wish |
| High Brew Black & Bold | 140mg | Per can (size not stated on the page) | High Brew |
| High Brew Black Triple Shot | 225mg | Per can (size not stated on the page) | High Brew |
| High Brew Nitro Cold Brew | 200mg | Per can (size not stated on the page) | High Brew |
| La Colombe Cold Brew, 9 oz can | 160mg | Per can (the brand notes this is a new, reduced level) | La Colombe |
| Starbucks Cold Brew Black Unsweetened, 40 fl oz bottle | 255mg | Per 12 fl oz serving | PepsiCo Product Facts |
| Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew Black Unsweetened, 9.6 fl oz can | 155mg | Per can | PepsiCo Product Facts |
| Wandering Bear Original Black, 8 oz can | 200mg | Per can (brand FAQ; another line on the same page gives a lower figure) | Wandering Bear |
Bare Brew is our own product.
Products With No Caffeine Figure on the Page
Some widely compared products don't state caffeine in the page text we could read. We list them so you know to check the package rather than trust a number quoted elsewhere.
| Brand and product | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Califia Farms | The FAQ says its products have a wide range of caffeine content and points shoppers to the packaging for each variety | Califia FAQ |
| Chameleon Black Ready-to-Drink, 10 oz | No caffeine figure in the page text; lists 0g total sugars and 15 calories | Chameleon |
| RISE Black, 11 oz can | No caffeine figure in the page text; says "no sugar" | RISE |
| STōK Unsweetened Black, 48 oz bottle | No caffeine figure in the page text; lists 0g total sugars per 12 fl oz serving | STōK |
| Stumptown Original Nitro Cold Brew, 10.3 oz can | No caffeine figure in the page text; says "two ingredients: coffee and water" | Stumptown |
Read the Basis, Then Compare per Fluid Ounce
Three different bases show up in the table: per can, per serving of a multi-serve bottle, and per a stated serving size that may differ from what you'd pour. Before comparing two figures, put them on the same basis. Dividing milligrams by the fluid ounces they're stated for gives you concentration (how strong the coffee is). The per-can or per-serving figure tells you how much caffeine you'd actually drink. Both matter.
About Bare Brew
No sugar. No dairy. Bare ingredients, a special blend of coffee and water: filtered water and Honduran Arabica. Each 12 fl oz can has 320mg of caffeine, 20 calories, 5g total carbohydrate and 0g sugar. Usually ships the same or next business day. See Bare Brew.
$8.99 flat shipping on every order — no minimums · 30-day money-back guarantee
Why the Numbers Vary So Much
Caffeine in coffee depends on the beans, the roast, the grind, how much coffee is used per cup of water and how long it's in contact with the water. Cold brew recipes usually use a lot of coffee and steep for many hours, but recipes differ widely, so cold brew isn't one fixed number. The FDA's 113 to 247mg range for a 12 fl oz cup of brewed coffee shows how wide the spread can be even for regular coffee. A packaged product has the advantage of a fixed recipe, but only helps you if the brand prints the figure. For more, see is cold brew stronger than coffee? and how much caffeine is in cold brew.
How Caffeine Works
A StatPearls review of caffeine describes it as an adenosine receptor antagonist: it blocks the receptors for adenosine, a compound that promotes sleepiness. The same review puts caffeine's half-life at about 5 hours in the average adult, which varies from person to person.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
FDA says up to 400mg a day is an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults. The FDA also notes that people differ in how sensitive they are to caffeine. EFSA says single doses up to 200mg and daily intake up to 400mg raise no safety concerns for healthy adults, and for pregnant women puts the daily figure at up to 200mg. Count every source of caffeine in your day, and talk to your doctor if you're pregnant, nursing, take medication or are sensitive to caffeine. For more, see how much caffeine is too much.
How We Sourced This
Every competitor figure above comes from the brand's own product page (or, for Starbucks, PepsiCo's product facts site), checked on October 30, 2026, and links to that page. We didn't use nutrition databases, retailer listings or third-party charts. We report each figure on the basis the brand uses. Where a brand states nothing in the page text, we say so and give no number.
Nutrition information changes when products are reformulated. If you find a figure that has changed, tell us at miles@drinkbarebrew.com and we will correct it.
The Short Version
Cold brew caffeine varies by brand, product and serving size. Check what each figure is per, compare on the same basis, and remember that several well-known products don't state caffeine on their pages at all.
About Bare Brew
No sugar. No dairy. Bare ingredients, a special blend of coffee and water: filtered water and Honduran Arabica. Each 12 fl oz can has 320mg of caffeine, 20 calories, 5g total carbohydrate and 0g sugar. Bare Brew is our own product. See current prices.
Usually ships the same or next business day · $8.99 flat shipping on every order — no minimums · 30-day money-back guarantee
This article is general information, not medical advice. Bare Brew is a coffee drink, not a treatment for any condition. Each 12 fl oz can has 320mg of caffeine. It's not recommended for children, people who are pregnant or nursing, or anyone sensitive to caffeine. If you take medication or have a health condition, talk to your doctor about caffeine.
