Do you prefer coffee caffeine? What is the high or low caffeine content coffee?

What is your coffee caffeine limit? How much do you need? Would you like more or less? I recently received a query from a reader who was...

Looking for 'high caffeine' coffee?

So if you're looking for higher levels of coffee caffeine than you may typically find in Arabica based coffee, you may wish to refer to the Robusta coffee beans page.

This contains information about robusta coffees which typically have higher levels of caffeine than their Arabica Beans cousin, and also check the map on the types of beans page to find countries where Robusta is grown more commonly: typically, Africa, Vietnam, and Brazil, to name just three.

Robusta: The Poor Cousin

In general, Robusta beans are considered the poor cousin of the coffee bean, because they tend to have a much poorer taste, perhaps even making coffee unpalatable.

However, Robusta is widely grown, and consumed, and is found in many coffees, esp. cheaper instant coffees. Read "What coffee has the most caffeine" from the Examiner. They are used in coffees when the coffee roaster needs either a cheaper product or a stronger coffee with more kick.

You will find many of the cheaper coffees in the supermarkets are made mostly from Robusta varieties of coffee beans. That includes freeze-dried or instant coffees, as well as the packs of ground coffees from popular brands such as Maxwell House or Folgers or any of a dozen other coffee brands. Why?

Simply, because of cost. These large companies can order huge amounts of coffee beans, to resell to consumers at lower prices. Though you will find the prices very attractive, it's doubtful that you will enjoy what you get because the beans are often over-roasted, giving the beans a burnt or even bitter taste. Much of the character of the coffees has been roasted away in favor of the brand flavor.

Coffee Caffeine with a kick!

While I cannot give you a definitive answer about how much coffee caffeine you will find in the robusta beans in your coffees, (most manufacturers prefer to boast the percentage of Arabica beans!) or which coffees may contain more caffeine, you could try different espresso or italian style roasts (some of which make good french press coffee, too), or you could simply add more coffee to the coffee maker.

Try doubling up on the amount of coffee you use, since most coffee drinkers tend to follow general guidelines that result in a weaker brew. This works as long as the amount doesn't overaccentuate other tones, such as bitterness or acid tones in the coffee.

It's in the Espresso

Oddly enough, you may wish to try some of the espresso roasts which are darker roasted as these will typically include a percentage of robusta beans, and perhaps more caffeine to provide a European type 'kick' to the morning cuppa. Few coffee companies display the amount of caffeine per 100g on the side of packets, which would certainly help you. My last suggestion: go to a coffee roaster or serious coffee lover's coffee shop, and just ask. They may be able to direct you to specific blends/estates/regions that present a coffee more suitable to your requirements.

Asian Coffees Have Lots of Robusta

A final thought: Both Vietnam and India grow quite a lot of coffee, usually robusta beans, so you may wish to try those blends. However, as I said, robusta is usually blended with better tasting coffee to tone down the roughness and caffeine content, so it's difficult to find a purely robusta coffee.

Amazon's search did throw up a few good suggestions, but no clue on the actual caffeine content, click if you want to see the results.

If you are looking for 'less caffeine' in your coffee, you should be looking at medium roasts of Arabica coffee, for the most part. Don't be purchasing espresso roast or dark Italian roasts unless they are stated to be 100% Arabica, like Lavazza's Qualita Rossa, or similar. Most espresso bean coffee contains amounts of extra Robusta for the flavor and extra 'kick' it provides.

I'll be adding more to this answer as I research the effects of high caffeine content coffee. In the meantime, search for related key terms on the blog!

And finally...

Wherever you are, remember "Only Coffee Beans Make Great Coffee"! And enjoy that cup of coffee!

Return from coffee caffeine to buy coffee beans.

Return from coffee caffeine to coffee beans.