How much caffeine is in a cup of mcdonalds coffee

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I found myself at McDonald’s yesterday drinking an iced coffee with friends, which got me wondering about how much caffeine is in McDonald’s iced coffee drinks?

The amount of caffeine in your cup of coffee depends on which particular drink you choose and what size it is, so I researched and discovered that McDonald’s does not report the caffeine content in drinks on its menu. It states the FDA does not require caffeine levels to be displayed to customers.

To find the answers I was looking for, I spoke with former Mcdonald’s baristas and performed online research. Here’s what I found.

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How Much Caffeine in Mcdonald’s Iced Coffee?

According to a former Mcdonald’s barista, a Mcdonald’s iced coffee contains 11.57 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce. A medium Mcdonald’s iced coffee contains 133 mg of caffeine, a large iced coffee from McCafe contains 200 mg, while the extra-large size contains 320 mg of caffeine.

A tall iced coffee (12 fl. oz) from Starbucks contains 120 mg of caffeine, and a venti size (24 fl. oz) contains 235 mg of caffeine. This comparison shows that Mcdonald’s iced coffee has a lower caffeine content than Starbucks iced drinks.

How Much Caffeine Is In a Mcdonald’s Large Iced Coffee?

There is 200 mg of caffeine in a Mcdonald’s large iced coffee (24 fl. oz). This is slightly lower than a typical large iced coffee drink containing 247.5 mg of caffeine or a venti size iced coffee from Starbucks, which has 235 mg of caffeine.

How Much Caffeine Is In a Small Mcdonald’s Iced Coffee?

There are 133 mg of caffeine in a small Mcdonald’s iced coffee (16 fl. oz), or 8.31 mg per fluid ounce, which is slightly lower than the caffeine content in small iced coffees from Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

How Much Caffeine Is In a McDonald’s Frappe?

There is 75 mg to 105 mg of caffeine in a Mcdonald’s frappe. The quantity of caffeine depends on the size of the frappe ordered. A small Mcdonald’s frappe (12 fl. oz) contains 75 mg of caffeine, while a large frappe (21-24 fl. oz) contains 130 mg of caffeine.

Does Mcdonald’s Have Decaf Iced Coffee Drinks?

Mcdonald’s does not have decaf iced coffee drinks on its menu, and there are no options to select a decaffeinated iced coffee drink. Customers can, however, order a regular decaf cup of coffee, Americano, Cappuccino, or McDonald’s Espresso as a substitute.

McDonald’s Caffeine Content For All Iced Coffee Drinks

A detailed breakdown of the caffeine content in McDonald’s iced coffee drinks is provided in the table below*.

*Mcdonald’s has not yet tested the caffeine levels in their drinks. Instead, they use USDA National Nutrient & Biological databases to assess caffeine in Mcdonald’s coffee. The actual caffeine levels may differ, which may also vary by location because different coffee beans may be used to make the brewed coffee.

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Alternatives To Iced Coffee That Have Less Caffeine

If you are craving a delicious, refreshing alternative drink to iced coffee that contains less caffeine per cup and other antioxidant or rehydrating qualities, then consider these healthier alternatives:

1. Iced tea provides iced drinks with less caffeine. A cup of tea contains approximately half the caffeine compared to a cup of coffee. Hence ice tea can help reduce your caffeine consumption.
2. Fruit juices contain less caffeine than coffee and have a higher energy density. They are also suitable for getting more nutrients from your foods.
3. Water is the best, most hydrating beverage and has absolutely no sugar! So get a glass of ice water when you want something refreshing but without that caffeine buzz.

People Also Ask

Can I Have McDonald’s Iced Coffee While Pregnant?

According to the ACOG, pregnant women can safely consume up to 200 mg of caffeine per day.

Therefore, while pregnant, you can have a medium or large McDonald’s iced coffee cup which contains 133 mg and 200 mg of caffeine, respectively.

Is McDonald’s Iced Coffee Real Coffee?

McDonald’s iced coffee is made with real coffee from 100% Arabica beans, which are grown and harvested sustainably by Rainforest Alliance Farms. Arabica beans are high in sugar, so they provide sweet-smelling coffee, not bitter like Robusta or other beans.

They also have antioxidant properties. The soft flavor in the Arabica beans is likely why McCafe chose this bean style. It appeals to many people.

McCafé Iced Coffee is an excellent drink for relaxing, refreshing, and concentrating. It is made from coffee that contains 100% Arabica beans which provide an excellent taste and no artificial flavors or additives.

If you enjoy a little more flavor, or variety, in your iced coffee, you have the choice of Chocolate (150 calories), Hazelnut (161 calories), and French Vanilla Sugar-Free syrup (0 calories).

Wrap Up

I certainly learned a thing or two researching the caffeine content in a cup of Mcdonald’s iced coffee, and I hope you have too!

In conclusion, a McDonald’s iced coffee contains 11.57 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, slightly lower than the reported caffeine levels of Starbucks and most other iced coffee drinks.

That said, McCafe does not actually test its coffee to measure caffeine levels. Instead, they use generic USDA databases to estimate the caffeine content in their coffee drinks. The amount of caffeine could be higher or lower than reported.

Read next: 7 Reasons Why Caffeine Doesn’t Affect You

I believe that Mcdonald’s does have intentions to start testing the actual caffeine levels of its coffee drinks; it will be interesting to compare these results with current estimations.

Mark

G'day from Australia! I'm Mark, the Chief Editor of Portafilter. I'm super passionate about everything coffee-related and love to spend endless hours mastering pulling the perfect shot on my Breville Barista Express. Follow on: Linkedin and Facebook.

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