Healthy Limits of Coffee: How Many Shots of Espresso Is Too Much?

If you're a regular coffee drinker, you may have wondered: how many cups of coffee will kill you? Let's dive a little deeper and figure out how many shots of coffee are considered lethal and if as avid drinkers are cutting way too close.

Lethal and Healthy Limits

So How Many Shots of Espresso is Considered Lethal?

Taking about 76 to 156 shots of espresso in one day or 52 to 105 cups of coffee in one day can be lethal.

To reap the many benefits of coffee without risking side effects and/ or potential death, it is recommended that you drink no more than 6 espresso shots or 4 cups of coffee per day. In general, coffee consumption should be healthy because the concentration of caffeine per day will begin to affect the body if there are more than 15 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in the blood. The lethal dose, with a concentration of 80 to 100 mg/L can be fatal.

If you feel jittery after drinking one cup of coffee drinks, then it could mean that you've been consuming too much caffeine. Some people react differently than others to caffeine; however, there is an upper limit to how much caffeine one person can handle before they overdose.

Caffeine Toxicity And Symptoms

Caffeine toxicity occurs when too much caffeine accumulates in your system and causes adverse effects. Caffeine is a stimulant that has been linked to headaches, insomnia, nervousness, and even death. Consuming caffeinated beverages can also cause digestive issues if consumed in excess for a prolonged period of time.

High amounts of caffeine can create some common effects of caffeine toxicity or caffeine overdose. These are the common signs and symptoms of Caffeine Toxicity:

• Dizziness
• Fever
• Diarrhea (Upset stomach)
• Anxiety
• Heart Disease

Healthy Limits

The FDA recommends consuming no more than 400 milligrams of caffei­ne a day which is about 6 espresso shots. To get the health benefits while staying within the healthy limit, try to stick to less than that.

It's important to remember that caffeine tolerance varies from person to person. Your ability to drink coffee depends on factors like your weight, what you've eaten, and how sensitive to caffeine you are. If you have any questions about your caffeine intake or if you're concerned about your caffeine intake, ask your doctor.

Espresso vs Coffee

Which Has More Caffeine?

A cup of coffee has more caffeine than a single espresso coffee. An 8-ounce cup of drip coffee contains 116 milligrams of caffeine. In comparison, the same serving of French press coffee contains 223 milligrams. Your intake of caffeine concentrations is higher than you would think.

Espresso has way more caffeine than tea, but because of its smaller serving size, it contains less caffeine in coffee. And, do you only drink one 8-ounce cup of coffee in the morning? It's highly unlikely. It’s probably going to be a bigger cup and I bet you’re going to go back for another serving later in the day. So make sure to keep track of how many cups you have had. 

You may want to get ready for the catch: drinking a shot of coffee is a risky proposition for people who are sensitive to caffeine. You’ll feel a stronger jolt than usual since espresso intake is usually very quick. The caffeine kick would be more prominent

We usually drink a cup of coffee over the course of half an hour, which allows our bodies to gradually absorb the caffeine. A shot of espresso delivers a lot of caffeine in a short period of time, so you're going to feel the kick even faster.

How Much Caffeine Is in a Shot of Espresso?

One cup of coffee has 63 milligrams of caffeine content, according to Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition data. Regular coffee, by comparison, contains between 12 and 16 milligrams of caffeine per ounce, on average. One shot of espresso would vary depending on its size.

However, caffeine content would still be substantially different between different Arabica beans, variables, elevation, type of coffee beans, and even roast and shot volume. Some would even have different brew times.

Learn more about different types of beans in this blog!

Knowing Your Caffeine Limit

If you want to enjoy the delicious taste of espresso without risking any health issues, you might want to limit yourself to no more than six single espresso shots in a day. But how many shots will kill you? Drinking 156 shots of espresso or drinking 105 cups of coffee in one day could be fatal for some people. Fortunately, that’s an extremely high number that’s easily avoided, and you would still, enjoy drinking espresso.

Opening a Café Soon?

With this in-depth guide on the science of intake of coffee, you're ready to get started serving up tasty lattes and espressos to customers in your neighborhood. You can also check out this blog about opening cafes to get started. With Culinary Depot, you'll have all the tools you need to start a successful local business.

Loved this blog? You may want to check these other blogs as well!

• Cold Brew Vs Espresso: The Difference
• What Is A Mocha? How To Make It, History, And More
• What Is A Macchiato? Ways To Make It And More

Get in touch, and we'll help you get all the restaurant equipment you need to run your business!