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Caffeine content of beverages as consumed
Canadian Medical Association Journal
|February 7, 1976
Summary
Home-prepared tea and coffee contain less caffeine than previously thought, with significant variability. This finding suggests caffeine
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Food Chemistry
Background:
- Previous studies on caffeine content in beverages often used laboratory-prepared samples.
- Limited data exists on caffeine levels in home-prepared beverages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively analyze the caffeine content in home-prepared tea and coffee.
- To compare caffeine levels in home-prepared beverages with previously reported data.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of 37 home-prepared tea samples and 46 home-prepared coffee samples.
- Determination of median caffeine concentration and range for both beverages.
Main Results:
- Median caffeine concentration for home-prepared tea was 27 mg/cup (range: 8-91 mg).
- Median caffeine concentration for home-prepared coffee was 74 mg/cup (range: 29-176 mg).
- Caffeine content was lower and more variable than reported in earlier studies.
Conclusions:
- Home-prepared tea and coffee generally contain less caffeine than commonly assumed.
- The significant variation in caffeine content highlights the need for accurate intake assessment in research.
- Re-evaluation of caffeine potency and relative content in other commercial products may be warranted.