'Takeaway' Coffees might exceed daily recommended caffeine intake levels, Study finds

In a recent study published in Nutrients, researchers explored the caffeine content in various popular coffee servings to assess their safety regarding recommended daily intake limits.

Growing evidence suggests that drinking coffee offers several health benefits, including a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes for regular drinkers. Researchers have also observed an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and cognitive decline in some populations.

Experts recommend consuming three to five cups of coffee daily as part of a healthy diet. However, confusion arises about what constitutes a "cup" due to varying serving sizes and caffeine content. The caffeine content in coffee can vary significantly based on factors such as the type of beans used, brewing methods, and serving sizes.

These variations highlight the need for more specific guidelines on coffee consumption, particularly given the prevalence of chain coffee shops. Coffee contains not only caffeine but also other compounds that influence its health effects. Authorities like the European Food Safety Authority recommend a safe daily caffeine intake of up to 400 mg for adults. They also suggest developing more practical guidelines to help consumers manage their caffeine intake effectively.

The study aimed to analyse the caffeine content in popular coffee servings from both commercial and homemade sources through two separate analyses.The study found significant variation in the caffeine content of different coffee servings, averaging 83 mg per serving, with a range of 13 to 309 mg. Coffees from franchise shops generally contained more than three times the caffeine of homemade coffees.

Among the coffee types studied, Americano had the highest average caffeine content, while the lowest was found in coffee brewed by pouring hot water over ground coffee. Approximately 42% of the coffee samples contained 75–200 mg of caffeine per serving, a range considered beneficial for mental alertness.However, 19% of Americano samples exceeded 200 mg per serving, posing a risk of overconsumption. Consuming three to five servings of high-caffeine coffees like Americano or cappuccino could potentially surpass the recommended safe daily caffeine intake of 400 mg, particularly with high-caffeine servings.

The study revealed significant caffeine content variations across different coffee types, which is critical as caffeine intake estimation can often be inaccurate.

References: Nutrients. doi: 10.3390/nu16152385. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/15/2385