What Is the World’s Strongest Brand of Coffee? [SECRET REVEALED]

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Are you the kind of person who needs a little extra caffeine kick in the morning to get things started on the right foot? Maybe you’ve been drinking coffee so long that more caffeine is needed for the same effect as a smaller amount used to bring on. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a huge boost to your morning to get going before work or you want to get pumped up for a night shift, there are several coffee brands that capitalize on offering coffee with extra caffeine.

You might think you know which coffee is the strongest brand, but many people are surprised by the actual reality. Today we are going to look at what the strongest brands are and what to expect from each of them. We’ll also look into the science of what makes a coffee strong and what factors go into the amount of caffeine in your mug each morning.

What Makes Coffee Strong Compared to Other Coffee

The first thing we want to do is talk about what strength is when we’re referring to coffee. In most cases, strength is determined by one of two things, either the amount of caffeine that is in the cup of coffee or the level of roast on the coffee beans. We want to take a look at each of those things and how they factor in when you are making your own coffee at home.

Specific Beans Have Higher Levels of Caffeine

There are many different things that determine the chemical composition of coffee beans. The amount of caffeine and the flavor compounds found in a coffee bean will depend on everything from the species of the bean to the soil type and the altitude that it is grown at.

There are two primary species of coffee grown around the globe. These include Coffea Arabica and Coffea Canephora (which is also known as Robusta). On an average basis, a Robusta bean has about 2.1% caffeine while Arabica beans have 1.2% caffeine content. That means that the Robusta bean has nearly twice as much caffeine by default.

However, this is also why Robusta is considered the lower quality and most inexpensive coffee beans. Because caffeine is in a higher amount and offers a bitter taste, the flavor profile of Robusta is more bold than mellow. On the other hand, Robusta coffee is often a great choice for espresso or dark roast beans.

The species is only one of the factors that have an effect on caffeine level, however. The region the beans are grown also is important to consider. For instance, some Arabica beans are going to have more caffeine than others will. When it comes to coffee companies that look to make blends with the most caffeine, they often test beans from all over the world to find the ones that fit their needs.

Roast Level Doesn’t Relate to Strength

A lot of people think roast level equals strength, which is a logical assumption. You might think that a light roast is going to be weaker and less rich than a dark roast is going to be. However, that actually isn’t true. The strength of a coffee has nothing to do with the roast. In fact, in some cases, a light roast coffee may have more or just as much caffeine as a darker roast.

While a light roast coffee looks less intense and has a brighter taste, it also offers a bigger punch of caffeine and stimulates your nervous system to a higher degree. If that seems strange, there is a reason for it to be true. A coffee that is light roasted is only roasted for a short time. That means the large amounts of caffeine that are present in the green bean are largely kept in the final cup of coffee.

When a bean is roasted for a longer period of time, this offers a deeper flavor and a darker color of coffee. However, it also removes more of the caffeine that is naturally occurring. It can do the same with the flavor compounds, as well. This is why a light roast often has more caffeine and a more floral and complex flavor associated with it.

Type of Brew Is Where It Counts

While the flavor of the coffee that you drink every day is largely determined by the roasting process, the person making the coffee is the person who controls the strength. When you use a larger number of beans per cup of drip coffee or espresso, you get coffee with a bigger kick. It’s as simple as that.

With that said, brewing with a huge ratio of beans to water isn’t always going to create coffee that tastes any good and it may even create a cup of joe that is dangerous to drink. Because of that, it’s a better choice to choose beans with a higher caffeine content instead. The recipe and brewing method that you decide to work with are going to guide you on the ratio of beans to water that is must ideal.

For example, cold brew coffee requires a much higher amount of grounds than other brewing methods. The extraction process is less effective with this method, so more coffee is required to be used. On the other hand, making espresso uses most of the flavor compounds in a bean, so fewer beans are needed for a strong cup of coffee.

The Size of Your Grind Matters

This goes along with the things we just talked about. When you choose a grind that is finer than average, that results in a greater density of caffeine and flavor compounds. Choosing the correct grind size is one of the simplest ways to control how strong your coffee will be, but there are some limits to it. As an example, pour-over and French press coffee are suited best to coarse or medium ground beans. With a grind that is finer, the extraction takes longer, which can lead to a coffee that is over-extracted and bitter. In addition, with French press coffee, fine grounds can get out of the plunger and end up in your cup.

There are exceptions to the rule, though. Espresso is one of the only brewing methods in which a fine grind is actually the preferred option. When it comes to espresso, the strength can be emboldened by grinding the beans more finely than normal. This is an aspect that you can experiment with until you find the intensity level that you enjoy the most.

Strength Is Difficult to Define

Defining what strong coffee is can be more challenging than you might think. While a dark roast has a bold and rich taste, the longer period of roasting can lead to coffee with much less caffeine content compared to a lighter roast.

When you look at things scientifically, a light roast is often going to be stronger in terms of caffeine, but when it comes to the person drinking the coffee, it might not seem that way. You also need to realize that many of the coffees that are marketed as being strong are nothing more than espresso or dark roast beans.

The good news is that this isn’t always the case. There are a few coffee companies that are interested in offering the highest caffeine content in their coffee. If you are looking for the strongest coffee on the market, we want to share a few of them with you. However, this coffee can be very strong and is only for those who can handle a high level of caffeine. A health professional should be consulted before consuming any of these coffees. Being aware of your limits is important for safety.

Black Label – Devil Mountain Coffee Company

The absolute most caffeinated coffee that we are aware of comes to us from Devil Mountain Coffee Company. Their Black Label coffee has a caffeine content of 1,555 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces when brewed. The exact blend of beans isn’t mentioned by the company, but they are among the most caffeinated that can be found in the entire world.

This coffee might be the most dangerous brand in the world, and it has really taken over the competition when it comes down to solely caffeine. This is a coffee that should only be consumed in a very cautious manner. Only those who have a high tolerance level to caffeine and low sensitivity to the caffeine molecule should make a cup of this for their morning beverage.

The instructions for this coffee explain that you should use 2 ½ tablespoons of ground coffee for every six inches of water. That means a 12-ounce cup will use five tablespoons of coffee. This is the most standard size of a mug so it gives you an idea of just how potent this coffee can be.

Another thing that this brand has going for it is that it’s certified organic. Those who don’t necessarily want a blend that is this intense will also find that Devil Mountain has other blends available with less caffeine.

Very Strong Coffee – Great British Trading

Great British Trading brings the most caffeinated cup of coffee in the United Kingdom with their Very Strong Coffee blend. This blend is 100% Robusta and has 1,350 milligrams of caffeine per 12 fluid ounces when brewed.

The instructions for this coffee ask you use to five tablespoons of coffee per 12 ounces of water. You can adapt that to your own taste, however. Those who drink a moderate amount of caffeine will notice that the caffeine level is many times what would be in a typical cup.

This coffee is roasted on the darker side and does have a distinct flavor due to being roasted from Robusta beans rather than Arabica beans, which are the most commonly available on the market. Even those who find Arabica the better choice will find this coffee enjoyable to drink, it just has a larger pop of flavor. While may of the top caffeinated coffees taste bitter, this option is fairly smooth.

You can expect a huge caffeine boost from a cup of Very Strong Coffee, and you may notice a crash that is larger than normal. The coffee is extremely strong and well-made but is best used by those who are very tolerant to caffeine or who have low caffeine molecule sensitivity.

High Voltage Coffee

Are you looking for the strongest coffee in Australia? You are going to want to go with this coffee in a white and black bag by High Voltage Coffee Company. Based on lab reports by Australia’s National Measurement Institute, no other coffee hits the caffeine maximum like this one does. It contains 1,150 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce cup.

This coffee is marketed for “serious coffee lovers,” and promise a smooth, strong, but never bitter aftertaste to keep you going through the whole day. The beans used by the company are premium and carefully selected and roasted in order to ensure each batch of the coffee is strong and tasty without being overly bitter or unpalatable.

On top of that, the beans are 100% natural with no artificial ingredients or additives, which is something to matters to many. The coffee beans are guaranteed to stay fresh and be delivered to your home within only a few days of roasting. This brand is also in the works with making Nespresso pods, so that option will be available in the future.

Maximum Charge – Cannonball Coffee

Maximum Charge has nearly the same amount of caffeine as High Voltage above. It has 1,101 milligrams in every 12-ounce mug of brewed coffee. The coffee is marketed as “strong coffee for strong people” and is the second strongest coffee that comes out of the United Kingdom. Rather than relying on gimmicks like bags with skulls or biohazard symbols, the brand focuses on single-origin beans with a huge caffeine content.

If you’re the type of person who does things big or not at all, or you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning, this is the coffee that promises to do something about it. It’s marketed as the strongest coffee in the world, as are most of these coffees, but it at least falls into the top rankings of the truth when looking solely at caffeine.

What this brand does differently is offer a great flavor along with that caffeine burst. The coffee is created using single-origin specialty-grade Robusta beans that come from Rwanda. The beans are then taken and roasted to a medium level in small batches. The coffee has a smooth taste with hints of malt and dark chocolate. It’s also created to have a limited acidity, so it’s gentler on your stomach than other options.

The company itself says that drinking more than a cup of coffee a day is not recommended due to the large amounts of caffeine in this coffee. It can be ordered in bags of various sizes in fine, medium, or coarsely ground, as well as whole bean form. There is also a subscription service available for those who don’t want to run out.

Biohazard Coffee

Never heard of Biohazard Coffee? You aren’t alone, but if you enjoy a large boost of caffeine in your cup, it’s time you were introduced. This coffee was lab tested by Caffeine Informer and shown to offer 928 milligrams per 12 ounces cup. That’s more than you are recommended to drink on a daily basis in total by two in a single serving.

Biohazard Coffee used all Robusta beans and the coffee claims to “leave you feeling invincible, obtain non-stop productivity, enjoy sleepless nights, partake in all-nighter study sessions, and become unstoppable.” That definitely sounds like a tall order and for those who want the most caffeine, this could be a good option. However, you should also be careful when consuming it.

This coffee can be purchased in whole bean and pre-ground form in bags that range from one to five pounds. If you are expecting a bitter and strong taste from the coffee, you aren’t going to find it, though. While it has plenty of caffeine, it has a bland taste rather than a bold one as might be expected.

Keep in mind that it will taste almost like a regular dark roast, which means you should remember exactly how much caffeine is in your cup. It can be easy to forget and consume too much, which can be dangerous for your health.

Death Wish Coffee

If you are a coffee lover who keeps up on what’s going on in the coffee world, the brand on this list you are most likely to have heard of is Death Wish. This brand is the best known when it comes to strong coffee in the United States as well as some areas abroad. One of the reasons it is so well-known is because of the winning of a free Super Bowl advertisement in 2016 in a competition that came between various small businesses. Once that aired, the coffee company has seen its beans fly off the shelves.

As with many other of the coffees on the list, this one claims it is the strongest one out there. However, what it actually offers is 728 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce mug. Keep in mind, as mentioned earlier, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has noted that the safe limit for caffeine consumption in a single day is 400 milligrams a day and this is well over that mark. This coffee comes in both one and five-pound bags.

This is a company that isn’t offering up the information about what coffee beans are used in its blend, but the brand does say that it does serious testing on every sourced batch to be sure the caffeine content is where it should be. The taste of a cup of Death Wish Coffee is strong, but it isn’t overly bitter and doesn’t taste unpleasant. The name might make you think it would taste awful, but that is simply not the case.

Black Insomnia Coffee

Another coffee with a name that makes it sound lethal and with the caffeine content to back it up is Black Insomnia Coffee. This is one of the strongest coffees out there, but it doesn’t take the top spot. However, there has been a strong rivalry between this brand and Death Wish, which tells you everything you need to know. Black Insomnia has been quick to note that it is stronger than the other brand. While scientifically proving strength is a tough challenge, both are up there in terms of intensity.

In what might be a surprise, this coffee was just introduced to South Africa recently. However, it has almost immediately gained a following overseas due to a fantastic online presence. Some people may find the claims that it’s stronger than Death Wish to be distasteful, but it also says a lot for those who want the biggest caffeine punch they can get before a long day or a night spent studying.

The minimalist packing with Black Insomnia is clear on what the coffee is going for. That said, much like its biggest competitor, it doesn’t have a taste that is much different than any other brew. It has a bit of bitterness and is quite strong, but it isn’t overwhelming in the way you might expect. It has a dark roast with a sweet and nutty flavor that is unique to a regular espresso or dark roast.

This coffee offers 702 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounce cup. The type of beans used aren’t officially disclosed, but it’s believed that the blend is largely made of various Robusta beans. In addition to coming in a pound bag, this coffee also comes in Nespresso capsules in packs of 10 or 50.

Sons of Amazon

Another coffee that claims to be the United Kingdom’s strongest (but also fairest) coffee is Sons of Amazon. This coffee has 660 milligrams of caffeine in a brewed 12-ounce cup and is made using ethically sourced coffee beans that come from the Amazon region. The coffee is made to offer an intense and rich flavor with a silky crema and next to no bitterness.

There are three different options available when purchasing coffee from Sons of Amazon. This makes it easy to choose an option based on how you prefer to make your coffee every morning. It comes in a Rocky Grind which is ideal for home filter machines and cafeterias with each bag offering about 55 servings. There is the dust grind which is best for espresso machines and stovetops that comes in the same size.

Those who prefer to use whole beans to do their own grinding can choose the Just the Beans option for any coffee machine or brewing method. This brand also offers a sampler pack for those who prefer to try a small amount of the coffee before committing to a larger bag. This coffee is sold on Amazon and Prime members can have it in less than 24 hours.

Killer Coffee

Killer Coffee is a super caffeinated coffee brand that comes out of Australia, something that makes it fairly unique. This isn’t another brand that promises to be the most powerful on the market, which is also different from many of the other coffees you can choose from. That said, the coffee packs in 645 milligrams of caffeine into a 12-ounce mug of coffee, which is far more than your average cup.

This coffee markets itself as quite strong but also manages to be a fresh and tasty cup of joe on top of that. This can be seen in its various options for purchase which range from a regular 16-ounce bag of whole bean coffee to AeroPress bundles and more. The coffee doesn’t specify what beans are in the blend, but it’s believed that it contains a mixture of Arabic and Robusta which are combined together.

This coffee is an extremely dark roast, so be sure that’s something you’re interested in if you decide to purchase it. However, the flavor is unique in that the bitterness isn’t overly pronounced. The coffee has a strong but mellow flavor that many will enjoy when combined with the large amount of caffeine.

Gunpowder Coffee

Gunpowder Coffee only has a milligram less caffeine per 12-ounce cup than the offering from Killer Coffee. It is another brand that says it is the most caffeinated coffee in the world, although that isn’t completely accurate as you can guess by now.

There isn’t a lot of information available about this coffee, but the brand claims to be for people who love caffeine but also love coffee that tastes amazing. The coffee is made from the finest beans in South America after a year and a half of testing to find what those are. The coffee is said to offer flavorful, good tasting, smooth coffee with a big jolt of caffeine.

This coffee comes in bags of one pound and the signature blend is kept fresh using a bag that is resealable. Those who want a coffee they can grind on their own might want to forget about this one, though, as it only comes in a ground form or in K-Cup style. For those who are okay with that, it might be worth trying.

The brand has a guarantee that “Our coffee speaks for itself – give it a try today! If this isn’t the best tasting high-caffeine coffee you’ve ever had, we will give you a refund, no questions asked.” That’s a nice sign that at least you can give the brand a try without wasting money if it doesn’t turn out to be your favorite.

Banned Coffee

You may have heard of Banned Coffee as one of the strongest coffees on the market, but you might be surprised to find that it doesn’t quite hit the mark compared to the ones we’ve already looked at so far. However, just because it doesn’t offer double or triple the daily recommended maximum of caffeine doesn’t mean it’s not worth having on the list. For a 12-ounce serving, it offers 474 milligrams of caffeine.

Banned Coffee has a strange marking and communication approached compared to some of the other brands here. The company makes the claim that this coffee is the most powerful available on the market while also saying that it’s extremely high-quality. It can be hard to do both right and most people are looking for one over the other, which can cause a bit of confusion about the brand.

This coffee is a blend of Robusta and Arabica and comes in sizes ranging from 10 ounces all the way to two pounds. The brand comes in coffee pods, whole beans, K-Cups, and pre-ground coffee bean. It’s a medium to dark roast blend with extra Robusta for the caffeine content. While it does offer a big kick of caffeine, it’s not the craziest option on the list.

Shock Coffee

Shock Coffee doesn’t offer a specific promise of what the caffeine level is, but it does boast about the fact that the coffee is 50% stronger than traditionally brewed coffee. Putting it on the list seems like the right thing to do to offer all the options you have, but without the numbers, it’s hard to rank this brand with the others.

The brand bills its coffee as “the most potent, butt-kicking blend of coffee beans ever assembled.” The beans used aren’t disclosed, but the company does note that both Robusta and Arabica beans are in the coffee to offer a caffeinated coffee that tastes good at the same time. It’s going to be up to you to determine if that’s true or not.

The good thing is that there are all sorts of options with this brand. Their online website sells K-Cups, whole bean coffee, ground coffee, and trial size coffee so you can try a small amount before going for a larger bag. The K-Cups come in 12, 24, 36, 72, 144 and a small three count size. Ground coffee can come in everything from a one-pound bag to five pounds along with trial sizes and combination packages.

High Voltage – Bone’s Coffee Company

Yep, there’s a second coffee out there called high voltage and it’s also one of the top caffeinated options on the market. This is another brand that doesn’t disclose the exact amount of caffeine in a cup, but it promises two times what is in a traditional cup. It also claims to be the best tasting and strongest coffee you will ever put to your lips.

This coffee comes in 12-ounce bags and can be ground or in whole bean form, depending on your preference. The coffee is branded to be smooth, rich, and full in flavor without the bitterness common with extra caffeine. The coffee is all roasted to order, so it shows up to your door fresh and ready to enjoy. The orders typically go out in one or two days.

Atomic Coffee – Boca Java Coffee

Atomic Coffee is offered by Boca Java Coffee and offers extra caffeinated coffee for a morning beverage treat. There are three flavors to choose from, including Cinna-buzz, Java Blast, and Peanut Butter Bomb. There is also a three-pack available for those who want to try the entire assortment or mix and match flavors from one morning to the next.

The Cinna-buzz option includes coffee from Nicaragua and Jinotega with Mundo Novo, Bourbon, and Catura varieties. The coffee is grown at an altitude of 1,400 to 1,600 meters and is processed with a blend of wet and dry methods. It has a cinnamon aroma, a heavy body, and plenty of complexity.

The Java Blast comes from the same area and uses the same processing and altitude levels but has a sweet taste, smooth and complex flavor, and a heavy body. Peanut Butter Bomb tastes of milk chocolate and peanut butter with the same specifications as the other two coffees. All of the coffees come as the whole bean or already ground. There is also a coffee club available for those who want to subscribe to save money over time.

Wrapping Up

If you want some serious caffeine added to your morning, the 14 options above should meet your needs. Keep in mind that you need to be aware of how much caffeine you are ingesting every day and be aware of your limits. For some that might mean a less caffeinated version is the healthier option to one with three times the recommended daily limit. Experiment and have fun out there!

Bonus Questions:

1. How strong is Death Wish coffee?

The Death Wish company calls their coffee the strongest in the world, although that might not be entirely accurate. The roasting process and blend of beans are credited for the caffeine content in each cup, which adds up to 59 milligrams per ounce. That’s pretty substantial when a traditional cup of coffee usually has around 12 to 16 milligrams of caffeine per ounce.

2. How much caffeine will kill you?

The average lethal amount of coffee for most is about 10 grams, but this can vary pretty widely. As an idea of how much caffeine that is, the typical cup of joe has 100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine, while a soda might have less than 70, and an energy drink has anywhere from 50 to over 300 milligrams.

3. Why is Starbucks coffee so strong?

Starbucks coffee does taste strong, but it also has a taste many describe as burnt or bitter. The reason for this flavor may be because the beans are roasted at a higher temperature than most beans are. This makes it possible to produce more roast coffee in a shorter period of time.

4. What brand of coffee does McDonald’s use?

You might be surprised to learn that the coffee from McDonald’s is gourmet and supplied by Gavina. The beans are Arabica and grown in Costa Rica, Brazil, Guatemala, and Colombia. The restaurant uses a medium blend rather than a dark or light one.

5. Does espresso taste like coffee?

Espresso is just coffee; espresso is simply the method that creates the shot or beverage. However, espresso has a more concentrated coffee taste and often more acidity than the average cup of coffee.

6. Is dark roast coffee bad for you?

In truth, there are many perks to drinking a dark roast over a lighter one. Dark roast coffee has been shown to be better at reducing body weight and restoring the amount of glutathione and vitamin E in blood cells in healthy research volunteers.

7. Is instant coffee bad for you?

The coffee in instant coffee has the same number of antioxidants as a traditional cup but less caffeine and more acrylamide. Instant coffee is a low-calorie, healthy beverage that has the same health benefits as any other kind of coffee.

8. Can you eat coffee beans?

Coffee beans can be consumed, but you should watch the amount. These beans are filled with caffeine and antioxidants, which can lower your risk of several diseases and offer an energy boost. However, some of them also have side effects. Beans covered in chocolate might have excess sugar, fat, and calories.

9. Can dogs have coffee beans?

Absolutely not. Cats and dogs should never be fed coffee beans or given coffee to drink. Pets are more sensitive to caffeine and it can be toxic to them. While small amounts may not cause poisoning, too much can lead to death.

10. Why is it called Americano?

Caffe Americano is Italian for nothing more than American coffee. It’s believed that this term may have originated back in World War II when United States soldiers stationed in Italy would add hot water to espresso to create something closer to the coffee they were used to.