When it comes to my morning coffee, I prefer those with intense flavor. One of the popular coffee brands known to provide this strong punch is Café Bustelo Coffee.
Ideal for making espressos, this coffee brand means business regarding your caffeine fix.
However, as someone sensitive to caffeine, the flavor is the least of my priorities; its caffeine content is my number one concern.
So, as my favorite coffee brand, I checked how much caffeine I get from a cup of Cafe Bustelo coffee. Here's what I found.
How Much Caffeine Is In Cafe Bustelo? (Levels Compared)
The caffeine content of Cafe Bustelo varies depending on many factors, including the serving size and preparation method.
Here, I discuss the caffeine content of popular Cafe Bustelo coffee drinks to give you an idea of how much caffeine you're consuming.
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.
This brand of coffee is the perfect choice for making espressos, thanks to its bold flavor.
If you're looking for finely ground coffee beans to make espressos at home, you'll never go wrong with this.
Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Chocolate
If you’re not a fan of the bold and rich flavor of coffee, don’t ditch Cafe Bustelo just yet. This brand also offers a sweet and chocolatey variant, the Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Chocolate.
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).
If you brew your Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Chocolate on a 12 fl oz cup, you'll get twice as much caffeine.
Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Leche
Fancy a creamy Cafe Bustelo Espresso? If so, the Cafe Bustelo Cafe Con Leche is for you.
I think this is on the sweeter side, but this is a great option for those who can't get around the bold taste of coffee.
Like the Con Chocolate variant, it has high caffeine content, 60 to 90 mg per 6-ounce cup.
Cafe Bustelo Supreme
If you think Cafe Bustelo Espresso has a weak flavor, the Supreme version is the one for you.
I prefer this version when making espresso shots as the flavors are more intense, which results in a more flavorful cup when making espresso-based drinks.
You can really taste the coffee flavor even if you add milk and sugar!
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.
This is because the serving size of Cafe Bustelo K-Cups is consistent in every pod, giving you the same amount of caffeine in every single brew.
Spoiler Alert: This is one of the best dark roast k-cups on the market! If you love bold flavor, I recommend you give these a shot.
Cafe Bustelo Instant Coffee
No brewing device? No problem. You can still enjoy a cup of Cafe Bustelo, thanks to its instant coffee version. So what is the caffeine content of this instant coffee?
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 features the same intense and bold flavor, just minus the jitters and caffeine.
This is my go-to drink whenever I crave coffee, but I have already consumed too much caffeine for the day.
Complete Breakdown Of The Café Bustelo Brand
Now that you're familiar with the caffeine levels of Cafe Bustelo and its different variants, I will dive a little deeper into the brand and discuss what you can expect from it.
For coffee lovers who aren't familiar with this coffee, here's what you need to know:
Taste
Cafe Bustelo uses dark roast Arabica beans, which have a full-bodied flavor. On top of the strong coffee taste, it has nutty and chocolatey notes that make it even more enjoyable.
Its taste makes it perfect for making espresso-based drinks, as adding other flavors like milk, sugar, and chocolate won't overpower the coffee taste.
Ingredients
The Cafe Bustelo Espresso, Instant coffee, and Supreme variants contain only one ingredient: coffee grounds. However, the two flavored variants contain more than just coffee.
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 & Drawbacks Of Drinking Café Bustelo
If you love to drink brewed coffee or any coffee drink every day, you'll be pleased to know that this drink has numerous health benefits.
Benefits
Okay, let's get one thing straight first. The brand itself doesn't offer any health benefits at all.
However, coffee, the main ingredient (or the sole ingredient) of this drink, has proven to provide several evidence-based benefits.
Drawbacks
Although coffee offers numerous benefits, too much caffeine can lead to harmful side effects.
That's why it's recommended to only consume 400 mg of caffeine per day.[4] If you consume more than that, you’re at risk of:
So, always limit your caffeine intake and avoid caffeinated beverages like energy drinks and sodas if you already consumed a lot of coffee drinks.
Who Should Drink Café Bustelo?
This coffee is recommended for coffee drinkers who love the intense, bold flavor of coffee and aren’t sensitive to caffeine as it contains more caffeine compared to other brands.
Who Should Avoid Café Bustelo?
If you suffer from caffeine sensitivity, I recommend you find a different brand of coffee or stick with the decaf version of Cafe Bustelo.
Cafe Bustelo Caffeine Content Vs Regular Coffee
The caffeine content of coffee depends on different factors, including the type of whole-bean coffee used (Arabica or Robusta coffee), the brewing methods (French press, pour-over, espresso, etc.), and the roast level (light, medium, dark).
Therefore, if we try to compare Cafe Bustelo vs coffee variants, it will require a different guide for how broad this topic is.
However, I'll simply compare it with other popular coffee brands instead, just to give you an idea of how much the caffeine levels differ according to these factors.
Cafe Bustelo is made of dark roasted coffee beans (Arabica). A 12 oz cup of this coffee contains about 150 mg of caffeine.
Another popular brand, Maxwell House, made with the same coffee beans (Arabica), has only 130 mg of caffeine.
Their caffeine level difference isn't significant, but certain factors like those mentioned above affected their difference.
How To Limit Caffeine Intake From Cafe Bustelo
If you tend to have the jitters when you drink coffee, don't worry--you're not alone.
As someone who suffers from caffeine sensitivity, I have devised a way to limit my caffeine intake: just use less coffee grounds.
So, if a cup of coffee calls for two tablespoons, use one tablespoon instead. In this way, you still have a caffeine boost without the side effects.
However, it will create a weaker cup, which is far more tolerable than the jitters. If you prefer taste over caffeine, stick with the decaf version instead.
How To Make A Cafecito At Home (Cuban Coffee Recipe)
This Latin-style espresso coffee allows me to recreate various Latin coffee recipes at home.
One of my favorites is Cafecito or Cuban coffee, and I’ll show you how you can make it 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!
Caffeine In Café Bustelo Related Questions
Is Cafe Bustelo healthier than other coffees?
In terms of health benefits, Café Bustelo isn't significantly different from other types of coffee since all coffees contain similar basic nutritional elements.
What is the best way to brew Café Bustelo?
The best way to brew Cafe Bustelo is through an espresso machine or Moka pot. Forcing hot water through the grounds or high pressure can bring out the flavor of this coffee.
Can I make iced coffee with Café Bustelo?
Yes, you can. Simply add ice to your brewed Cafe Bustelo coffee, and you're all set.
Can you make Bustelo coffee with a Moka pot?
Yes, you can make Bustelo coffee with a Moka pot! In fact, it's one of the best ways to drink Cafe Bustelo.
Conclusion
Now that you know the caffeine amount of Cafe Bustelo, it's time to be creative and try different coffee recipes.
Even though it's highly caffeinated, its strong, bold flavor makes it a good choice of coffee for espresso-based drinks like cappuccino and latte. The best part?
It comes with an affordable price tag.
References:
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319016420300359?via%3Dihub
2. https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/76/6/395/4954186?login=false
3. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0004867415603131
4. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much#:~:text=For%20healthy%20adults%2C%20the%20FDA,it%20(break%20it%20down).
