A Tim Hortons small brewed coffee contains 140 mg of caffeine (Canada).
You order a small coffee because you want a steady lift, not a wild ride. The tricky part is that “small” can still pack a real caffeine punch, and the number shifts with roast, brew strength, and size.
This breaks down what’s in a Tim Hortons small coffee, how it stacks up against other Tim’s drinks, and how to plan the rest of your day’s caffeine so you don’t end up staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m.
How Much Caffeine Is In Tim Hortons Small Coffee? Size Breakdown
In Canada, Tim Hortons lists 140 mg of caffeine for an Original Blend Coffee, Small. That’s the baseline number most people mean when they say “small Tim’s coffee.”
Caffeine is measured in milligrams (mg). For a lot of people, 140 mg feels like a clean, noticeable boost. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, that same cup can feel strong.
If you want to check the source list for the exact beverage line items, see Tim Hortons’ published caffeine content document.
Why A “Small” Can Hit Hard
Caffeine isn’t tied to taste alone. A coffee that tastes smooth can still carry a lot of caffeine. Two cups that look similar can land far apart in mg if they use different beans, different brewing, or a different recipe.
What Changes The Number In Real Life
- Roast and blend: Tim Hortons lists different caffeine amounts for Original Blend, Dark Roast, and Decaf.
- Size jump: The leap from small to medium can add a lot more caffeine.
- Brewing variance: Coffee is an agricultural product. Bean lots vary, and brew timing can shift strength.
- Build changes: Adding dairy or sugar changes calories, not caffeine, but it can change how the drink feels in your body.
Caffeine In Tim Hortons Small Coffee With Roast Differences
Not every “coffee” at Tim Hortons is the same caffeine-wise. If you rotate between roasts, your body may notice the change even if your order sounds similar.
Here are the listed small-cup caffeine amounts for the main brewed coffee options in Canada:
- Original Blend Coffee (Small): 140 mg
- Dark Roast Coffee (Small): 130 mg
- Decaffeinated Coffee (Small): 6 mg
That means switching from Original Blend to Dark Roast trims a little caffeine, while decaf drops it dramatically. Decaf still has some caffeine, so if you’re avoiding it for sleep, migraines, or heart palpitations, it’s still worth counting.
Small Vs. Medium: The Jump Most People Underestimate
If you’re used to a small and you grab a medium “just this once,” you may feel it. Tim Hortons lists 205 mg for an Original Blend medium and 195 mg for a Dark Roast medium in Canada.
That’s a real step up from 140 mg. If you drink coffee fast, that extra caffeine can land all at once.
How Tim Hortons Coffee Compares To Other Tim’s Drinks
Sometimes you want coffee flavor. Sometimes you want a warm drink and a lighter caffeine load. Tim Hortons offers plenty of drinks that sit lower than brewed coffee in caffeine, even if they taste sweet and “coffee-ish.”
Steeped tea and many bagged teas can be a middle ground. Tim Hortons notes that bagged tea caffeine can vary with steep time, which tracks with how tea works in real kitchens.
If you want general background on where caffeine shows up across foods and drinks, Health Canada has a plain-language overview on caffeine in foods.
Tim Hortons Caffeine Chart By Drink And Size
Use this table when you’re deciding between a small coffee and something else at the counter. Values below are listed caffeine amounts for Canadian menu items.
| Drink | Size | Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Original Blend Coffee | Small | 140 |
| Dark Roast Coffee | Small | 130 |
| Decaffeinated Coffee | Small | 6 |
| Steeped Tea (Whole Leaf) | Small | 90 |
| Orange Pekoe / English Breakfast / Earl Grey / Chai (Bagged) | Small | 50 |
| Green Tea (Bagged) | Small | 25 |
| French Vanilla Cappuccino | Small | 60 |
| Hot Chocolate | Small | 15 |
| Iced Coffee (Original Blend – standard build) | Small | 60 |
| Iced Cappuccino (All varieties) | Small | 90 |
| Espresso Shot (Single) | Single | 125 |
How To Plan Your Day Around A Tim Hortons Small Coffee
A small brewed coffee at 140 mg can fit comfortably into many routines, but it helps to do the math. Caffeine stacks. Coffee at breakfast, an iced coffee at lunch, then a cola in the afternoon can sneak up on you.
Pick A Cutoff Time For Sleep
If sleep matters, set a caffeine cutoff time and stick to it. Many people stop caffeine in the early afternoon. Your best cutoff depends on how your body handles caffeine and when you plan to sleep.
Watch For “Hidden” Caffeine
Caffeine isn’t only in coffee. Some teas, colas, chocolate, and energy drinks can add more than you expect. If you swap your afternoon coffee for tea, you may still be adding caffeine—just less.
Use A Simple Rule For Double-Ordering
If you’re thinking about a second caffeinated drink, do a quick check-in:
- Did you sleep poorly last night? A second drink may feel good fast, then crash later.
- Do you feel jittery, sweaty, or wired already? That’s your cue to step down.
- Is it late in the day? Shift to decaf or caffeine-free tea.
Daily Caffeine Limits And What A Small Tim’s Coffee Uses Up
Most healthy adults can handle moderate caffeine, but daily limits exist for a reason. The number isn’t one-size-fits-all, yet official guidance is a solid starting point.
The U.S. FDA cites 400 mg per day as an amount not generally linked with harmful effects for most adults. You can read the FDA’s plain-language summary in Spilling The Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
Health Canada lists a similar adult daily maximum and also gives limits for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and youth. Their table is on the same caffeine in foods page.
| Group | Daily Max Caffeine | Share From 1 Small Coffee (140 mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (18+) | 400 mg | 35% |
| Planning Pregnancy | 300 mg | 47% |
| Pregnant | 300 mg | 47% |
| Breastfeeding | 300 mg | 47% |
| Teens And Kids (Up To 18) | 2.5 mg per kg body weight | Varies by body size |
When A Small Tim Hortons Coffee Might Feel Too Strong
Some people feel rough on caffeine even at levels that others shrug off. That doesn’t mean anything is “wrong” with you. It just means your body reacts fast.
Common Signs You Should Scale Back
- Shaky hands
- Racing heartbeat
- Heartburn or stomach irritation
- Anxious, wired feeling
- Headache later in the day after a big caffeine run
- Trouble falling asleep
If you get these signs, try a smaller caffeine step-down instead of quitting cold. Move from small brewed coffee to steeped tea, then to decaf, then to caffeine-free tea. That keeps the habit while easing the caffeine load.
How To Order At Tim Hortons For Less Caffeine
You’ve got options that still feel like a treat. You just need to pick drinks that land lower in mg.
Low-Caffeine Moves That Still Taste Like Tim’s
- Decaf coffee: Tim Hortons lists 6 mg for a small decaf brewed coffee.
- Hot chocolate: Tim Hortons lists 15 mg for a small hot chocolate.
- Green tea: Tim Hortons lists 25 mg for a small bagged green tea.
- Small iced coffee: Tim Hortons lists 60 mg for a small iced coffee (standard build).
Keep Your Flavor Add-Ons, Change The Base
If you like cream, milk, or sweetener, you can keep your usual add-ons and still cut caffeine by switching the base drink. A decaf with your normal cream and sugar will taste familiar, and the caffeine drop is huge.
How To Verify Your Local Tim Hortons Numbers
Menu items and recipes can change by region. Tim Hortons also sells in more than one country, and “small” sizes can differ. For the most current nutrition and allergen details, Tim Hortons says you can find info in their app and on their website.
If you want the official help page that points to where Tim Hortons publishes menu nutrition details, see: Where can I view the nutrition and allergen information for Tim Hortons menu items?
For caffeine itself, the published caffeine content sheet lists beverage-by-beverage mg values and notes that tea can vary with steep time. If you’re making choices for pregnancy, heart rhythm issues, or sleep, use the listed numbers as a planning tool, then stay alert to how your body responds.
References & Sources
- Tim Hortons Research and Development.“Caffeine Content (Canada).”Lists caffeine (mg) for Tim Hortons drinks by type and size, including small brewed coffee at 140 mg.
- Health Canada.“Caffeine In Foods.”Provides recommended maximum daily caffeine intakes by group, including adults at 400 mg and pregnancy at 300 mg.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).“Spilling The Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?”Explains FDA’s 400 mg/day reference level for most adults and notes sensitivity varies.
- Tim Hortons Help Centre.“Where can I view the nutrition and allergen information for Tim Hortons menu items?”Points readers to Tim Hortons’ official channels for current menu nutrition details.