Flat white vs Cortado: caffeine compared
Flat white (12 oz) has 130 mg of caffeine, 4 mg more than Cortado (4 oz (2 shots), 126 mg) — 1.0× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Cortado is the stronger drink: 32 mg/oz versus 10.8 mg/oz.
| Flat white | Cortado | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 12 oz | 4 oz (2 shots) |
| Caffeine per serving | 130 mg | 126 mg |
| Per fl oz | 10.8 mg | 32 mg |
| Share of 400 mg/day | 32% | 32% |
| Servings to reach 400 mg | 3.1 | 3.2 |
| Hours until under 50 mg | 6.9 h | 6.7 h |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg) | 4:06 PM | 4:20 PM |
| Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg) | 11:06 AM | 11:20 AM |
| Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit | 65% | 63% |
One serving of each, over 16 hours
Common questions
Which has more caffeine, Flat white or Cortado?
Flat white (12 oz) has about 130 mg versus 126 mg in Cortado (4 oz (2 shots)): 4 mg more, or 1.0× as much.
Which is stronger per ounce, Flat white or Cortado?
Cortado: about 32 mg per fl oz versus 10.8 mg for Flat white. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.
How many Cortado servings equal one Flat white?
About 1.0 servings of Cortado (4 oz (2 shots)) match the caffeine in one Flat white (12 oz).
When should I stop drinking Flat white or Cortado before bed?
For an 11 PM bedtime with a 50 mg limit and a 5-hour half-life: last Flat white by 4:06 PM, last Cortado by 4:20 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 — Flat white: Starbucks — Flat White nutrition (Tall 12 oz), checked 2026-10-13.
Unverified — Cortado: Estimate: 2 × the USDA espresso shot (63 mg); no published figure. Treat 126 mg as a rough estimate.