Ever Wonder How Much Caffeine is in the Average 20g Pour Over?
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At Frequent Coffee, we believe the more you understand your cup, the more you enjoy it. Coffee is not just a beverage — it is a decision about who you plan to be for the next few hours.
Why caffeine numbers matter
Caffeine gives coffee its edge, but taste alone cannot tell you how much you are actually drinking. A cup can be silky and sweet yet carry a serious total dose, while a darker tasting brew can deliver less than expected. Knowing the numbers lets you plan your day, enjoy more than one cup, and keep a steady mood and sleep routine. This guide explains how labs measure caffeine, what ends up in a classic V60 brewed with twenty grams of Arabica, and how that compares with decaf, so you can choose with confidence.
How labs measure caffeine
Caffeine is a natural alkaloid that coffee plants produce as a defense compound. Food science labs quantify it using chromatography — most often high-performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography. These instruments separate caffeine from other compounds and compare the signal against verified standards for accuracy. Roasters and decaffeination plants use the same methods for quality control and for verifying decaffeination claims [2].
Arabica versus Robusta at the green stage
Species matters. Arabica beans typically contain about zero point eight to one point four percent caffeine by weight, with one point two percent a practical midpoint. Robusta usually carries more, commonly above one point seven percent and often closer to two percent or higher. Frequent Coffee focuses on Arabica for clarity and sweetness, so the examples below use Arabica values [5].
The practical case — a V60 with twenty grams of Arabica
Twenty grams of Arabica at about one point two percent caffeine contains roughly two hundred forty milligrams in the dry dose. A classic V60 at about one to sixteen yields roughly three hundred to three hundred twenty grams of beverage in about three and a half minutes. Because caffeine is highly water-soluble, percolation brews transfer the vast majority of it early. Assuming a conservative recovery near ninety-two percent, the resulting cup lands around two hundred ten to two hundred thirty milligrams — consistent with nutrition database values and recent extraction research [2].
Caffeine personality table
| Coffee Choice | Who You Are Deep Down |
|---|---|
| Full caf V60 | I am calm and entirely fine while sending nine messages at once |
| Half caf | Chaos, but scheduled and reasonably optimistic |
| Decaf V60 | Enlightened — or just protecting tomorrow morning sleep |
If you love the ritual but want a gentler ride, explore our decaf lineup here: Frequent Coffee Decaf Collection.
How different brew methods compare in caffeine
| Brew Method | Dose | Approx Caffeine (mg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V60 pour-over regular Arabica | 20 g | ≈ 210 – 230 mg | High recovery [2] |
| French press regular | 20 g | ≈ 180 – 210 mg | Immersion style [2] |
| Double espresso regular | 18 g | ≈ 120 – 150 mg | Small volume, strong flavor [2] |
| V60 pour-over decaf Arabica | 20 g | ≈ 2 – 5 mg | Trace caffeine [1][3][4] |
| Double espresso decaf | 18 g | ≈ 1 – 3 mg | Less total beverage mass [1][3][4] |
Why the V60 extracts caffeine efficiently
The cone and spiral ribs encourage even flow while the paper filter maintains clarity. Caffeine dissolves rapidly compared with many aromatic compounds, so most of it moves into the cup early. Adjusting pour style changes taste far more than caffeine yield [2].
Regular versus decaf from the same recipe
Decaf coffee is simply coffee that has had caffeine removed before roasting. Swiss Water uses selective diffusion in pure water; Sugarcane (ethyl acetate) uses a natural solvent from fermented molasses to bind caffeine; and supercritical CO₂ uses pressure and carbon dioxide. All three remove caffeine while preserving sweetness and aroma. A twenty-gram decaf V60 typically yields only a few milligrams of caffeine [1][4][5].
Brewing guidance for consistent V60 results
Use a medium grind, filtered water near 200 °F, and a total brew time around 3½ minutes. Pour steadily and keep the bed flat. If drawdown is slow, grind coarser; if the cup tastes thin, grind finer. These tweaks affect flavor balance more than caffeine [2].
Helpful tools for home brewers
Frequently asked questions
Does lighter roast have more caffeine?
By mass the difference is minor. Caffeine is heat-stable; roast level affects flavor more than caffeine [2].
Why does a mug of filter coffee feel stronger than espresso?
Espresso is more concentrated per ounce, but a mug contains more total caffeine [2].
Can sensitive drinkers still feel decaf?
Some very sensitive people might, but for most adults two to five milligrams is negligible [1][3][4].
References
[1] McCusker RR, Goldberger BA, Cone EJ. Caffeine content of decaffeinated coffee. J Anal Toxicol. 2006;30(8):611–613. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17132260/
[2] Lindsey J et al. Caffeine content in filter coffee brews as a function of degree of roast and extraction yield. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:80385. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-80385-3
[3] Arnarson A. How Much Caffeine Is in Decaf Coffee? Healthline Nutrition. Updated 2023. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-in-decaf
[4] UC Davis Health. Does decaf coffee actually have caffeine? UC Davis Health specialist explains. Good Food Blog, 2019. https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/does-decaf-coffee-actually-have-caffeine-uc-davis-health-specialist-explains/2019/11
[5] National Coffee Association USA. Decaf Coffee: What You Need to Know. About Coffee Guide, 2023. https://www.aboutcoffee.org/beans/decaf-coffee/
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Medical Disclaimer: Information in this blog is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about caffeine intake and personal conditions.