The connection between coffee and cancer was seared into the American health psyche in 1981, when a study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine concluded that “coffee use might account for a substantial proportion of the cases of [pancreatic cancer] in the United States.” But most studies since then have come up empty.
“Coffee is not likely to be causing pancreatic cancer,” concludes Debra Silverman, an epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. “Smoking is clearly a risk factor, and once you take that into account, most studies show that coffee drinking doesn’t seem to be associated with an increased risk.”
As for cancers of the bladder, breast, colon, lung, or prostate, “there’s no good evidence that coffee has any role in their development,” says John Welsburger of the American Health Foundation.
Products Ranked by Amount of Caffeine
Product
Caffeine (mg)*
Coffee, grande (16 oz.) Starbucks
550
Caffe Americano, short (8 oz.) Starbucks
35
Coffee, tall (12 oz.) Starbucks
375
Caffe Latte, short (8 oz.) or tall (12 oz.) Starbucks
35
Coffee, short (8 oz.) Starbucks
250
Caffe Mocha, short (8 oz.) or tall (12 oz.) Starbucks
35
NoDoz, Maximum Strength (1), or Vivarin (1)
200
Cappuchino, short (8 oz.) or tall (12 oz.) Starbucks
35
7-Eleven Big Gulp cola (64 oz.)
190
Cola (12 oz.)
35**
Coffee, non-gourmet (8 oz.)
135**
Espresso (1 oz.) Starbucks
35
Excedrin (2)
130
Tea, green or instant (8 oz.)
30**
Maxwell House (8 oz.)
110
Chocolate, dark, bittersweet, semi-sweet (1 oz.)
20**
Caffe Americano, grande (16 oz.) Starbucks
105
Coffee, decaf, grande (16 oz.) Starbucks
10
NoDoz, Regular Strength (1)
100
Tea, bottles (12 oz.) or from instant mix (8 oz.)
14**
Coffee, instant (8 oz.)
95**
Coffee, decaf, short (8 oz.) or tall (12 oz.) Starbucks
10
Caffe Americano, tall (12 oz.) Starbucks
70
Chocolate, milk (1 oz.)
5**
Caffe Latte or Cappuccino, grande (16 oz.)Starbucks
70
Cocoa or hot chocolate (8oz.)
5**
Caffe Mocha, grande (16 oz.) Starbucks
70
Coffee, decaf, non-gourmet (8 oz.)
5**
Espresso, double (2 oz.) Starbucks
70
Espresso, decaf (1 oz.) Starbucks
5
Water, caffeinated (Edge 2 O), (8 oz.)
70
Tea, decaf (8 oz.)
Anacin (2)
65
Cola (20 oz.)
60**
Mountain Dew (12 oz.)
55
Cola (16 oz.)
50**
Tea, leaf or bag (8 oz.)
50
* = Average caffeine levels for popular beverages, foods, and drugs (rounded to the nearest 5 milligrams.) ** = typical value
Caffeine is similar in structure to adenosine, a chemical found in the brain that slows down its activity. Since the two compete, the more caffeine you drink, the less adenosine is available up to a point. That’s why caffeine temporarily heightens concentration and wards off fatigue.
Within 30 to 60 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee, caffeine reaches peak concentrations in the bloodstream. It typically takes four to six hours for its effects to wear off.
Smokers remove caffeine from their blood twice as fast as nonsmokers. That may be why smokers tend to drink more coffee.
The average American adult consumes about 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day, and the top ten percent consume an average of 400 mg, according to John J. Barone, who tracks caffeine consumption at The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta.
As little as 200 mg of caffeine is enough to make some people feel nervous and anxious. It might take even less for cola-guzzling kids.
The typical American drinks about two cups of coffee a day. In 1962, when coffee consumption hit its peak, three cups was typical.
Coffee accounts for about ¾ of the caffeine we consume. Tea makes up about 15 percent, soft drinks about ten percent, and chocolate about two percent.
Caffeine Content of Food & Drugs
Product
Serving Size 1
Caffeine (mg)2
OTC Drugs
NoDoz, maximum strength; Vivarin
1 tablet
200
Excedrin
2 tablets
130
NoDoz, regular strength
1 tablet
100
Anacin
2 tablets
64
Coffees
Coffee, brewed
8 ounces
135
General Foods International Coffee, Orange Cappuccino
8 ounces
102
Coffee, instant
8 ounces
95
General Foods International Coffee, Cafe Vienna
8 ounces
90
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Mocha
8 ounces
60-65
General Foods International Coffee, Swiss Mocha
8 ounces
55
Maxwell House Cappuccino, French Vanilla or Irish Cream
8 ounces
45-50
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Amaretto
8 ounces
25-30
General Foods International Coffee, Viennese Chocolate Cafe
Perugina Milk Chocolate Bar with Cappuccino Filling
1/3 bar (1.2 ounces)
24
Hershey Bar (milk chocolate)
1 bar (1.5 ounces)
10
Coffee Nips (hard candy)
2 pieces
6
Cocoa or Hot Chocolate
8 ounces
5
1 — Serving sizes are based on commonly eaten portions, pharmaceutical instructions, or the amount of the leading-selling container size. For example, beverages sold in 16-ounce or half-liter bottles were counted as one serving.
2 — Sources: National Coffee Association, National Soft Drink Association, Tea Council of the USA, and information provided by food, beverage, and pharmaceutical companies and J.J. Barone, H.R. Roberts (1996) “Caffeine Consumption.” Food Chemistry and Toxicology, vol. 34, pp. 119-129.
