How much caffeine is in Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew?

A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew has 280 mg of caffeine.

That's about 3 cups of brewed coffee, and 70% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.

Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026

When did you have it?

Had at 3 pm, about 98 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That might affect your sleep.

Bedtime

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Sizes

Size	Volume	Caffeine	mg per fl oz
Tall	12 fl oz (355 ml)	215 mg	18
Grande shown above	16 fl oz (473 ml)	280 mg	18

Source: starbucks.com · checked 10 Nov 2026

Latest time to drink it

For an 11 pm bedtime, most people should finish a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew by about 10:05 am. 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	Too much for one evening	8:05 am	1:05 pm
10 pm	Too much for one evening	9:05 am	2:05 pm
11 pm	5:05 am	10:05 am	3:05 pm
Midnight	6:05 am	11:05 am	4:05 pm
1 am	7:05 am	12:05 pm	5:05 pm

For a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, 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 Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 239 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	197 mg	130 mg	86 mg	56 mg

So one had at 3 pm leaves about 98 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.

How it compares

Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew is stronger than 96% of the 90 coffee-shop drinks we track, by caffeine per serving.

Per fluid ounce (18 mg) it is stronger than 94% of them.

To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 1½ of these.

Less caffeine

Starbucks Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew 265 mg, Grande
Starbucks Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso 255 mg, Grande
Starbucks Iced Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espresso 255 mg, Grande

More caffeine

Dunkin' Frozen Coffee 295 mg, Medium
Starbucks Blonde Roast 315 to 390 mg, Grande
Starbucks Dark Roast 315 to 390 mg, Grande

FAQ

Is Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew high in caffeine?

Yes, very. A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew has 280 mg, which is 2.9 times an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee (95 mg).

How much caffeine is in a Tall Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew?

A Tall (12 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew has 215 mg of caffeine, 65 mg less than a Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew.

Can I drink Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew at night?

Not if you want to sleep well. Had at 7 pm, it leaves about 171 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 10:05 am.

How long does the caffeine in Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew last?

It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 280 mg, about 130 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 56 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.

Does Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew have more caffeine than Red Bull?

Yes. A Grande (16 fl oz) Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew has 280 mg; an 8.4 fl oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg.

Method and limits

The caffeine figure comes from starbucks.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. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor; common guidance is under 200 mg a day.

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