What Soda Has the Most Caffeine?
Some people defy nature by rising before the sun. Others stay alert deep into the night. Regardless of your sleep-defying superpower, no one can escape the afternoon lazies.
If you’re not a fan of coffee, you might rely on soda to stop the yawns. But what soda has the most caffeine? And how much caffeine is safe to drink?
Crack open a can and read on to find out.
Key Takeaways: Highest Caffeine Soda
- Many, but not all, sodas contain caffeine.
- Pepsi Zero Sugar has the highest caffeine content amongst regular sodas.
- Zero Sugar sodas have more caffeine than regular sodas.
- The FDA recommends a caffeine limit of 400 mg per day for healthy adults.
What Soda Has the Most Caffeine?
The soda with the most caffeine is Pepsi Zero Sugar, containing 69 mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving. But this crowning comes with a caveat. (More on that in a bit.)
You can buy other sugary drinks with higher amounts of caffeine. But this puts you in the genre of caffeine-enhanced beverages and energy drinks.
Energy drinks like Red Bull, Bang or Celsius will always have more caffeine than soda.
In this article, we’re just talking about regular sodas.
After Pepsi Zero Sugar, the soda with the next highest amount of caffeine is Mountain Dew Zero Sugar — 68 mg per 12 oz can. Most varieties of Mountain Dew contain at least 54 mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving.
Soda Brands With the Highest Caffeine Content
In the eternal Pepsi vs Coke debate, Pepsi wins on caffeine content. Take a look at how many Pepsi products make up the top ten soda brands with the highest caffeine content.
- Pepsi Zero Sugar (12 oz): 0 calories, 69 mg of caffeine.
- Ski Soda (12 oz): 180 calories, 69 mg of caffeine.
- Mountain Dew Zero Sugar (12 oz): 0 calories, 68 mg of caffeine.
- Sun Drop Soda (12 oz): 170 calories, 64 mg of caffeine.
- doc Soda (12 oz): 150 calories, 60 mg of caffeine.
- Mountain Dew Major Melon (12 oz): 160 calories, 55 mg of caffeine.
- Mountain Dew Voltage (12 oz): 170 calories, 55 mg of caffeine.
- Diet Mountain Dew (12 oz): 0 calories, 54 mg of caffeine.
- Mountain Dew (12 oz): 170 calories, 54 mg of caffeine.
- Mountain Dew Baja Blast (12 oz): 170 calories, 54 mg of caffeine.
The only Coke soda that compares to these numbers is Coca-Cola With Coffee. This drink offers 79 mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving. A coffee lover’s energy drink, it relies on java to get that extra kick.
What else is surprising? The diet versions of regular soda typically have more caffeine. Most Zero Sugar sodas also have more caffeine than their regular counterparts.
Just look at Mountain Dew. Mtn Dew Zero Sugar has 68 mg compared to the 54 mg in a regular Mountain Dew.
And then there’s our reigning champ. Pepsi Zero Sugar has 69 mg of caffeine compared to regular Pepsi, which has 38.9 mg per 12 oz serving.
Remember I said there was a caveat? Pepsi will soon use a new recipe for this soda, reducing its caffeine content to that of regular Pepsi.
How Much Caffeine Is Safe To Consume?
According to the FDA, healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day.
This number is the equivalent of close to five cups of coffee.
Caffeine is a natural substance. You can find it in many popular foods and beverages like coffee, sodas, tea, and chocolate.
Remember, 400 mg of caffeine is a guideline. Tolerance for this stimulant will vary from person to person.
Consuming too much caffeine can cause unwanted side effects. You might experience symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, fast heart rate, and nausea. Even if you follow the FDA recommendations.
Your caffeine intake may vary depending on your diet, so it might be a good idea to aim for under 400 milligrams a day.
Understanding the caffeine levels in coffee can be tricky. But it’s easy to figure out the caffeine content of a soft drink or energy drink. Just check the nutritional facts label before sipping that Diet Coke.
It may also be a good idea to look at the amount of sugar. Your favorite soda or energy drink probably contains high levels of sugar.
For instance, a regular 12 oz Mtn Dew has 46 g of added sugars, which is 92% of the recommended amount for adults. The sugar consumed in sodas can increase the risk of obesity and chronic diseases.
Wrapping Up: What soda has the most caffeine?
Amongst regular sodas, Pepsi Zero Sugar contains the most caffeine. Gulping a 12 oz can of this soft drink gives you 69 milligrams.
Most healthy adults can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine per day. Too much caffeine can cause unpleasant side effects.
But caffeine isn’t the only ingredient in soft drinks. Want an energy-boosting drink without the high sugar content? It might be time to make the switch to coffee – the original energy drink!
