How much caffeine is in illy Espresso?

One shot (1 fl oz) of illy Espresso has 60 mg of caffeine.

That's about half a cup of brewed coffee, and 15% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Source: illy.com · checked 10 Nov 2026

When did you have it?

Had at 3 pm, about 21 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.

Bedtime

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Latest time to drink it

For an 11 pm bedtime, most people should finish one shot (1 fl oz) of illy Espresso by about 9:20 pm. The table works it out for other bedtimes and for how sensitive you are: it is the latest time to start one so that the caffeine left stays under the line all night.

Bedtime	Very sensitive under 25 mg	Average under 50 mg	Not very sensitive under 100 mg
9 pm	2:10 pm	7:20 pm	Any time
10 pm	3:10 pm	8:20 pm	Any time
11 pm	4:10 pm	9:20 pm	Any time
Midnight	5:10 pm	10:20 pm	Any time
1 am	6:10 pm	11:20 pm	Any time

For one shot (1 fl oz) of illy Espresso, average clearance (half-life 5 h), 8 hours of sleep. "Any time" means even one at bedtime stays under the line.

How long it lasts

The caffeine from one shot (1 fl oz) of illy Espresso peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 51 mg. Half of it is gone in about 5 hours for an average adult; that ranges from roughly 3 to 7 hours, and longer in pregnancy or with some medicines.

Time after	3 hours	6 hours	9 hours	12 hours
Still in you	42 mg	28 mg	18 mg	12 mg

So one had at 3 pm leaves about 21 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.

How it compares

Illy Espresso is stronger than 14% of the 22 coffees made at home we track, by caffeine per serving.

Per fluid ounce (60 mg) it is stronger than 89% of them.

To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 6½ of these.

Less caffeine

RYZE Mushroom Coffee 48 mg, 1 cup, medium roast
Nescafé Decaf Instant Coffee 15 mg, 12 fl oz cup
Decaf Coffee 2 to 15 mg, 8 fl oz cup

More caffeine

Instant Coffee 62 mg, 8 fl oz cup
Espresso 63 mg, Single shot
Iced Coffee 74 mg, 8 fl oz cup

FAQ

Is illy Espresso high in caffeine?

It is moderate. One shot (1 fl oz) of illy Espresso has 60 mg, which is 63% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.

Can I drink illy Espresso at night?

Earlier is better. Had at 7 pm, it leaves about 37 mg in an average adult at an 11 pm bedtime. The latest time for an 11 pm bedtime is about 9:20 pm.

How long does the caffeine in illy Espresso last?

It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 60 mg, about 28 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 12 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.

Does illy Espresso have more caffeine than Red Bull?

No. One shot (1 fl oz) of illy Espresso has 60 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.

Method and limits

The caffeine figure comes from illy.com; recipes, brewing and batches vary, so a real serving can differ. The curves use a standard one-compartment model with an average 5-hour half-life and a sleep-friendly line of 50 mg; your own body may clear caffeine faster or slower. How it works has the details.

These are estimates for information, not medical advice.