K-Cup Caffeine Content – The Best Pods With the Most and Least Caffeine

If you have a Keurig machine, you may be wondering about K-cup caffeine content. How much is in a single pod will depend on a number of factors, including the pod brand and coffee variety. Keep reading to learn more and see our picks for K-cups with the most caffeine and those with the least.

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How Much Caffeine In A Keurig Cup?

Keurig does not report the level of caffeine for each individual pod. They only give a range. A K-cup will contain between 75 and 150 mg of caffeine. This includes pods from popular brands like Starbucks, Green Mountain, Donut Shop and Dunkin. Two factors will impact where a given pod falls on that range:

K-Cup Roast & Caffeine

generally speaking, the darker the roast, the lower the caffeine. The lighter the roast, the more caffeine. That’s because the longer roasting process for dark roast coffee burns off more of the caffeine.

K-Cup Beans & Caffeine

Most K-cups will contain either Robusta or Arabica bean grinds, or a blend of both. If a capsule has robusta beans, you can expect that it will be on the higher end of the caffeine range. That’s because Robusta beans contain nearly twice as much caffeine as Arabica beans. Arabica has a sweeter tasting and more palatable.

K-Cups With The Most Caffeine

Here is information on three popular Keurig pods known for having higher levels of caffeine compared to standard K-cups. Be warned that these are highly caffeinated blends. The USDA and the FDA suggest that the upper limit for total daily caffeine consumption for healthy adults is somewhere in the range of 400 to 600 mg.

Death Wish Coffee K-Cup Caffeine Content

Known for it’s highly caffeinated coffee blends, Death Wish Coffee is now available in K-cups. The brand keeps the exact caffeine content of their blend a secret. However, they say that lab testing has shown that Death Wish coffee has 200% more caffeine than the average cup of coffee. Estimates claim that a single ounce of brewed Death Wish could contain as much as 54.2 mg of caffeine. From an 8 oz K-cup, that would be ~430 mg.

Wake The Hell Up K-Cups

For a step down from Death Wish, consider Wake The Hell Up K-Cups. While the packaging doesn’t list the specific caffeine content, a Facebook post by the manufacturer suggests there could be as much as 300 to 350 mg. The ultra-caffeinated k-cups use a medium-dark roast blend for a coffee that won’t taste bitter. If you like flavors, Wake The Hell Up makes K-cups in a range of options like Jamaican Me Crazy (coconut and island spice), Cannoli and Pumpkin. Can’t decide? Try a variety pack.

Starbucks 2x Caffeine K-cups

As the name suggests, the 2x line of Starbucks K-cups contain twice as much caffeine as a regular Starbucks pod. Estimates put that a total of 260 mg of caffeine, though it could vary slightly based on the roast and blend of the specific 2x pod you choose. There are a variety of roasts and flavors in both a 10 count and 12 count pack.

How Much Caffeine Is In Decaf K-Cups?

Virtually all types of decaf coffee, including Keurig decaf pods, will contain some level of caffeine. According to Keurig, their decaffeinated K-cup caffeine content will be somewhere between 2 and 4 mg per 8 fl oz cup . That is a fraction of the caffeine levels you’ll find in their standard pods, which can range anywhere from 75 mg to 150 mg depending on the brand and the blend.

Keurig Green Mountain and its partners use different methods to decaffeinate the K-cups. According to Keurig, the one method is called the “Swiss Water Process.” It uses only water and is 100% free of chemicals. The other process uses chemicals, either through a direct or indirect process.

If the decaf method is a concern for you, I recommended looking for K-cups that specifically call out the “Swiss Water Process” in their title or product details. Here are some of the most highly rated ones on Amazon.

Caffeine in Tea and Specialty Beverage K-Cups

As with the coffee K-cups, Keurig only reports a range of caffeine levels in these non-coffee pods. Most caffeinated tea pods will contain between 50 and 75 mg of caffeine. Green tea usually contains less caffeine than black tea. Herbal tea K-cups are naturally caffeine free.

Specialty beverage K-cups that contain tea, coffee or chocolate, may contain up to 60 mg of caffeine. This includes latte and cappuccino K-cups.