Coffee, brewed vs Yerba mate: caffeine compared
Coffee, brewed (8 oz) has 95 mg of caffeine, 17 mg more than Yerba mate (8 oz, 78 mg) — 1.2× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Coffee, brewed is the stronger drink: 11.9 mg/oz versus 9.8 mg/oz.
| Coffee, brewed | Yerba mate | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 8 oz | 8 oz |
| Caffeine per serving | 95 mg | 78 mg |
| Per fl oz | 11.9 mg | 9.8 mg |
| Share of 400 mg/day | 24% | 20% |
| Servings to reach 400 mg | 4.2 | 5.1 |
| Hours until under 50 mg | 4.6 h | 3.2 h |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg) | 6:22 PM | 7:48 PM |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg) | 1:22 PM | 2:48 PM |
| Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit | 48% | 39% |
One serving of each, over 16 hours
Common questions
Which has more caffeine, Coffee, brewed or Yerba mate?
Coffee, brewed (8 oz) has about 95 mg versus 78 mg in Yerba mate (8 oz): 17 mg more, or 1.2× as much.
Which is stronger per ounce, Coffee, brewed or Yerba mate?
Coffee, brewed: about 11.9 mg per fl oz versus 9.8 mg for Yerba mate. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.
How many Yerba mate servings equal one Coffee, brewed?
About 1.2 servings of Yerba mate (8 oz) match the caffeine in one Coffee, brewed (8 oz).
When should I stop drinking Coffee, brewed or Yerba mate 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 Yerba mate by 7:48 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 — Yerba mate: CSPI caffeine chart (yerba mate, most brands), checked 2026-10-13. 40–80 mg per 6 oz, i.e. 53–107 mg per 8 oz; 78 mg sits inside that range. Published range 53–107 mg.