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Does French Press Coffee Have More Caffeine?

french press caffeine

When it comes to caffeine content, not only does the kind of coffee bean you use will determine the caffeine content, but also the brewing method that you choose. There are many factors that can affect the amount of caffeine your favorite coffee contains, and to some, it doesn’t matter, but for those who want to watch their caffeine intake, it’s important. That’s why today we are looking at does French Press Coffee Have More Caffeine?

There are many different measurements that come into effect when considering the caffeine content of coffee beverages. The standard way of looking at caffeine includes the mg to cup ratio. Which we will use later in the article to compare the different types of coffees and their caffeine content.

Learn more about the French Press.

Understanding Coffee and Caffeine

Most coffee drinks are made using an espresso shot, for example, the latte, cappuccino, and an espresso shot. However, other coffee drinks are made using coffee grounds mixed with hot water, for example, drip coffee, Chemex, and the French Press coffee.

Caffeine is found in many food and drink items, but it is mostly present in coffee, tea, and cocoa. Whilst you can purchase decaffeinated coffee, you should be aware that it still contains traces of caffeine. 

The average cup of coffee contains between 75-105mg of caffeine.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant and has been under numerous scientific studies for its benefits and potential health risks. In moderation, caffeine can increase brain activity, improve physical performance, and help you to stay awake (which is why you generally drink it in the morning and avoid it in the evening).

However, caffeine has also been shown to increase anxiety, raise blood pressure, and contribute towards insomnia. If consumed in high doses, it can actually prove to be fatal. These reasons are why people might want to know the French Press caffeine content.

Related: French Press VS Aeropress



What Can Affect Caffeine in Coffee

The main factors that can affect caffeine in coffee are the roast, grind size, plant, type of bean, coffee amount, and brewing method. Each of these factors can alter the content of caffeine in your coffee.

  • Roast – A darker coffee roast will typically contain a smaller percentage less caffeine than a lighter roast. 
  • Grind Size – The finer you grind the coffee beans, the more caffeine you get. 
  • Plant – Depending on the plant species, it could contain slightly more or less caffeine than others. This would be hard to tell for a consumer though.
  • Type of bean – Arabica coffee can contain 1% less coffee than Robusta coffee.
  • Amount of coffee – If you use more ground coffee, there will be more caffeine present. 
  • Brewing method – If coffee is brewed for longer, more caffeine will be extracted.

** Caffeine amounts would only change by small amounts depending on changes to these different factors. **

Coffee Types and Their Caffeine Content

It may surprise you to know that different coffee types have different amounts of caffeine in them. For example, a cold brew coffee can have double or even triple the amount of caffeine compared to a regular coffee; this is because the coffee grounds steep for a longer period of time allowing for more caffeine to be extracted. 

This same principle follows with other coffee types – a drip coffee will brew for longer and therefore contain more caffeine than a regular latte, for example. You can see the different caffeine amounts in the chart below:

Related article: How much caffeine is in espresso?

Does French Press Have More Caffeine

A French Press coffee does contain more caffeine content than an espresso or latte. However, it contains less caffeine than a drip coffee or cold brew coffee.

If you put the French Press into the “quick brewing” category, much like the espresso, latte, and Americano, then you can clearly see that it will contain more caffeine content. That is due to the lengthier extraction process when the coffee blooms.

If you put the French Press up against a drip coffee or cold brew coffee, it will contain less caffeine. This is because the French Press takes much less time to brew than the other methods. The longer the coffee steeps, the more caffeine will be extracted. 

This is the assumption made on a generic basis. If the French Press coffee was a dark roast, ground finely, and quickly brewed, it could contain a lower caffeine content than expected. Ultimately, there are too many variables involved to correctly identify the amount of caffeine in a coffee. 

Check out the best French Press coffee makers.

The Final Sip

So does French Press coffee have more caffeine? In some aspects, yes it does, but in other aspects, no it doesn’t. A French Press will have more caffeine than an Aeropress coffee or an espresso, but it will have less than a drip coffee. 

There are many different factors that can affect caffeine content in coffee, so it can be hard to determine the exact amounts of your cup at home unless specific measurements were followed accurately. This includes every process, even the roasting stage, which can be out of your control.

Ultimately, caffeine content will be changed by small amounts and none of these factors will drastically change the amount of caffeine mg in your coffee.

Related: French Press vs Moka Pot.



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