How much caffeine is in mocha?
An 8 fl oz cup of mocha has 82 mg of caffeine.
That's about one cup of brewed coffee, and 21% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.
Source: USDA FoodData Central · checked 10 Nov 2026
When did you have it?
Had at 3 pm, about 29 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.
Your whole day, every drink, in the free CaffeineIQ check. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Latest time to drink it
For an 11 pm bedtime, most people should finish an 8 fl oz cup of mocha by about 6:55 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 | 11:55 am | 4:55 pm | Any time |
| 10 pm | 12:55 pm | 5:55 pm | Any time |
| 11 pm | 1:55 pm | 6:55 pm | Any time |
| Midnight | 2:55 pm | 7:55 pm | Any time |
| 1 am | 3:55 pm | 8:55 pm | Any time |
For an 8 fl oz cup of mocha, 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 an 8 fl oz cup of mocha peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 70 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 | 58 mg | 38 mg | 25 mg | 17 mg |
So one had at 3 pm leaves about 29 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.
How it compares
Mocha is stronger than 48% of the 22 coffees made at home we track, by caffeine per serving.
Per fluid ounce (10 mg) it is stronger than 39% of them.
To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 5 of these.
Less caffeine
- Nescafé Espresso Concentrate 80 mg, 2 tbsp, black
- Nespresso Original Espresso 50 to 100 mg, 1 espresso
- Nespresso Vertuo Espresso 50 to 100 mg, 1 espresso
More caffeine
- Macchiato 85 mg, 1 espresso cup
- Cappuccino 86 mg, 8 fl oz cup
- Latte 86 mg, 8 fl oz cup
FAQ
Is mocha high in caffeine?
It is moderate. An 8 fl oz cup of mocha has 82 mg, which is 86% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.
Can I drink mocha at night?
Not if you want to sleep well. Had at 7 pm, it leaves about 50 mg in an average adult at an 11 pm bedtime, above the 50 mg most people sleep fine with. The latest time for an 11 pm bedtime is about 6:55 pm.
How long does the caffeine in mocha last?
It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 82 mg, about 38 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 17 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.
Does mocha have more caffeine than Red Bull?
About the same. An 8 fl oz cup of mocha has 82 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.
Method and limits
The caffeine figure comes from USDA FoodData Central; 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.