Coffee, brewed vs Half-caff coffee: caffeine compared
Coffee, brewed (8 oz) has 95 mg of caffeine, 45 mg more than Half-caff coffee (8 oz, 50 mg) — 1.9× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Coffee, brewed is the stronger drink: 11.9 mg/oz versus 6.2 mg/oz.
| Coffee, brewed | Half-caff coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 8 oz | 8 oz |
| Caffeine per serving | 95 mg | 50 mg |
| Per fl oz | 11.9 mg | 6.2 mg |
| Share of 400 mg/day | 24% | 12% |
| Servings to reach 400 mg | 4.2 | 8.0 |
| Hours until under 50 mg | 4.6 h | already under |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg) | 6:22 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg) | 1:22 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit | 48% | 25% |
One serving of each, over 16 hours
Common questions
Which has more caffeine, Coffee, brewed or Half-caff coffee?
Coffee, brewed (8 oz) has about 95 mg versus 50 mg in Half-caff coffee (8 oz): 45 mg more, or 1.9× as much.
Which is stronger per ounce, Coffee, brewed or Half-caff coffee?
Coffee, brewed: about 11.9 mg per fl oz versus 6.2 mg for Half-caff coffee. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.
How many Half-caff coffee servings equal one Coffee, brewed?
About 1.9 servings of Half-caff coffee (8 oz) match the caffeine in one Coffee, brewed (8 oz).
When should I stop drinking Coffee, brewed or Half-caff coffee before bed?
For an 11 PM bedtime with a 50 mg limit and a 5-hour half-life: last Coffee, brewed by 6:22 PM, last Half-caff coffee by 11:00 PM. Half-life varies from about 1.5 to 9.5 hours between people.
Method
Caffeine per labeled serving, from the same drink table every calculator here uses (FDA/USDA reference amounts and manufacturer labels; see caffeine content of every drink). Brewed drinks vary batch to batch, so read these as typical values. Decay uses a 5-hour average half-life with a 45-minute absorption ramp; cutoff = bedtime − 5 h × log₂(dose ÷ limit). Percentages use the FDA's 400 mg/day figure for healthy adults and the 200 mg/day limit ACOG gives for pregnancy.
Source — Coffee, brewed: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy 171890), checked 2026-10-13. 40 mg per 100 g × 237 g (8 fl oz).
Source — Half-caff coffee: CSPI caffeine chart (Folgers 1/2 Caff), checked 2026-10-13. 60–80 mg per 12 oz brewed, i.e. 40–53 mg per 8 oz; 50 mg sits inside that range. Published range 40–53 mg.