Coffee Leads U.S. Caffeine Intake as Tea Declines
By India Edwards HealthDay Reporter
SATURDAY, Feb. 22, 2025 -- Turns out, Americans may be drinking less coffee, soda and tea, but they’re getting more caffeine than ever.
A new study of more than 49,000 U.S. adults found that while fewer are sipping caffeinated drinks, those who do are choosing much stronger doses, with coffee taking the lead.
The result? Caffeine intake is rising, even though the average consumption is still below 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. That's the amount health experts consider safe.
“We are all aware that the caffeinated beverage market has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, yet no comparable, comprehensive caffeine intake data have been published in recent years," study author Diane Mitchell of the Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife, said in a news release.
Coffee now accounts for 70% of total caffeine consumption, up 15% from the previous 2010-2011 survey, Mitchell's team reported.
What's more, carbonated soft drinks now contribute only 15% of caffeine intake, a 27% decrease from a decade ago.
Tea consumption has also dropped significantly, with 50% fewer tea drinkers overall.
However, the remaining tea drinkers nearly doubled their caffeine intake from tea, suggesting those who stuck with the beverage are, in fact, drinking more.
Energy drinks, which were less common a decade ago, now account for 6% of total caffeine intake, as the number of available brands has jumped from 559 to 970.
Despite these shifts, average caffeine intake remains below the federal government's recommended limit of 400 milligrams per day -- about two to three 12-ounce cups of coffee.
“With a constantly evolving market of caffeinated beverages and the potential impact it has on beverage consumption patterns, continued monitoring of caffeine intakes is warranted," the authors concluded.
Sources
- Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences, news release, Jan. 15, 2025
- Food and Chemical Toxicology, February 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2025
Read this next
Could Dairy Be Causing Your Bad Dreams?
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 2025 — Having bad dreams after eating ice cream or cheese? Your stomach may be trying to tell you something. New research shows that people with worse...
Food Safety is Key for Fourth of July Cookouts
TUESDAY, July 1, 2025 — Cookouts on the Fourth of July aren’t just a tradition – they’re expected as part of a day of outdoor games, fireworks and...
Close to 150,000 Pounds of Ready-to-eat Bologna Recalled Due to Mislabeling
MONDAY, June 30, 2025 — Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc. is recalling almost 150,000 pounds of ready-to-eat bologna due to mislabeling. The recalled lunch meats...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.