Bean Type Matters, But Not A Ton

Arabica, which is the standard species of coffee plant, and far more prized as a source of quality coffee, typically has about 5 percent caffeine content. Among different arabica varietals, though, there are minor variations based on origin. Robusta beans, however, generally feature 2.4 percent caffeine. That said, robusta beans are generally known as tasting tar-like, which accounts for their use in low-quality, low-cost supermarket coffees.

Roasting Differences Help a Bit

Lighter roasted coffees have slightly more caffeine for two reasons. First, less roasting tends to preserve the compound untouched. The longer the roast, the more chemical transformation in the beans, including loss of caffeine. Second—and this is an odd point, because most of us measure our coffee by volume and not by weight when brewing—lighter roasted beans are denser, and therefore pack more bean per unit volume than darker roasts, which are far less dense.

The Brewing is All

Assuming you don't enjoy the taste of super-light roasted robusta beans, the best way to up your caffeine game is to think about how you brew (and how much you drink, of course). While espresso drinks have more caffeine per fluid ounce (80 milligrams in a 2-ounce serving), drip coffee has a standard unit of consumption (the "cup" versus the "shot") that's much greater (for example, a standard 12 ounce cup). So even though there's less caffeine in each ounce of brewed coffee, we generally end up drinking more of it.

Your Body Has Final Say

Everyone has a unique metabolism, so the physiological effects of caffeine vary by person and their current caffeine habits and tolerance. (This is why some people can drink a cup of coffee and go back to bed). Caffeine absorption also varies by the contents of your stomach; specifically, fats like those from the milk you might add to your brew are known to inhibit caffeine absorption.

If you just want to up your caffeine consumption and skip the real complexities, we recommend simply drinking more coffee (by volume and variety).

Whilst you're here are 6 reasons for making Clear Lake Coffee Roasters - CLCR - your go-to coffee roaster:


☕️ We are a local family-run business located in the heart of Clear Lake, Iowa.

☕️ We go to great lengths to find only the finest and ethically sourced coffee around, from the top 2% of coffee beans in the world.

☕️ We only source 100% certified Arabica coffee beans, carefully hand-selecting each coffee based on specific quality and taste attributes.

☕️ Our roasting process has been refined over the years and each roast profile is individually designed to complement the nuances of the coffee we source, from Cup of Excellence (COE) award-winning producers.

☕️ By roasting in smaller batches, we can ensure our coffee is ALWAYS fresh, in fact, we roast your coffee only after you place an order - the same day your order ships out.

☕️ At CLCR, we are dedicated to a single mission: the unyielding pursuit of coffee perfection in every cup.

We would give you more reasons, but rather than reading it's better if you visit our website, purchase a bag or two, and experience a unique caffeinated or half-caff journey for yourself 😊!
Explore goodness. Click. Buy. Smile.

Clear Lake City Park Beach - Named one of USA Today's top 50 Beaches in the United States.