How much caffeine is in Nescafé Instant Coffee?

A 12 fl oz cup of Nescafé Instant Coffee has 113 mg of caffeine.

That's about one cup of brewed coffee, and 28% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Source: nescafe.com · checked 10 Nov 2026

When did you have it?

Had at 3 pm, about 40 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 a 12 fl oz cup of Nescafé Instant Coffee by about 4:35 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	9:35 am	2:35 pm	Any time
10 pm	10:35 am	3:35 pm	Any time
11 pm	11:35 am	4:35 pm	Any time
Midnight	12:35 pm	5:35 pm	Any time
1 am	1:35 pm	6:35 pm	Any time

For a 12 fl oz cup of Nescafé Instant Coffee, 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 a 12 fl oz cup of Nescafé Instant Coffee peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 96 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	79 mg	52 mg	35 mg	23 mg

So one had at 3 pm leaves about 40 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.

How it compares

Nescafé Instant Coffee is stronger than 76% of the 22 coffees made at home we track, by caffeine per serving.

Per fluid ounce (9.4 mg) it is stronger than 33% of them.

To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 3½ of these.

Less caffeine

Chicory Coffee 96 mg, 8 fl oz cup
Coffee 95 mg, 8 fl oz cup
Cappuccino 86 mg, 8 fl oz cup

More caffeine

Half-Caff Coffee 120 mg, Small pot
Nespresso Kazaar 120 mg, 1 espresso
Nespresso Diavolitto 150 mg, 1 espresso

FAQ

Is Nescafé Instant Coffee high in caffeine?

Yes. A 12 fl oz cup of Nescafé Instant Coffee has 113 mg, which is 1.2 times an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee (95 mg).

Can I drink Nescafé Instant Coffee at night?

Not if you want to sleep well. Had at 7 pm, it leaves about 69 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 4:35 pm.

How long does the caffeine in Nescafé Instant Coffee last?

It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 113 mg, about 52 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 23 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.

Does Nescafé Instant Coffee have more caffeine than Red Bull?

Yes. A 12 fl oz cup of Nescafé Instant Coffee has 113 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.

Method and limits

The caffeine figure comes from nescafe.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.