What Is The Strongest Coffee In The World?

The sweet smell of coffee alone is enough for some coffee lovers to wake them up. But for others, it’s not the start of the day till a hit of caffeine has started running through their veins. That’s why today we’ll be discussing strongest coffee in the world. And I mean, REALLY strong coffees.

The caffeine in the coffee cup is a psychoactive substance that jumpstarts the morning of every coffee lover, as well as you. So it’s understandable if you want a coffee that is strong enough to provide a greater coffee punch to your nervous system.

But before we dive into a huge list that I prepared for you, let’s get to know what a “strong” coffee really means and establish a parameter for strong coffees.

What Does “Strong Coffee” Mean?

Now, the word “Strong” can mean different things to different people in coffee. So let’s set our definition right.

Looking for the strongest coffee by comparing the coffee to water ratio is not a very good idea. Because it doesn’t matter how strong the coffee is for a particular coffee to water ratio, it can change at any moment based on your personal preference.

Here, we’ll point at coffees that are insanely high in caffeine count with the word “strong.” How high, you may ask?

How Strong is Too Strong?

Any search on Google can tell you that there’s around 100mg of caffeine per cup for any type of coffee. Though it depends on the source, we’ll still use this as the baseline for later comparison.

If you’re wondering about a lethal dose of caffeine that can cause cardiovascular health issues, a health warning, and even death, it is around 10,000 mg. Meaning overdosing on caffeine is impossible.

But still, for safety regulations and health concerns, doctors recommend keeping your coffee consumption limited to 400 mg per day.

4 Factors Related To Coffee Strength

Though we’ll be comparing coffee strength based on the caffeine amounts, it’s not the only factor that makes a coffee strong. Here’s a list of factors that affect coffee strength:

• The Brew
• The Grind
• The Beans
• The Roast

Factor #1: The Brew

Differences in the brewing method can affect the amount of caffeine present in the final serving. For example, even with Arabica coffee, a low caffeine bean, a cold brew can have the highest caffeine content per serving.

This strength is the steep time and the temperature of the water that the coffee is steeped in.

The amount of coffee you use can also affect the caffeine count. If you add in more coffee than water, your coffee will not be strong in caffeine but also in thickness and caffeine.

Factor #2: The Grind

You can get a stronger coffee with increased flavor if you use finer ground like those for espresso machines. Finer grounds have a higher available surface area and a lower brew time that creates the flavor.

On the other hand, coarser grinds give you a higher caffeine amount per ounce while lacking in flavor. Coarser grinds need longer to reach the optimal flavor and caffeine extraction level.

This proves that both grind type and brewing time affect the coffee strength. This is why pre-ground coffee is a lot weaker compared to regular coffee.

Factor #3: The Beans

The two major coffee bean types available in the market differ vastly based on how much caffeine they have and the strength of the brew they offer overall.

Let’s look at the specifics and features of two major players in the coffee market.

Robusta Bean Features

• Highest caffeine level at 2.9 mg per bean (about 2.2 – 2.7% caffeine by weight.)
• Cheaper production cost
• Tastes bitter and harsh
• Has low acidity
• Has a mix of nutty and grainy tones
• Trees grow faster and yield more fruit

Arabica Bean Features

• Has 1.9 mg of caffeine per bean (about 1.2 – 1.5% caffeine by weight.)
• Higher production cost
• Tastes sweet and airy
• Has high acidity
• Flavor has a fruity tone
• Trees grow slow also yield less fruit

Factor #4: The Roast

Dark roasted coffee tends to be stronger in flavor. Roasting for a longer time brings out the flavor of the coffee, but they have less caffeine.

But it depends on the brewing method. Some variations of the brewing method will bring out a higher caffeine content from the same mix.

Though some coffee drinkers feel that coffee roast doesn’t affect the coffee, it comes down to the different taste palates of different people.

In the end, you might end up choosing a roast that isn’t as strong just so you don’t sit wide awake at 3 am.

Top 15 Strongest Coffee Brands In The World

After a long wait and patience, let’s read through the list of the world’s strongest coffee. The list has been organized according to caffeine count per 12-ounce serving for your convenience.

Coffee #1: Devil Mountain Coffee Black Label

• Caffeine Count: 1555 mg per 12-ounce cup brewed
• Bean type: Not Listed
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: Marked as the world’s most dangerous coffee, with a possibility of being lethal. Must not be consumed without consultation or if there is low sensitivity to a caffeine molecule.

Coffee #2: Very Strong Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 1350 mg per 12-ounce cup brewed
• Bean type: 100% Robusta
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: Strongest coffee available in the UK, and also highly dangerous.

Coffee #3: Devils Brew Extreme Caffeine Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 1325-1350 mg per 12-ounce cup brewed
• Bean type: Robusta (ethically sourced)
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: Another powerful UK brand also has a blend named “Rocket Fuel,” both being popular coffee brands. It can also be bought from their personal website.

Coffee #4: High Voltage Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 1150 mg per 12-ounce cup brewed
• Bean type: Unlisted
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: According to Australia’s National Measurement Institute (ANMI), this is the strongest Australian coffee. Despite containing a dangerous caffeine level, this coffee tastes less bitter, opposed to its counterparts.

Coffee #5: Black Insomnia Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 1105 mg per 12-ounce cup brewed
• Bean type: 80% Robusta, 20% Arabica
• Roast Type: Classic Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: Black Insomnia coffee Originated in South Africa back in 2018 but is now available worldwide. This blend of beans comes from several experiments and improvements over the first strong blend ever created.

Coffee #6: Cannonball Coffee Maximum Charge

• Caffeine Count: 1101 mg per 12-ounce cup brewed
• Bean type: Robusta
• Roast Type: Medium Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: The difference in caffeine content between Black Insomnia and Cannonball coffee is pretty close. Still, cannonball coffee is another strong coffee from the UK coffee market.

Coffee #7: Biohazard Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 928 mg per 12 fl oz brewed
• Bean type: Robusta
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: Biohazard coffee offers you almost 1 gram of caffeine in every cup of coffee, making it a worthy entry in this list.

Coffee #8: Death Wish Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 728 mg per 12 fl oz brewed
• Bean type: Robusta, Arabica
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: The coffee started the “world’s strongest coffee” trend with a Super Bowl ad. Also has a medium roast for people looking for high caffeine with less flavor intensity.

Having fun to read strongest coffee in the world? Check out our piece on types of coffee drinks.

Coffee #9: Sons of Amazon

• Caffeine Count: 660 mg per 12 fl oz brewed
• Bean type: Brazilian Coffee Beans
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans/ Grounds

Comments: One of the few fair-trade coffees in this list, Sons of Amazon coffee was considered Australia’s strongest coffee before High Voltage came on the scene. Even now, it’s a pretty formidable coffee with a strong caffeine punch.

Coffee #10: Killer Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 645 mg per 12 fl oz brewed (350 ml)
• Bean type: Arabica
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Whole Beans

Comments: With Arabica beans as the base component, many coffee snobs are surprised how this coffee counts as one of the strongest coffee in the world, but they love it anyway.

Coffee #11: Gunpowder Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 644 mg per 12 fl oz brewed
• Bean type: Unknown
• Roast Type: Medium Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: A self-proclaimed “best tasting” strong coffee brand, gunpowder coffee is still considered one of the strongest coffees in the world with substantial amounts of caffeine.

Coffee #12: Fire Department Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 500 mg per 12 fl oz brewed
• Bean Type: Brazilian Coffee Blend
• Roast Type: Medium Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: The most wholesome coffee on this list. This is a coffee brand started by veterans and firefighters, and 10% of their proceeds go to the valiant hearts who risk their lives. Their strongest coffee is Stipe Miocic, with 2x the caffeine of regular coffee.

Coffee #13: Banned Coffee

• Caffeine Count: 474 mg per 12 fluid ounces brewed
• Bean type: Blend Of Arabica and Robusta
• Roast Type: Medium-Dark Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: The name offers a bit of irony, as it’s not really “banned.” Though they are a brand that is self-proclaimed “world’s strongest coffee,” their position in this list proves that they clearly aren’t.

Coffee #14: GymBrew Renegade

• Caffeine Count: 333 mg per 12 fl oz brewed
• Bean type: Blend Of Arabica And Robusta
• Roast Type: Medium Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: A coffee with just the right amount of strength. It’ll offer you a caffeine kick but not enough to keep you overcharged past bedtime. Also works great for workouts.

Coffee #15: Shock Coffee

• Caffeine Amount: Unspecified, while claiming to be 50% stronger than regular coffee.
• Bean type: Arabica and Robusta
• Roast Type: Dark Roast
• Sold As: Grounds

Comments: Shock coffee is one of the first strongest coffees to ever hit the coffee industry back in 2010 that got lost over time. If you’re looking to get in the world of strong coffee, shock coffee is the right brand to get started with.

Preparation Method

No matter how high the caffeine counts are in these coffees, it all comes down to the right brewing method to bring the most caffeine out of them. The best way to go is the brewed coffee method to keep the coffee ground in water for a longer period, increasing the contact time.

Is This Type of Coffee Really Deadly?

To summarize my upcoming answer: “Yes, this type of coffee is deadly.”

There have been many counts of people either dying from caffeine overdose or being hospitalized after an overdose. And the number of victims is in the thousands.

So PLEASE be safe when drinking these brands. Again, the safe limit for an average adult is 400mg, as established by the FDA and the International Food Information Council.

Only cross the safety threshold if you are certified to handle the extensive caffeine dose and are insensitive to the effects. Because at the end of the day, caffeine is a drug that can and will harm you if you overdose.

Had fun with strongest coffee in the world? You’ll love to read our piece on sweetest coffee drinks.

Bottom Line

Coffee strength is an elusive concept. It’s tough to define coffee strength based on caffeine count alone, as there are a lot of other factors to consider, as we mentioned earlier.

Some blends or roasts may seem “strong” to some, while others may not even bat an eye after drinking a whole mug of the same coffee. It all comes down to personal taste, preference of the taste buds, and tolerance level.

If you plan on taking on one of these coffees, we hope you take your best precautions before proceeding.

Cheers!

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