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Tim Hortons coffee vs McCafé coffee: caffeine compared

Tim Hortons coffee (14 oz (medium)) has 205 mg of caffeine, 96 mg more than McCafé coffee (12 oz, 109 mg) — 1.9× as much per serving. Per fluid ounce, Tim Hortons coffee is the stronger drink: 14.6 mg/oz versus 9.1 mg/oz.

Tim Hortons coffeeMcCafé coffee
Serving14 oz (medium)12 oz
Caffeine per serving205 mg109 mg
Per fl oz14.6 mg9.1 mg
Share of 400 mg/day51%27%
Servings to reach 400 mg2.03.7
Hours until under 50 mg10.2 h5.6 h
Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · standard (50 mg)12:49 PM5:23 PM
Last one for an 11 PM bedtime · sensitive (25 mg)7:49 AM12:23 PM
Share of the 200 mg pregnancy limit102%54%

One serving of each, over 16 hours

0501001502000h2h4h6h8h10h12h14h16h50 mg bedtime limitTim Hortons coffee · 205 mgMcCafé coffee · 109 mg

Common questions

Which has more caffeine, Tim Hortons coffee or McCafé coffee?

Tim Hortons coffee (14 oz (medium)) has about 205 mg versus 109 mg in McCafé coffee (12 oz): 96 mg more, or 1.9× as much.

Which is stronger per ounce, Tim Hortons coffee or McCafé coffee?

Tim Hortons coffee: about 14.6 mg per fl oz versus 9.1 mg for McCafé coffee. Serving size decides the total you actually drink.

How many McCafé coffee servings equal one Tim Hortons coffee?

About 1.9 servings of McCafé coffee (12 oz) match the caffeine in one Tim Hortons coffee (14 oz (medium)).

When should I stop drinking Tim Hortons coffee or McCafé coffee before bed?

For an 11 PM bedtime with a 50 mg limit and a 5-hour half-life: last Tim Hortons coffee by 12:49 PM, last McCafé coffee by 5:23 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 — Tim Hortons coffee: Tim Hortons R&D caffeine content sheet, Canada (May 2017), checked 2026-10-13. Original Blend, medium. Hosted copy of the Tim Hortons sheet; Canada only.

Unverified — McCafé coffee: McDonald's does not publish caffeine amounts. Treat 109 mg as a rough estimate.

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