How Much Caffeine Is In Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso Small

A small 6.5 fl oz can of Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso contains 120 mg of caffeine, roughly 80% of the caffeine in a standard in-store double shot.

You spot a slim silver can in a convenience store cooler — Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso. It’s only 6.5 ounces, small enough to finish in a few minutes. The name says “double shot,” which suggests a serious buzz, but the can looks more like a juice box than a coffee order.

The straightforward answer is 120 mg of caffeine. That’s more than a typical 12-ounce soda but less than a fresh double espresso from the café. This article breaks down the exact caffeine content, how it compares to other Starbucks drinks, and what that 120 mg means for your daily limit.

The Exact Caffeine Number In That 6.5 Oz Can

A single small can of Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso delivers 120 mg of caffeine. That works out to roughly 18.5 mg per fluid ounce, which makes it a fairly concentrated canned coffee option.

For comparison, an 8-ounce mug of home-brewed coffee usually falls between 95 and 165 mg. The small Doubleshot can sits right in the middle of that range, but in a much smaller volume. You get the same energy jolt in about half the liquid.

What Goes Into The Can

Starbucks makes this drink with its Arabica coffee and reduced-fat milk. It also contains sugar (about 4.7%) and chicory inulin, a dietary fiber that adds a slightly creamy texture. The result is a smooth, sweet coffee drink that goes down fast.

Why The Caffeine Count Matters More Than You Think

That small can is easy to drink quickly, especially since it’s cold and sweet. Many people don’t register it as “real coffee” the way they would a hot mug. But 120 mg of caffeine is enough to noticeably affect your focus, energy, and sleep, especially if you drink it later in the day.

• Standard coffee match: An 8 oz home-brewed coffee averages 95-165 mg of caffeine. The 120 mg in the Doubleshot can fits well within that band, making it a concentrated caffeine source in a small package.
• Soda comparison: A 12 oz can of Coca-Cola has about 34 mg of caffeine. You would need to drink roughly three and a half sodas to match the single small Doubleshot can.
• Energy drink spectrum: The larger 15 oz Starbucks Doubleshot Energy contains 135 mg total. The small espresso can has nearly the same total caffeine in less than half the liquid volume.
• Daily intake context: The FDA suggests healthy adults keep caffeine at or below roughly 400 mg per day. One small Doubleshot Espresso accounts for about 30% of that typical limit.
• Sleep timing: Most people feel caffeine’s effects for 4 to 6 hours. A 120 mg dose in the afternoon can easily linger into bedtime, particularly if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

Knowing the exact number helps you plan. If you’ve already had a cup or two of coffee earlier in the day, adding a Doubleshot can push your total past your usual tolerance or the general daily recommendation.

How It Compares To A Fresh Starbucks Double Shot

If you order a double shot of espresso at a Starbucks counter, you get roughly 150 mg of caffeine. The canned Doubleshot Espresso contains 120 mg — a 30 mg difference that matters if you are counting milligrams.

Why the gap? The canned version is a ready-to-drink product (documented by 120 mg caffeine databases). It is blended with reduced-fat milk, sugar, and chicory inulin, which dilutes the pure espresso concentration compared to a fresh-pulled shot.

Essentially, the can delivers about 80% of the caffeine punch of its fresh-brewed in-store counterpart. If you want the full wallop of a granular double shot, order hot from the barista. If convenience and a slightly milder ride are your priorities, the can is a practical swap.

The table shows that the small Doubleshot can is positioned between a single and double in-store shot. It also has a much higher caffeine concentration than the larger Energy line cans.

What About The Other Doubleshot Variants

Starbucks sells several drinks under the “Doubleshot” name, and the caffeine content varies significantly between them. Checking the label before you buy prevents grabbing a stronger or weaker option than you expected.

1. Doubleshot Energy (15 oz): Contains 135 mg of caffeine. It also includes taurine (1800 mg), panax ginseng (120 mg), and guarana (90 mg) — additional stimulants that alter the overall energy profile.
2. Doubleshot Energy Mocha (15 oz): Also lists 135 mg of caffeine per the official PepsiCo product facts. The chocolate flavor adds calories but does not raise the caffeine further.
3. Doubleshot Energy Vanilla (15 oz): Same 135 mg caffeine base as the other Energy variants. It contains 210 calories per can and includes riboflavin (3.4 mg) along with the energy blend.
4. Doubleshot Espresso + Cream (6.5 oz): Identical 6.5 oz format with the same 120 mg of caffeine. The difference is added cream to the reduced-fat milk base, bringing the can to 140 calories.

The Energy line has a much lower caffeine concentration at about 9 mg per ounce because it is served in a 15 oz can. The small 6.5 oz Espresso can is actually more than twice as concentrated by volume.

Watching Your Caffeine Intake Here Is The Calculation

If you track caffeine for health reasons, the small can’s 120 mg represents a moderate single dose. A vs in-store espresso comparison confirms the canned version has less caffeine than its fresh counterpart, making it a slightly lighter choice despite the shared “double shot” branding.

Looking At The Concentration

At 18.46 mg per ounce, the Doubleshot Espresso is more concentrated than standard soda (around 3 mg/oz) but far less concentrated than straight espresso, which runs roughly 60 to 75 mg per 1 oz shot. That places it solidly in the moderate range for canned coffee drinks.

For most healthy adults, one can fits comfortably within a balanced daily caffeine budget. If you follow a typical 400 mg daily limit, this can covers roughly one-third of that. Pairing it with another coffee drink later in the day may push your total higher than planned, so accounting for the 120 mg upfront helps avoid overshooting your personal limit.

The Bottom Line

The small 6.5 oz can of Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso contains 120 mg of caffeine. It is a portable, concentrated coffee drink that fits between a single and double in-store shot in terms of energy delivery. Compared to the fresh café version, it offers about 30 mg less caffeine, which may suit drinkers who want a slightly smoother ride.

Caffeine sensitivity varies widely, so if you have high blood pressure, anxiety, or a known caffeine intolerance, checking that 120 mg figure with your primary care doctor or pharmacist can help confirm whether the small can fits your personal daily limit and health background.