If you know anything about coffee, you know that a regular cup of black gold will give you a decent energy boost and improve your focus for a few hours. With a mere 60 to 80 milligrams per 8-ounce cup, however, brewed coffee is rather tame in comparison to most energy drinks. Some coffee brands are fighting to win back the title of “Most Caffeinated” beverage. One is High Voltage Coffee, a so-called “extremely caffeinated” coffee brand from Australia.
The company’s goal is simple; create the strongest cup of coffee possible. Every 12-ounce serving contains 1150 milligrams of caffeine, the equivalent of 16 cups of regular brewed coffee! That’s an amount of caffeine referred to as “dangerous” by health experts. Indeed, this is a cup of coffee for those who truly know their caffeine limits. Want to learn more about High Voltage Coffee and the trend to make the most caffeinated cup of coffee on the planet? If so, grab a cup of your favorite brew and read on!
How Much Caffeine Do Highly Caffeinated Brands Contain?
High Voltage Coffee, as mentioned earlier, is one of a special breed of new coffee brands endeavoring to deliver brewed coffee with the highest level of caffeine per cup. It’s an interesting goal and has its fair share of enthusiasts. Extremely caffeinated coffee has plenty of critics, many of whom argue that drinking massive amounts of caffeine quickly is risky and raises several health concerns.
The average American ingests 135 milligrams of caffeine daily, equivalent to 1.5 cups or 12 ounces of brewed coffee. Also, the U.S. FDA sets the daily “safe” limit of caffeine at 400 milligrams, equal to about 4 cups of java.
Neither of those numbers comes close to High Voltage Coffee’s 1150 milligrams. That is a massive amount of caffeine equal to 13 cups of regular, brewed black coffee. And remember, High Voltage Coffee isn’t even the highest! That distinction is bestowed on Devil Mountain Coffee Company’s Black Label coffee with 1,555 mg of caffeine per serving.
The Concern Is How Quickly You Drink It
Now, you might say, what’s the big deal? Some people drink coffee all day and seem to show no ill effects. However, the concern among health experts is that, with 1,150 milligrams in a single cup of High Voltage Coffee and other extremely caffeinated brands, you get all that caffeine in seconds, not hours. Depending on a person’s size, age, and experience with coffee, that amount of caffeine could be risky. In short, if you’re going to enjoy a cup of extremely caffeinated coffee, make sure you know what you’re doing and can handle your caffeine like a seasoned coffee pro.
Caffeine Content
High Voltage Coffee, as we now know, contains a lot of caffeine. The company, however, isn’t alone and isn’t the first “extremely caffeinated” coffee brand. Several were released to the market before High Voltage, and several since, and more will undoubtedly arrive as the trend continues. How does High Voltage Coffee stack up to the other “extremely caffeinated” brands? To find out, take a look at the chart below.
| Extreme Caffeine Brand | Caffeine Content (12 oz) |
| High Voltage Coffee | 1,150 mg |
| Devil Mountain Coffee Company – Black Label | 1,555 mg |
| Great British Trading – Very Strong Coffee | 1,350 mg |
| Devil’s Brew Extreme Caffeine Coffee | 1,325 mg |
| Black Insomnia | 1,105 mg |
| Maximum Charge – Cannonball Coffee | 1,101 mg |
| Biohazard | 928 mg |
| Death Wish Coffee | 728 mg |
| Sons of Amazon (UK) | 660 mg |
| Killer Coffee | 645 mg |
| Gunpowder Coffee | 644 mg |
| Fire Department Coffee | 500 mg |
| Banned Coffee | 474 mg |
| GymBrew Renegade | 330 mg |
Caffeine Content High Voltage Coffee vs Energy Drinks
The chart below will give you an idea of the massive difference between High Voltage Coffee and some of today’s most popular and highly caffeinated energy drinks.
| Energy Drink | Caffeine Content |
| High Voltage Coffee | 1,150 mg |
| Redline Xtreme | 316 mg |
| Spike Hardcore Energy | 350 mg |
| Bang Energy | 300 mg |
| Celsius | 300 mg |
| C4 Energy | 300 mg |
| Rockstar Energy Drink | 260 mg |
| 5-Hour Energy | 200 mg |
| NOS Energy Drink | 160 mg |
| Red Bull | 110 mg |
| Monster Energy Drink | 90 mg |
Caffeine Content High Voltage Coffee vs Coffee Drinks
If you love your coffee—and who doesn’t —you know more or less how much you need to drink to get the energy and concentration boost coffee provides. That’s valuable information if you’re keen on trying High Voltage Coffee or one of the other extremely caffeinated coffee brands. If you’re unsure of your tolerance level, the chart below will give you an idea of what you’re up against.
| Coffee Drink | Caffeine Content |
| High Voltage Coffee | 1,150 mg |
| Cold Brew Coffee | 155 mg |
| Flat White Coffee | 130 mg |
| Iced Coffee | 120 mg |
| Latte | 80 mg |
| Cappuccino | 75 mg |
| Espresso | 75 mg |
| Frappuccino | 65 mg |
| Instant Coffee | 63 mg |
| Regular Brewed Coffee | 60—80 mg |
About Extremely Caffeinated Coffee
Most extremely caffeinated coffee is brewed with Robusto beans since they’re higher in caffeine content. These are coffees made for those who know how to handle their caffeine and should be drunk with great care by those with caffeine sensitivities.
Fun Facts about Extremely Caffeinated Coffee
2013 Saw the Release of the First Extremely Caffeinated Coffee
It was Death Wish Coffee, with 728 milligrams of caffeine per cup.
Most Extremely Caffeinated Coffee Is Made With Robusta Beans
Robusta beans contain 2.2 to 2.7% caffeine, while Arabica beans contain 1.2 to 1.5%.
The Strength of Most Extremely Caffeinated Coffees Is Registered As “Dangerous”
Remember, the FDA recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 400 milligrams.
All Extremely Caffeinated Coffee Brands Covet the Title “World’s Strongest Coffee”
It’s their raison d’être, or “reason to exist.”
Final Thoughts
High Voltage Coffee, while not the “world’s most caffeinated,” still packs a massive caffeine punch with 1,150 milligrams in a 12-ounce serving. That, in no uncertain terms, is more caffeine than most people can drink in 1 sitting. One thing is certain; if you’re going to enjoy a cup of High Voltage Coffee, do so only with a genuinely high tolerance for caffeine.
Featured Image Credit: M.Somchai, Shutterstock
