Caffeine In Drinks At Five Big Chains


Funny that Which decided to do this about a month after James Hoffman did a video about it on his youtube channel.

I trust his numbers more too, although they're broadly the same.

The amount of caffeine should absolutely not be confused with the quality of the coffee though. For starters, Robusta beans - generally considered inferior to Arabica - have much higher levels of caffiene. Roast levels of the beans also seems to play a big part. Lighter roasts are becoming more desirable as the quality of coffee making is improving. I just opened a freshly roasted bag of light roast ethopian. Its going to be a little challenge to get good extraction from my Bambino though.


Also, that Pret measure is obviously a case of them counting a double shot as a single. All the milk drinks are using a double.
 
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I can agree with the Costa stat.
I had one travelling up from the south around lunch time, large Americano.
Didn't get to sleep until after 3am.

Usually I only use these places very occasionally, the prices are stupid for what essentially costs a few pence and they charge 3-4 quid.
 
I can agree with the Costa stat.
I had one travelling up from the south around lunch time, large Americano.
Didn't get to sleep until after 3am.

Usually I only use these places very occasionally, the prices are stupid for what essentially costs a few pence and they charge 3-4 quid.
Coffee is expensive now mind. That bag I just opened was £33/kilo
Typical double shot is 18g. That's 60p just for the coffee. Admittedly you had americano, but otherwise its half a pint of milk anarl, which is about another 50p. So cost of materials in a latte/capuccino is about a quid.
(Ok, these places don't pay what I do for beans). That's before the staff, machines, energy and rent, rates, insurance etc etc of a business.

Top Tip: If you don't want a "milk drink", then just get the filter coffee. It'll probably be better, and its miles cheaper. This is what I do now at chain places. They make shit coffee anyway.
 
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You can tell by the fact their ground coffee bags smell like an ashtray that Starbucks over roast the coffee to burning point to make it taste stronger.
 

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