How much caffeine is in one shot of espresso?

About 63 mg, according to both the USDA and the Mayo Clinic, for a standard 1-ounce shot. Starbucks' own published nutrition figures run a bit higher at 75 mg per solo shot, since roast level, bean origin, and extraction time all shift the number in either direction.

Is a double shot (doppio) twice the caffeine?

Essentially yes. A doppio uses roughly double the coffee dose of a solo shot, so caffeine scales with it — about 126 mg by the USDA/Mayo Clinic figure, or 150 mg using Starbucks' own published 75 mg-per-shot number.

Does decaf espresso have any caffeine?

A small amount. Decaffeination processes remove at least 97% of caffeine, per National Coffee Association industry standards, but that still leaves roughly 3 to 16 mg per shot depending on the beans and method — not zero, but a small fraction of a regular shot's 63 mg.

Is espresso more caffeinated than regular coffee?

Per ounce, yes — espresso is roughly three times as concentrated. But per serving, an 8-ounce cup of drip coffee (about 96 mg, per the USDA) usually has more total caffeine than a single 1-ounce espresso shot, simply because the serving is so much bigger. Our full espresso vs coffee breakdown covers the rest of the differences.

How many espresso shots is too much caffeine in a day?

The FDA and Mayo Clinic both cite roughly 400 mg per day as safe for most healthy adults. At 63 mg per shot, that's a little over 6 solo shots — but caffeine sensitivity varies a lot person to person, and pregnant people are generally advised to stay closer to 200 mg per day.

How Much Caffeine Is in an Espresso Shot? (2026)

Quick Answer: A standard 1-ounce espresso shot has about 63 mg of caffeine, according to both the USDA and the Mayo Clinic. Starbucks’ own published nutrition figures put a solo shot slightly higher, at 75 mg. A doppio (double shot) roughly doubles that — around 126 to 150 mg depending on the source — and a decaf shot still carries 3 to 16 mg, since decaffeination only has to remove 97% of the caffeine, not all of it. Ounce for ounce espresso is far more concentrated than drip coffee, but a full 8-ounce cup of drip (about 96 mg) usually beats a single shot on total caffeine simply because the serving is bigger.

It’s one of the most-searched espresso questions for a reason: “stronger” and “more caffeinated” get used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. Here’s what the actual numbers say, and where they come from.

Caffeine by shot type

Shot type	Size	Caffeine (USDA/Mayo)	Caffeine (Starbucks)
Solo (single) shot	~1 oz	~63 mg	75 mg
Doppio (double) shot	~2 oz	~126 mg	150 mg
Ristretto	~0.75-1 oz	~55-63 mg	—
Decaf shot	~1 oz	~3-16 mg	~3-16 mg
8 oz drip coffee	8 oz	~96 mg	—

The USDA and Mayo Clinic figures come from lab-tested averages, so they’re the more consistent reference point; Starbucks’ 75 mg number comes from the chain’s own published nutrition data for its solo espresso shot, and reflects that chain’s specific roast and dose rather than espresso in general. Both are legitimate — they just measure slightly different things. For how ristretto’s shorter pull compares in practice, see our ristretto vs espresso breakdown.

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Why espresso “feels” stronger than it is

Espresso is genuinely more concentrated than drip coffee — roughly three times as much caffeine per ounce, since it’s brewed at around 9 bars of pressure through a much finer grind in a fraction of the time. But concentration and total dose aren’t the same thing. A solo shot is only about 1 ounce, while a standard cup of drip coffee is 8 ounces or more, so the bigger serving usually wins on total milligrams even though each ounce of espresso packs more punch. Our espresso vs coffee guide covers the rest of the brewing differences behind that gap, and espresso vs cappuccino if you’re comparing milk drinks built on the same shot.

Decaf espresso isn’t caffeine-free

Decaffeination removes at least 97% of a bean’s caffeine, per National Coffee Association industry standards — but that last fraction still adds up to roughly 3 to 16 mg per shot, depending on the beans and decaffeination method used. That’s a small amount next to a regular shot’s ~63 mg, but it’s not nothing, and it’s worth knowing if you’re avoiding caffeine entirely rather than just cutting back. See our best decaf espresso beans guide for picks that test consistently low.

How many shots is too many

The FDA and Mayo Clinic both put safe daily caffeine intake at roughly 400 mg for most healthy adults. At 63 mg per solo shot, that works out to a little over 6 shots a day — though tolerance varies widely from person to person, and pregnant people are generally advised to cap intake closer to 200 mg per day. Espresso’s small serving size actually makes it easier to track total intake precisely than drip coffee refills, where it’s easy to lose count of cups.

The bottom line

A single espresso shot runs about 63 mg of caffeine by USDA/Mayo Clinic measurement, or 75 mg by Starbucks’ own figures — concentrated per ounce, but modest per serving next to a full cup of drip coffee. Doppio shots roughly double that, decaf shots still carry a small amount, and 400 mg a day covers most healthy adults comfortably. If you’re deciding between brew methods rather than just counting milligrams, our best espresso machine guide is the place to start, and cold brew vs espresso covers how the two compare on caffeine and flavor when it’s iced instead of hot.