There are many stories about coffee. Some are true, others are not. We check five well-known myths, using figures from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and a study on coffee and fluid balance.
Myth 1: dark roast is stronger
Dark roast coffee often tastes more intense, but that says little about the amount of caffeine. Per gram, there is hardly any difference in caffeine between light and dark roast coffee. Per scoop, a light roast may contain slightly more, because those beans are denser and more bean fits in a scoop. How strong your coffee is depends mainly on how much coffee you use.
Want to know what the roast level does change? Read more about roast levels.
Myth 2: espresso has more caffeine than filter coffee
Per milliliter, yes; per cup, no. An espresso is small, a cup of filter coffee is much larger. According to the EFSA, an average serving contains approximately this:
| Drink | Amount | Caffeine (average) |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 60 ml | ± 80 mg |
| Filter coffee | 200 ml | ± 90 mg |
Read more about the differences in filter coffee or espresso: which one is right for you?.
Myth 3: decaf is without caffeine
In decaf, most of the caffeine is removed, but not all. In the United States, at least 97% of the caffeine must be removed. So a small residue remains. That is much less than in regular coffee, but not zero.
Want to drink less caffeine? Read decaf can be delicious or check out our decaf coffees.
Myth 4: coffee dehydrates you
In one study, 50 men who were accustomed to 3 to 6 cups of coffee per day drank four 200 ml cups for three days. There was no difference in body water compared to the days they drank water. The researchers concluded that moderate coffee consumption hydrates similarly to water.
One caveat: the study was small, consisted only of men who already drank a lot of coffee, and according to reports in the trade press, it was partly funded by the coffee industry. Take it as a clue, not the final word.
Myth 5: specialty coffee is always light roast
Specialty coffee says something about quality, not roast level. Coffee that scores 80 points or more on the Specialty Coffee Association scale is what we call specialty. You can find it light, medium, and dark roast. Read more in what does 80+ on the bag mean?.
Summary
| Myth | What is true |
|---|---|
| Dark is stronger | Hardly any difference in caffeine per gram |
| Espresso has more caffeine | Per milliliter, yes; per cup, no |
| Decaf is without caffeine | A small residue remains |
| Coffee dehydrates | With moderate consumption, coffee hydrates similarly to water, according to one study |
| Specialty is light roast | Specialty is about quality, not roast level |
Ready to taste?
- Check out our specialty coffees in light, medium, and dark.
- Prefer less caffeine? Check out our decaf coffees.
- Read how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee.
