About 63 mg a shot
A single shot of espresso has roughly 63 mg of caffeine; a double (doppio) about 125 mg. An 8 oz mug of brewed coffee, by contrast, has around 95 mg. So a single espresso is actually the lighter hit. See it ranked on the caffeine chart. (Typical averages; varies by bean, grind and shot size.)
The "espresso is stronger" myth
Espresso feels intense because it's concentrated — a lot of caffeine packed into one ounce, plus crema and bold flavour. But "strong" per ounce isn't the same as "more caffeine per serving." You sip ~1 oz of espresso versus ~8 oz of coffee, so the mug usually wins on total caffeine. Whether your morning drink is an espresso or a latte, what matters for sleep is the total — and the time.
What changes the number
- Single vs double — most café drinks (latte, cappuccino, flat white) use a double, so ~125 mg.
- Bean — robusta has roughly twice the caffeine of arabica.
- Shot size and extraction — a ristretto pulls less; a lungo more.
Espresso and your sleep
An afternoon double espresso still has a meaningful amount of caffeine onboard at bedtime. If you have espresso drinks past midday, check what's left when your head hits the pillow with the half-life calculator.
Put it into practice: see how many shots fit your daily caffeine limit — the calculator counts in espresso shots too.