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I usually reach for coffee with a strong, dark flavor in the morning, and Café Bustelo is one of the first brands I think of when I want that kind of cup.
I’ve used it most often for espresso-style drinks, where the boldness shows up quickly and the caffeine matters just as much.
Flavor matters less to me here because I notice caffeine pretty quickly.
I looked up how much caffeine I actually get from a cup of Cafe Bustelo because it is a brand I reach for often. The numbers were the part I wanted to pin down.
How much caffeine is in Cafe Bustelo? (Levels compared)
Café Bustelo Espresso
A 6 oz cup contains 60 to 90 mg of caffeine, depending on the amount of coffee grounds you use. On average, this serving-size cup contains 75 mg of caffeine.
I keep coming back to this coffee when I want a strong base for espresso drinks, because the flavor stays assertive instead of disappearing into milk.
If I’m buying finely ground coffee for espresso-style drinks at home, this is usually one of the first bags I look at.
Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Chocolate
I used to assume Cafe Bustelo would be too bold for anything but straight coffee, so the sweet chocolate version caught me off guard. Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Chocolate adds a softer, sweeter edge without losing the coffee base.
Even though it is a coffee beverage mix, the caffeine content of this variant is similar to the original espresso formula, which is 60 to 90 mg of caffeine content per tablespoon (6 fl. oz serving cup).
In a 12 fl oz cup, Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Chocolate can end up with more caffeine than I expected.
Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Leche
Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Leche is the version I think of when I want a creamier cup with less of that straight espresso edge.
It reads sweeter to me, but it works when the plain coffee flavor feels too sharp.
Like the Con Chocolate variant, it has high caffeine content, 60 to 90 mg per 6-ounce cup.
Cafe Bustelo Supreme
If regular Cafe Bustelo Espresso feels a little too soft, the Supreme version leans harder into a bolder coffee flavor.
I prefer this one for espresso shots because the flavor stays more concentrated, which gives espresso-based drinks a fuller coffee taste.
Even with milk and sugar, the coffee still comes through clearly.
However, even if it has a bolder taste, it contains roughly the same amount of caffeine, 60 to 90 mg of caffeine per tablespoon.
Cafe Bustelo K-cup
The K-Cup Café Bustelo caffeine content is also 60 to 90 mg of caffeine, no matter what size of cup you use.
One reason I like Cafe Bustelo K-Cups is the consistency. Each pod gives me a predictable serving, so the caffeine is easier to gauge from cup to cup.
This is one of the options I’ve used most when I want a bold cup: dark roast K-Cups
Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee
If I don’t have a brewing device handy, the instant version still gets me a cup of Cafe Bustelo without much effort. The caffeine content is the next thing I look at.
A teaspoon of Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee has roughly the same amount as most variants, 60 to 90 mg of caffeine.
Cafe Bustelo Decaf
If you really can’t consume any caffeine, you can still enjoy Cafe Bustelo. This brand comes with a decaffeinated version containing 97% less caffeine than the espresso version.
The decaf version still gives me that dark, bold taste, but it skips the jittery feeling that regular coffee can bring on.
This is the one I reach for when I want coffee flavor but I have already had enough caffeine for the day.
Complete breakdown of the Café Bustelo Bbrand
Taste
Cafe Bustelo uses dark-roasted Arabica beans, and that shows up as a fuller, more roasty cup. I usually notice the nutty and chocolate notes once the first sip settles.
That flavor holds up well in espresso-based drinks because milk, sugar, and chocolate still leave enough coffee character behind.
Ingredients
According to the labels, the Espresso, Instant coffee, and Supreme variants stay relatively simple, while the two flavored versions include more than coffee alone.
Barista HQ tip: Trying to be healthy? Stick with Espresso, Supreme, and Instant coffee variants instead. They don't contain artificial flavoring or added sugars.
Nutritional facts
Benefits and drawbacks of drinking Café Bustelo
Benefits
Café Bustelo itself does not have health benefits, but coffee, the main ingredient here, has been linked with a few evidence-based benefits.
I keep that separate from the caffeine content itself.
Drawbacks
Too much caffeine can still cause unwanted side effects.
That is why I keep the 400 mg per day guideline in mind recommended to only consume a maximum 400 mg of caffeine per day . Going past that amount can bring on side effects.
Once I’ve already had a lot of coffee, I usually skip energy drinks and sodas for the rest of the day so I do not stack more caffeine on top.
Who should drink Café Bustelo?
This coffee feels like a bold, intense cup, and I notice it more quickly than some other brands.
Who should avoid Café Bustelo?
When caffeine sensitivity is an issue, I skip the regular version and use decaf instead.
Cafe Bustelo caffeine content versus regular coffee
Coffee caffeine content depends on several factors, including the bean type, brewing method, and roast level.
That makes a full Cafe Bustelo vs. coffee comparison too broad for this article.
I’m keeping the comparison to a few other popular coffee brands so the caffeine differences are easier to picture.
Cafe Bustelo is made with dark-roasted Arabica beans, and a 12 oz cup is listed at about 150 mg of caffeine.
Another popular Arabica-based brand is listed at about 130 mg.
The gap is small enough that the details behind the label start to matter.
How to limit caffeine intake from Cafe Bustelo
If coffee makes you jittery, that is a familiar problem.
When I need to cut my caffeine down, I use fewer grounds than I normally would.
If a cup calls for two tablespoons, I start with one tablespoon instead. That still gives me some caffeine, just not as much of the buzz that follows.
The tradeoff is a weaker cup, but that is easier to live with than the jitters. When I want flavor more than caffeine, I switch to decaf.
How to make a Cafecito at home (Cuban coffee recipe)
This Latin-style espresso coffee makes it easy for me to recreate different Latin coffee recipes at home.
One of the versions I come back to most is cafecito, or Cuban coffee, and it works well at home.
Ingredients:
Instructions
- 1Make a concentrated cup of Cafe Bustelo. If you have a Moka pot or espresso machine, make an espresso shot. However, if you don't have one, simply brew a strong cup of coffee.
- 2Once your coffee is brewed, add ½ teaspoon of it to your sugar and beat the mixture until the sugar is dissolved and turns into a creamy pale beige paste. This will take about a minute or so.
- 3Lastly, pour the espresso on the creamy sugar mixture and enjoy!
FAQs
Is Cafe Bustelo healthier than other coffees?
Café Bustelo is not dramatically different from other coffees in basic nutrition, since most plain coffee shares the same core nutritional profile.
What is the best way to brew Café Bustelo?
I have had the best results brewing Cafe Bustelo with an espresso machine or Moka pot. Both methods pull out the bold flavor that makes this coffee stand out.
Can I make iced coffee with Café Bustelo?
You can also serve brewed Cafe Bustelo over ice. I usually pour it over ice after brewing and let the cold smooth out the edge.
Can you make Bustelo coffee with a Moka pot?
I also come back to Bustelo in a Moka pot when I want a strong cup at home, especially when I do not feel like setting up the espresso machine.
