EXPLORE A NUTRIENT
Caffeine
Discover how amounts vary across foods, on a shared basis for comparison.
Understand this nutrient ↓What is it?
Chemical reference: caffeine (C8H10N4O2). USDA reports Caffeine separately. [1] [2]
An identity reference, not the appearance of the food.
Description, source and attribution
Reference depiction: caffeine. Formula C8H10N4O2; PubChem CID 2519; charge 0. This is a chemical reference, not a depiction of its physical appearance in food.
PubChem Compound 2519, 2D Structure. NCBI / National Library of Medicine. Source · Reuse terms
Source check:
A COMMON BASIS
Foods, per 100 g
132 foods with data 74 not reported, excluded from ranking
- Papaya
Raw papaya, edible portion.
0 mg - Paprika
Spices, paprika, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Parmesan cheese
Cheese, parmesan, hard, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Parsley
Parsley, fresh, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Parsnip
Parsnips, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Purple passion fruit
Purple passion fruit, raw; not yellow passion-fruit juice or sweet granadilla.
0 mg - Enriched pasta
Pasta, cooked, enriched, without added salt, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Peanuts
Peanuts, all types, dry-roasted without salt.
0 mg - Pear
Raw pear; variety not specified.
0 mg - Persimmon
Persimmons, japanese, raw, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Pine nuts
Nuts, pine nuts, dried, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg - Plum
Plums, raw, exactly as identified by USDA.
0 mg
All results are sorted before pagination. Bars compare amounts within this search; they do not indicate health benefits. Not reported does not mean zero.
UNDERSTAND THE DATA
What it means for your diet
This source discusses caffeine from drinks, foods, medicines and energy products, including groups who should limit or avoid it. Its amounts are not a universal safe dose, a formal nutrient upper limit or a recommendation to use concentrated caffeine.
Ranking amounts describe foods, not supplement doses. A high rank does not mean you should consume more. Source recommendations and cautions retain their original population and scope.
Caffeine [1]
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Original health-topic summary, reproduced with attribution.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a bitter substance that occurs naturally in more than 60 plants including:
- Coffee beans
- Tea leaves
- Kola nuts, which are used to flavor soft drink colas
- Cacao pods, which are used to make chocolate products
There is also synthetic (man-made) caffeine, which is added to some medicines, foods, and drinks. For example, some pain relievers, cold medicines, and over-the-counter medicines for alertness contain synthetic caffeine. So do energy drinks and "energy-boosting" gums and snacks.
Most people consume caffeine from drinks. The amount of caffeine in different drinks can vary a lot, but it is generally:
- An 8-ounce cup of coffee: 95-200 mg
- A 12-ounce can of cola: 35-45 mg
- An 8-ounce energy drink: 70-100 mg
- An 8-ounce cup of tea: 14-60 mg
What are caffeine's effects on the body?
Caffeine has many effects on your body's metabolism. It:
- Stimulates your central nervous system, which can make you feel more awake and give you a boost of energy
- Is a diuretic, meaning that it helps your body get rid of extra salt and water by urinating more
Identity and structure sources
- PubChem Compound 2519: Caffeine · Accessed 2026-09-13
- USDA FoodData Central: Foundation Foods Documentation · Accessed 2026-09-13