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How Much Caffeine Is in McDonald's Coffee? UK McCafé and US Sizes
How much caffeine is in McDonald's coffee? UK McCafé drinks use a double shot of Arabica espresso, roughly 90 to 140 mg (McDonald's UK doesn't publish mg). Frappés 47 to 189 mg. Plus US sizes.
The short answer
- McDonald's UK doesn't publish caffeine in mg for its coffee. It does say its latte, cappuccino, flat white and white coffee use a double shot of Arabica espresso, in regular and large.
- Based on that double shot, we estimate a UK McCafé milk coffee at roughly 90 to 140 mg. That's an estimate, not an official figure.
- McDonald's UK says its Iced Frappés have 47 to 189 mg, depending on size and flavour.
- In the US, a medium McCafé latte has about 142 mg and a medium brewed coffee about 145 mg.
McDonald's sells a lot of coffee in the UK and Ireland, from breakfast runs to motorway stops. But unlike Costa or Starbucks, it doesn't publish caffeine values. Its menu and nutrition calculator list calories, sugar and allergens, not mg of caffeine.
What McDonald's UK does tell you is how each drink is built. That's enough for a sensible estimate, as long as you treat it as one. Below we cover the UK first, then the US, where McDonald's has given caffeine figures to customers who asked.
McDonald's UK: what's in each McCafé drink
McDonald's UK describes its coffee as freshly ground Arabica beans from Rainforest Alliance certified farms. Here's how its menu describes each drink in 2026:
| Drink | Sizes | Espresso, per McDonald's UK | Estimated caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Single / double | 1 or 2 shots | 45–70 mg / 90–140 mg |
| White Coffee | Regular, Large | Double shot | 90–140 mg |
| Latte | Regular, Large | Double shot | 90–140 mg |
| Cappuccino | Regular, Large | Double shot | 90–140 mg |
| Flat White | One size | Double shot | 90–140 mg |
| Americano | Regular, Large | Not stated | Not known |
| Iced Frappé | Regular, Large | Coffee blended with ice | 47–189 mg (official) |
How we got the estimate. McDonald's UK doesn't say how much caffeine is in one of its shots. So we used two published Arabica shots as a range: Starbucks UK lists about 45 mg per shot in its 2026 guide, and McDonald's US told customers its espresso has about 71 mg. A double shot then comes to roughly 90 to 140 mg. Your cup could fall outside that range. If you need an exact number, for example in pregnancy, ask McDonald's customer services directly.
One useful detail: the menu descriptions for both the regular and the large latte, cappuccino and white coffee say "a double shot". If that's right, a large has more milk or water but about the same caffeine as a regular. That's similar to Starbucks UK, where a Tall and a Grande latte both have two shots. McDonald's doesn't describe the Americano's shots, so we can't estimate it.
McDonald's UK vs other UK coffee chains
Even at the top of our estimate, a McCafé latte (about 140 mg) has less caffeine than a Costa medium latte (200 mg), a Pret latte (180 mg) or a regular Caffè Nero latte (175 mg). It's closer to a Starbucks UK Tall or Grande latte (89 mg). If you want a milder coffee on the go, McDonald's is likely one of the gentler options, but without official numbers we can't rank it precisely. See Costa, Pret and Starbucks UK for their published figures.
McDonald's US caffeine by size
In the US, McDonald's doesn't publish caffeine either, but its customer service has given figures to Caffeine Informer, noting that some are estimates and can vary by store. US sizes are bigger: small 12 oz (355 ml), medium 16 oz (473 ml) and large 21 to 24 oz.
| Drink (US) | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Roast coffee | 109 mg | 145 mg | 180 mg |
| Latte, cappuccino, Americano | 71 mg | 142 mg | 178 mg |
| Mocha | 86 mg | 167 mg | 200 mg |
| Iced coffee | 133 mg | 200 mg | |
| Decaf coffee | 8 mg | 11 mg | 14 mg |
| Espresso (single / double) | 71 mg / 142 mg | ||
A large US McDonald's coffee has about 180 mg, which is a lot less than a large Dunkin' (about 300 mg) or a Starbucks Venti Pike Place (about 410 mg). See Dunkin' caffeine and Starbucks caffeine for those menus.
How McDonald's coffee compares to your daily limit
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency follows the European Food Safety Authority: up to 400 mg a day is safe for most healthy adults, and single doses of up to 200 mg. The NHS advises no more than 200 mg a day in pregnancy.
- Healthy adults (400 mg): even at the top of our estimate, two UK McCafé coffees (about 280 mg) fit with room to spare.
- Single dose (200 mg): one UK McCafé coffee is under it. A large frappé might be close.
- Pregnancy (200 mg): one UK McCafé coffee fits. Two might go over, depending on where in the range they fall, so count each as 140 mg to be safe.
For more on limits, see how much caffeine is too much, and for pregnancy, caffeine and pregnancy. If you need decaf, ask at the counter whether your restaurant serves it.
What a McDonald's coffee does to your sleep
With a typical 5.5-hour half-life, a 140 mg coffee takes about 8.5 hours to drop under 50 mg, the level most sleep research treats as low enough not to matter. A 90 mg coffee takes about 5 hours. So a UK McCafé latte at 3 pm is probably close to 50 mg by 11 pm, while a large US McDonald's coffee (180 mg) at the same time would leave about 65 mg.
Show as a table
| Half-life | 1 h | 3 h | 6 h | 9 h | 12 h | 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 h | 121 | 87 | 52 | 31 | 18 | 2 |
| 5.5 h | 125 | 99 | 68 | 46 | 32 | 7 |
| 7.5 h | 128 | 109 | 82 | 62 | 47 | 16 |
mg of active caffeine, hours after one 140 mg drink.
For cutoff times by drink, see when to stop drinking coffee before bed.
Try it with your own drinks
Pick your drinks, when you have them and your bedtime. Drag along the chart to see how much caffeine is in you at any hour.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in a McDonald's coffee in the UK?
McDonald's UK doesn't publish a figure. Its latte, cappuccino, flat white and white coffee use a double shot of Arabica espresso, which we estimate at roughly 90 to 140 mg. That's an estimate, not an official number.
How much caffeine is in a McDonald's latte?
In the UK, an estimated 90 to 140 mg for a regular or large, both of which McDonald's describes as a double shot. In the US, about 71 mg small, 142 mg medium and 178 mg large.
How much caffeine is in a McDonald's white coffee?
McDonald's UK makes white coffee with a double shot of espresso, milk and hot water, in regular and large. We estimate roughly 90 to 140 mg; McDonald's doesn't publish a figure.
How much caffeine is in a McDonald's flat white?
An estimated 90 to 140 mg. McDonald's UK describes it as a double shot of espresso with steamed milk.
Do McDonald's frappés have caffeine?
Yes. McDonald's UK says its Iced Frappés contain 47 to 189 mg of caffeine, depending on size and flavour. In the US, a small mocha frappé has about 100 mg.
How much caffeine is in a large McDonald's coffee in the US?
About 180 mg in a large Premium Roast, according to figures McDonald's customer service gave Caffeine Informer. A medium has about 145 mg and a small about 109 mg.
Is McDonald's coffee strong?
Not compared with most coffee chains. Even at the top of our UK estimate, a McCafé latte has less caffeine than a Costa, Pret or Caffè Nero latte. In the US, McDonald's brewed coffee is lighter than Dunkin' or Starbucks at the same size.
Sources
- McDonald's UK. Menu descriptions for Latte, White Coffee, Cappuccino, Flat White and Americano, checked October 2026 (double shot of Arabica espresso; regular and large).
- McDonald's UK. Do Iced Frappés contain caffeine?, May 2018 (0.047 g to 0.189 g per drink).
- Starbucks UK. Nutrition & Allergen Guide, Summer Beverages, July to September 2026 (Arabica espresso shot about 45 mg).
- Caffeine Informer. How much caffeine is in McDonald's coffee?, updated November 2023 (US figures obtained from McDonald's customer service).
- NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy (caffeine: no more than 200 mg a day).
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine. EFSA Journal, 2015 (400 mg a day, 200 mg single dose, 200 mg in pregnancy).
General wellness information, not medical advice. If you're pregnant, have a heart condition, or take medication that affects caffeine, check your limits with a doctor.