How much caffeine is in a latte, flat white or cappuccino? UK coffee shops compared
Delen
A Tall latte, cappuccino or flat white at Starbucks UK has about 89 mg of caffeine, according to Starbucks' own UK nutrition guide. Other chains state very different amounts: in a Which? comparison of the chains' own figures, a medium Costa cappuccino was listed at 325 mg and a Costa flat white at 241 mg. The amount depends mostly on how many espresso shots go in, the coffee each chain uses and the cup size.
Key points
• Starbucks UK: Caffè Latte and Cappuccino 89.1 mg in a Tall or Grande; Flat White 89.1 mg (one size).
• Starbucks UK: Caffè Americano from 44.6 mg (Short) to 178.2 mg (Venti); Pike Place filter from 131.7 mg to 324.2 mg.
• Which? (chains' stated figures): cappuccino from 89 mg (Starbucks) to 325 mg (Costa); americano from 89 mg to 325 mg.
• A mug of instant coffee has about 100 mg, a mug of filter about 140 mg (NHS).
• Healthy adults: up to 400 mg a day from all sources is unlikely to cause adverse effects (FSA and FSS).
Table of contents
- Caffeine in a latte, cappuccino and flat white at Starbucks
- Costa, Starbucks, Pret and Caffè Nero compared
- How much caffeine is in a latte?
- How much caffeine is in a flat white?
- How much caffeine is in a cappuccino?
- How much caffeine is in an americano?
- Why coffee-shop caffeine varies so much
- Coffee-shop drinks and daily limits
- FAQ
Caffeine in a latte, cappuccino and flat white at Starbucks
Starbucks publishes caffeine for each drink and size in its UK nutrition and allergen guide. These are the figures for the summer 2026 menu:
| Drink | Short | Tall | Grande | Venti |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffè Latte (semi-skimmed) | 44.6 mg | 89.1 mg | 89.1 mg | 133.7 mg |
| Cappuccino | 44.6 mg | 89.1 mg | 89.1 mg | 133.7 mg |
| Caffè Americano | 44.6 mg | 89.1 mg | 133.7 mg | 178.2 mg |
| Pike Place filter coffee | 131.7 mg | 209.8 mg | 254.6 mg | 324.2 mg |
| Flat White | 89.1 mg (one size) | |||
| Espresso | Single 44.6 mg · Doppio 89.1 mg | |||
Source: Starbucks UK Nutrition & Allergen Guide, Summer Beverages, July–September 2026 (version 03/06/26). Menus change by season, so check the current guide in store.
The milk drinks go up in steps of about 44.6 mg, the caffeine in a single Starbucks espresso. A Tall and a Grande latte have the same caffeine (89.1 mg), so the bigger cup does not add caffeine there. More: How much caffeine is in an espresso? · How much caffeine is too much? · Caffeine pouches in the UK
Costa, Starbucks, Pret and Caffè Nero compared
In August 2026 Which? compared the caffeine that the big chains state for their drinks. Which? did not test the drinks in a lab: these are the chains' own stated figures, checked on 19 August 2026. Sizes were Costa Medium, Starbucks Tall, Pret 355 ml and Caffè Nero Regular.
| Drink | Costa (Medium) | Starbucks (Tall) | Pret (355 ml) | Caffè Nero (Regular) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cappuccino | 325 mg | 89 mg | 180 mg | 221 mg |
| Flat white | 241 mg | 89 mg | 180 mg | 105 mg |
| Americano | 325 mg | 89 mg | 180 mg | 191 mg |
| Espresso | 100 mg | 45 mg | 180 mg (50 ml) | 67 mg |
| Filter coffee | not listed | 210 mg | 271 mg | not listed |
| Hot matcha latte | 99 mg | 57 mg | 28 mg | not listed |
Source: Which?, August 2026 (chains' stated figures, checked 19 August 2026). Which? also reported that Greggs do not measure caffeine content.
For matcha drinks, see Caffeine in matcha vs coffee.
How much caffeine is in a latte?
At Starbucks UK, a Caffè Latte has 44.6 mg (Short), 89.1 mg (Tall and Grande) or 133.7 mg (Venti), according to the Starbucks UK guide. Other chains use different recipes, so check each chain's own nutrition information.
How much caffeine is in a flat white?
Starbucks UK lists its Flat White at 89.1 mg. In the Which? comparison, chains' stated figures ranged from 89 mg (Starbucks) and 105 mg (Caffè Nero) to 180 mg (Pret) and 241 mg (Costa Medium).
How much caffeine is in a cappuccino?
Starbucks UK lists its Cappuccino with the same caffeine as its latte: 89.1 mg in a Tall. In the Which? comparison, the stated figures ranged from 89 mg (Starbucks) to 325 mg (Costa Medium), with Pret at 180 mg and Caffè Nero at 221 mg.
How much caffeine is in an americano?
Starbucks UK lists its Caffè Americano at 44.6 mg (Short), 89.1 mg (Tall), 133.7 mg (Grande) and 178.2 mg (Venti). In the Which? comparison, the stated figures ranged from 89 mg (Starbucks) to 325 mg (Costa Medium).
Why coffee-shop caffeine varies so much
- Number of shots. Most milk drinks are built on espresso. At Starbucks UK, each step up in caffeine is about one single shot (44.6 mg).
- The coffee and the recipe. Each chain uses its own coffee and its own recipe. Even single espressos vary: a study of espressos bought from 20 coffee shops in Glasgow found 51 mg to 322 mg per serving (Crozier et al., Food & Function, 2012).
- Cup size. A bigger cup does not always mean more caffeine. A Starbucks Grande latte has the same 89.1 mg as a Tall, but a Grande americano has more (133.7 mg).
Coffee-shop drinks and daily limits
| Drink | Serving | Caffeine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea | 1 mug | about 75 mg | NHS |
| Instant coffee | 1 mug | about 100 mg | NHS |
| Filter coffee | 1 mug | about 140 mg | NHS |
| Espresso | 60 ml | about 80 mg | EUFIC |
For healthy adults, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day from all sources is unlikely to cause adverse effects, and the limit in pregnancy is 200 mg a day (FSA and FSS, 2024). EFSA says single doses of up to 200 mg do not raise safety concerns for healthy adults (EFSA, 2015). On the chains' stated figures, one medium Costa cappuccino or americano (325 mg) is more than that 200 mg single dose and more than the 200 mg daily limit in pregnancy. More: Caffeine in pregnancy · How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?
To add up your day, try our caffeine calculator.
Optimal Native caffeine pouches state the caffeine per pouch on the label: Morning Energy 200 mg, Daily Flow 75 mg and Evening Relax 0 mg, with no sugar.
FAQ
How much caffeine is in a latte?
At Starbucks UK, 89.1 mg in a Tall or Grande Caffè Latte, 44.6 mg in a Short and 133.7 mg in a Venti (Starbucks UK guide, summer 2026).
Does a flat white have more caffeine than a latte?
At Starbucks UK, no: the Flat White and a Tall latte both have 89.1 mg. At other chains it depends on the recipe; check the chain's own figures.
Which coffee chain has the strongest cappuccino?
In the Which? comparison of stated figures, Costa's medium cappuccino was highest at 325 mg and Starbucks' Tall was lowest at 89 mg.
Is a coffee-shop coffee stronger than instant coffee at home?
It can be. A mug of instant coffee has about 100 mg (NHS), while chains' stated figures for an americano ranged from 89 mg to 325 mg (Which?).
Read next: How much caffeine is in an espresso? · How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee? · Caffeine calculator
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