If you are like most people, you probably think of dark coffee or espresso as more robust with more caffeine. Surprisingly, this isn’t so.
Blonde espresso is actually higher in caffeine than regular espresso.
Here’s a quick comparison:
- Blonde espresso: about 85 mg of caffeine (per serving)
- Regular espresso: about 65 mg of caffeine (per serving)
Blonde espresso is made from light roasted coffee beans. It contains more caffeine per serving than regular espresso because ground coffee is more dense.
Comparatively, one serving of blonde espresso (one ounce) has slightly less caffeine than one serving (8 ounces) of brewed coffee, which has about 95 mg of caffeine.
In This Article
Is Blonde Espresso Stronger? Does it Have More Caffeine?
Blonde Expresso is made with light roasted coffee beans and contains more caffeine than regular espresso. However, blonde espresso has a milder flavor and doesn’t taste as strong as regular espresso. You may get more of a kick from the blonde espresso while enjoying the milder flavor.
Blonde espresso may look slightly lighter in color, but this isn’t always an accurate assessment. The color and flavor of coffee beans vary depending on the region the coffee was grown in and the specific variety of coffee plants.
Here’s a breakdown of caffeine for a range of different coffees and espressos.
Caffeine Content Chart:
- 1 oz Cup of Blonde Espresso: 85 milligrams
- 1 oz Cup of Espresso: 65 milligrams
- 8 oz Cup of Coffee: 96 milligrams
- 8 oz Cup of Black Tea: 47 milligrams
- 8 oz Cup of Green Tea: 28 milligrams
- 8 oz Cup of Cola: 22 milligrams
- 8 oz Cup of Energy Drink: 71.9 milligrams
What Exactly is Blonde Espresso?
Blonde espresso doesn’t get its name from its appearance, although it may look lighter in color than regular espresso. Blonde espresso earns its name from the light roast coffee beans it is made from.
It has a mild, smooth flavor without the bitterness you may find in regular espresso. Blonde espresso has a naturally sweet taste with notes of malt.
Why is Blonde Espresso Stronger than Regular Espresso?
The amount of caffeine in coffee beans is directly related to how they are roasted. High temperatures and a long roasting time result in ground coffee with a lower caffeine content than the coffee ground from beans that have been roasted for a shorter time at lower temperatures.
Ironically, the caffeine content in the beans themselves does not change, but the density of the beans does. Dark roasted beans have lost more of their moisture content while roasting, making them lighter and less dense. Light roasted beans are heavier and denser because they contain more moisture. This is what leads to the difference in caffeine content in the ground coffee.
When the beans are ground, the volume of ground coffee from the same amount of beans differs. Dark roasted beans make a lighter grind with a higher volume, while the dense light roasted beans make a dense grind of coffee with less volume.
The amount of caffeine in the ground coffee by weight is the same
But we don’t measure coffee grounds by weight when we brew them. We measure them by volume. Because the scoop of light roast coffee weighs more, it contains more caffeine, explains Cook’s Illustrated.
Therefore, blonde espresso made from light roast coffee beans has a slightly higher amount of caffeine due to the higher weight of the coffee grounds.
What is a Blonde Espresso Shot?
A blonde espresso shot is 2 ounces of steaming espresso made with light roast coffee beans. It has a milder, smoother flavor than espresso made with medium or dark roast beans. It does, however, have slightly more caffeine than regular or dark espresso.
What is a Blonde Latte?
A blonde latte is made from 1 to 2 ounces of blonde espresso coffee and 8 to 15 ounces of steamed milk with foamed milk on top. It may contain other flavorings, such as vanilla or mocha.
Blonde lattes can also be served as a cold drink. In this case, it contains 1 to 2 ounces of blonde espresso coffee with cold milk and ice. Like the hot latte, it may also contain flavored syrups and sweeteners.
What is Blonde Roast Coffee?
Blonde coffee roast refers to the roasting process of the coffee beans and not to a specific type of beans. The flavor, caffeine content, and strength of the coffee may differ depending on where the beans were grown and the specific variety of coffee.
Blonde roast coffee is roasted at a lower temperature for a shorter time giving it its milder flavor.
As a rule, blonde coffee is mellow, sweet, and smooth. It may have fruity undertones and hints of chocolate, caramel, nuts, and malt.
Blonde roast coffee can be served with or without milk or creamer. It may also be served with flavored syrups or other sweeteners.
What is a Blonde Americano?
A blonde Americana is a Starbucks coffee drink made with one or two ounces of blonde espresso and topped with twice the amount of hot water. It may have added milk, sweeteners, or flavored syrup.
A Blonde Americano is a good option for those who enjoy espresso but find the strength of espresso alone a bit overpowering. The Blonde Americano is a milder-flavored coffee drink.
What is a Blonde Cappuccino?
A blonde cappuccino is made from a shot of blonde espresso with 4 to 6 ounces of steamed and frothed milk. Frothed milk has tighter bubbles than foamed milk, giving the drink a thicker, creamier texture.
A blonde cappuccino may also have added flavors from syrups.
Learn more about the differences between cappuccino and americano coffees.
How to Make Blonde Espresso at Home
- Turn on your espresso machine and allow it to heat up.
- Set your coffee grinder to fine and grind light-roast coffee beans. (Or buy pre-ground finely ground light roast coffee)
- Measure 2 to 2 ½ tablespoons of ground light roast beans per double shot of espresso (2 ounces)
- Add the ground coffee to the filter and even it out so that it is level across the basket.
- Tamp down the coffee grounds, using care to press straight down to get an even pack.
- Pull the shot of espresso.
- Taste the espresso and adjust the amount of ground coffee as necessary to get the desired flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount of caffeine in a blonde espresso varies, depending on the variety and origin of the coffee beans, but it typically contains about 85 mg of caffeine. This makes the caffeine content of a blonde espresso slightly higher than that of a regular espresso which typically has about 65 mg of caffeine.
Remember that this is for a single serving of espresso (one ounce). If you opt for a double shot of blonde espresso, you will consume 170 mg of caffeine. Likewise, if your order a blonde latte or blonde cappuccino, it may contain two servings (2 ounces) of blonde espresso, as there can be variations between coffee shops.
Yes. One standard serving of blonde espresso has roughly 5 calories, while regular espresso contains anywhere from 2 to 3 calories.
Regular espresso is made from medium or dark roasted beans and contains about 65 mg of caffeine per serving (one ounce.) A double shot of regular espresso contains about 130 mg of caffeine. And there’s a whopping 258 mg of caffeine in 4 shots of espresso, while 3 shots of espresso contain around 194 mg of caffeine. If you really want a boost, Vietnamese coffee has two times the caffeine!
As a rule, a serving of regular espresso contains less caffeine than a traditional cup of brewed coffee.
Comparing the amount of caffeine in espresso to the amount in coffee can be misleading. Espresso is concentrated and contains more caffeine per ounce than regular coffee. However, a single serving of espresso contains slightly less caffeine than an 8-ounce cup of coffee.
While a blonde espresso contains 85 mg of caffeine per ounce, a cup of brewed coffee contains 95 mg. Drinking a double shot of blonde espresso is equivalent to drinking a 14-ounce cup of brewed coffee.
A regular espresso made from medium or dark roast coffee contains about 65 mg of caffeine.
If you are substituting a serving of espresso for a cup of coffee, there is not enough difference in the amount of caffeine to be of concern. However, it is much easier to consume too much caffeine from espresso than coffee if you are not conscious of how much of it you are consuming.
It is natural to be concerned about your caffeine consumption, but it really shouldn’t be a concern for moderate coffee drinkers. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, healthy adults can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine every day.
That translates to a little more than four blonde espressos a day. However, you should keep in mind that consuming other forms of caffeine, such as brewed coffee and caffeinated drinks, in addition to your morning espresso, can add up quickly.
Tom is a managing partner with Caffeine Gurus. He has been writing and researching coffee and caffeine for over 10 years.
