There are very few people I know who can begin their day without coffee. It helps us focus better for the day, clear our minds, and wake us up. You must also concur that it has a decent flavour.
Nowadays, a lot of individuals prefer to have more caffeinated beverages like lattes, cappuccinos, and espresso in order to satisfy their caffeine craving in a novel method. What is the caffeine content of two espresso shots? That is the question of the day. More than just coffee, is it?
Espresso has approximately 150 mg of caffeine, to put it succinctly. Indeed, it has more energy than a typical cup of coffee. That being said, is espresso healthy or unhealthy? Find out by reading on.
How Many Shots of Espresso Do You Need?
There are 150 mg to 180 mg of caffeine in a double shot, which Starbucks calls a “doppio.” A mixture of 14 grammes of dark-roasted coffee beans is used to make it. This makes about 60 ml of dark, rich coffee.
In Italy, on the other hand, a single shot of espresso is called a “solo.” It makes one serving, which is seven grammes of coffee beans, which is about 30 ml, or an ounce, of coffee.
What Does a Name Mean?
Let us look at what these words really mean.
Espresso
The word “espresso” doesn’t mean a specific roast or type of coffee bean. In fact, it means the way this coffee drink is made. At the beginning of the 20th century, espresso was first made in Italy. Coffee had been a part of Italian life for hundreds of years, but this kind of coffee was very different.
Thanks to Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni, two guys who worked on their old coffee machine for years. They wanted to make a machine that could make a delicious cup of coffee in less than a minute, and that’s exactly what they did with their later model in 1903.
They named this new kind of coffee after the fast, pressurised machine that makes it: cafe espresso. This is to set it apart from the old kind of coffee.
Espresso is a word that means “press out” in Italian. It gets its name from the force with which hot water is pushed through fine coffee grounds made from dark-roasted Arabica and Robusta beans.
It can also mean quickly or “express.” It only takes about 30 to 60 seconds to make espresso, so this is a reference to that lack of time. Unlike regular coffee brewed in a pot, which takes about 3–4 minutes longer, this type is made right where the customer asks for it.
It’s also worth noting that you can drink espresso by itself or with a shot of milk to make it less bitter. This coffee is also often used as the rich, strong base for other drinks, such as latte, macchiato, mocha, americano, and cappuccino, to name a few.
Shot
There’s no need to drink the whole thing all at once just because it’s called a shot. In fact, the reverse is true. You should take your time sipping espresso so you can enjoy its strong, rich flavour.
“Shoot” just means the size of the cup that will be used to serve it. You might not know this, but espresso shots should be given in cups that were made just for this tasty drink. They’re called demitasse cups, and each one holds about one ounce of the drink.
It’s called a “half cup” in French because it’s half the size of a regular coffee cup. You’ve seen this small white cup with a thin handle a lot of times in coffeine places. These cups can hold about 3/4 of an ounce, or 90 millilitres.
What’s Too Much Caffeine?
As was already indicated, there are roughly 180 mg of caffeine in two shots of espresso. That is a significant amount of caffeine in comparison to the 80 milligrammes found in an 8-ounce cup of coffee!
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a daily maximum of 400 milligrammes of caffeine, or roughly six espresso shots. This implies that the daily safe intake of caffeine is almost halved by a double shot of espresso.
Think about this: most coffee shops give a double shot as the standard order when you order an espresso. You might be startled to learn this. So, bear that in mind the next time you place an espresso order.
A McCafe double shot of espresso, for instance, has about 142 mg of caffeine. On the other hand, Dunkin’s doppio only contains 97 mg per serving.
While a double shot of espresso at Caribou contains around 270 mg of caffeine, Costa’s double espresso contains only about 185 mg!However, a number of factors, including the following, can influence how much caffeine is in your beverage:
- The level of roasting
- The kind of coffee beans that are utilised
- Whether it’s a single variety or a blend of beans
- Size of grind
- The espresso shot’s duration
- What kind of coffee beverage are you drinking?
- The size of the beverage
- If any sugar, cream, or milk is added
Pros and Cons of Caffeine
Tea leaves, cocoa beans, and, of course, coffee beans all naturally contain caffeine, a stimulant. It functions by inhibiting the neurotransmitter adenosine in our brains, which causes us to feel lethargic and sleepy.
Therefore, we become more awake and attentive when our system stops releasing adenosine. Additionally, caffeine promotes the release of dopamine, a hormone that makes you feel good. This hormone is what gives us increased energy, attention, and a generally happier attitude.
As you can see, caffeine offers a number of health advantages. However, excessive amounts of any substance, including the classic caffeine, can be detrimental.Here is a brief overview of the advantages and potential health hazards of caffeine-rich drinks, such as espresso.
Advantages
Caffeine’s capacity to increase energy, wake us up, and make us feel alert is its first wonderful quality. Additionally, it improves our ability to concentrate, maintain attention, and be more productive all day long.
Here are some more health advantages of moderate caffeine consumption:
- It helps the brain remember things and stores them in long-term memory.
- There are a lot of antioxidants in it, which help reduce the chance of chronic diseases and even some types of cancer.
- Starts the release of adrenaline, which makes you stronger, faster, and better overall.
- It helps people lose weight because it is low in calories.
- It might make getting Type 2 diabetes less likely.
- People with sadness, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other mental health problems are less likely to have it.
- It is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more, which helps your body get rid of extra water and salt.
Cons
More than four double shots of espresso a day might cause jitters and anxiety instead of alertness and focus. The reason is that it raises blood pressure and heart rate, which are short-term negative effects.
Additionally, it might cause insomnia by making it more difficult for you to go asleep if you consume it later in the day. Keep in mind that the caffeine in a double shot of espresso has an average half-life of five hours.
Let’s say you have a double shot late in the afternoon, at approximately five o’clock. This implies that long after 10 p.m., the caffeine will still be in your system. You’ll probably be up for the better part of the night. You’ll still be unable to fall asleep in the second half, and you’ll feel uneasy from caffeine withdrawal.
Few people also take into account the fact that it is unsafe to consume any kind of caffeine-rich beverage on an empty stomach, particularly one as strong as espresso. The beverage’s acidity can aggravate your digestive system and cause nausea and vomiting.
The following individuals should refrain from having more than a few double shots during the day:
- Mothers who are nursing or pregnant
- Epileptics
- Individuals with arrhythmias, or abnormal heartbeats
- Youngsters and adolescents
The Bottom Line
What is the caffeine content of two espresso shots? About 180 milligrams, about half the daily recommended dosage. As a result, you can take up to four shots daily without going excessive. To effectively benefit from them, make sure they are at least four hours apart.
However, you must be mindful that the amount of caffeine in espresso can vary depending on a number of factors. The coffee beans’ quality, the grind used to manufacture it, and the roasting method are few examples of these variations.
You may always prepare a latte by mixing one or two shots of espresso with a few ounces of steamed milk if the strong, strong flavour of espresso is too strong for you. An additional layer of foam can be added for a smooth and delectable cup of cappuccino.