When I was in college, there were always a few students who would come into the library late at night asking what is the strongest coffee. They would describe this as “the blackest coffee you have” or “coffee that will wake the dead.” And while we didn’t always have what they were looking for, we always had a pretty strong brew on hand.
So, what is the strongest coffee? It’s quite subjective. Some people might say it’s simply the darkest roast while others might say it’s any coffee with high caffeine content. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.
If you’re looking for a strong cup of joe, there are a few things you can do to make sure your brew packs a punch. First, choose dark roasted beans as these tend to be more robust and full-flavored than lighter roasts. Second, grind your beans fresh to release the flavor and aroma. Finally, use less water when brewing to create a more concentrated drink.
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What Do We Mean By Strong Coffee?
Before we talk about strong coffee, we need to define what “strength” means.
What we mean by strong coffee is coffee that has higher caffeine content.
A standard 250 ml cup of black filter drip-brewed coffee typically has 100 to 150 mg of caffeine.
A cup of the Sons of the Amazons blend from Scotland has 485 mg of caffeine, which is 4 times higher than a regular 8 oz. serving.
What we’re referring to is strong, concentrated, or high caffeinated coffees, which may not be suitable for everyone. Before drinking any, we recommend speaking to a healthcare professional.
What is The Strongest Coffee?
Here’s a quick peek at the 7 strongest coffee brands. This list is not ranked in any particular order.
1. Sons Of Amazon
Sons of Amazon is sourced from the rainforests of the Amazon and is blended and roasted in the United Kingdom.
Their coffee is 200% stronger than regular coffee, containing 440 mg of caffeine in every 8 oz (small) cup.
Sons of Amazon carefully select their beans to ensure their strong, smooth, and flavorful blend. There is no bitterness, so it’s a great choice for anyone who wants a bold yet mild cup of joe.
2. Hustle Coffee
Hustle Coffee is the best coffee for those who need an extra boost to stay focused. This coffee is strong and will help you power through your workday.
With 445 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. serving, this caffeinated beverage is one of the strongest in the world. It’s perfect for people who need an extra boost of energy and focus.
This premium blend is for anyone who wants a full-bodied and rich-tasting cup of joe. Fits all sizes of espresso, French press, and drip coffee makers.
3. Death Wish Coffee
If you’re looking for something strong, full-flavored, and a little on the intense side, then check out Death Wish Coffee. This stuff is no joke, so if you’re not into bold flavors, this may not be the coffee for you.
Death Wish contains a whopping 728 mg of caffeine per 12 oz. serving.
The coffee is a mixture of light and dark roasts.
The strong, robusta coffee beans in Death Wish are roasted for longer to give this blend its intense, bold flavor.
The smooth, mellow Arabica beans add a subtle sweetness, making it the perfect cup for those who like their java with a little extra kick.
If you’re looking for a strong and full-flavored cup of coffee, try using a French press to grind and brew your coffee beans.
The coffee has a smooth, subtle flavor that is never bitter and has a cherry and chocolate flavor profile.
4. Strong Coffee To Wake The Dead
Strong Coffee to Wake The Dead takes great care in its roasting process, ensuring that each batch is roasted by hand in small quantities with only the highest quality beans. This attention to detail results in a coffee that is sure to please even the most discerning of palates.
The small-batch roasting process used by the company allows them to have more control over the flavors that are brought out in the coffee beans. The beans are roasted and packed in the UK using advanced techniques, and no additives are used to maintain a natural flavor. The coffee is quite delicious.
The rich and smoky flavor of their coffee is perfect for waking you up from a deep slumber or getting you through the morning blues.
5. Cannonball Coffee
This delicious and energizing instant coffee contains 400 mg of caffeine per 25 grams. This drink is perfect for those who want to be more productive!
The highest quality, highly caffeinated, and antioxidant-rich coffee beans are used to make every cup of this delicious, energizing, and invigorating brew.
At Cannonball, their roasting process ensures that their beans are roasted to just the right level. This ensures that their medium-roasted coffee beans are smooth but still strong enough to provide a strong, energizing cup of coffee.
Every order of coffee beans from Cannonball comes with a free, easy-to-follow guide to making the perfect cup of coffee.
6. Nuclear Coffee
Nuclear Coffee is committed to providing its customers with the best possible tasting cup of coffee.
They carefully control their coffee’s strength by monitoring the duration and temperature of the beans’ exposure to heat. They draw on over 30 years of experience to ensure that every cup of coffee is of the highest quality.
Their coffee beans are sourced from farms that practice fair trade, ensuring they get a fair wage for their crops.
In addition to the premiums, there is a commitment to investing in agriculture, education, and reforesting.
The coffee beans are from three different continents, and the taste is mild but satisfying.
7. Black Donkey Coffee
Another strong brand of coffee is Black Donkey. Both their distinctive mix of 100 percent robusta and their expert roasting process offer you the extra boost for peak performance and optimal creativity.
They ensure the cultivation of the beans is as natural as possible, with no artificial flavors or enhancers added.
All of their production is environmentally friendly.
Black Donkey carefully selects only high-quality coffee beans from countries like Columbia, India, and Brazil. This low acid, subtly flavored blend is perfect for any lover of fine, gourmet coffees!
What Are The Strongest Coffee Beans?
Compared to other types of coffee, robusta beans have twice as much caffeine as arabica.
Many brands of strong coffee use various coffee bean varieties from around the world. They do this to grow their brand to become one of the strongest in the industry.
4 Factors That Impact Coffee Strength
1. Brew
A team of researchers in Italy did a study with arabica coffee and discovered that it had a lower strength of flavor but a higher concentration of caffeine.
Because this type of iced coffee is brewed for a longer time than typical, it has a higher amount of caffeine. To dilute the drink, it’s usually mixed with water or milk and ice.
The strength and amount of caffeine in your cup of coffee are affected by the number of coffee grounds you use. Some experts suggest that you should use two teaspoons of ground coffee beans for every six ounces of water.
If you want to make your coffee stronger, add more coffee grounds and less water. This will make the coffee thicker, more intense in flavor, and higher in caffeine content.
2. Grind
Finer grinds create a stronger coffee due to the increased surface area available. This is because there is less time for the water to extract the flavor from the beans.
If you want a strong cup of coffee, go for a finer grind. The increased surface area will release more flavor compounds, resulting in a bolder taste. Just be aware that this also means there will be less caffeine per ounce.
If you want to extract the most caffeine and flavor from your coffee, you should use a coarser grind and brew for a longer period.
The amount of time that passes between grinding and brewing can affect the strength, and amount of caffeine, in your cup of coffee.
3. Beans
The level of caffeine in coffee beans will vary depending on the climate where they were cultivated.
While robusta coffee beans are known for their stronger taste, arabica coffee is more popular in coffee shops and homes because of its sweeter, smoother, and more complex flavors.
If you’re looking for a higher dose of coffee, robusta coffee beans are the way to go.
At 2.9 mg of caffeine by weight, they have about 2.2 to 2.7% of the stimulant. This makes them a great option for those looking for a pick-me-up.
Arabica coffee beans are more expensive to produce, but they have a sweet and airy taste with high acidity. These beans also have fruity tones and take longer to grow, resulting in less fruit.
4. Roast
The longer the coffee beans are roasted, the more bitter the coffee. The less roasted, the more mild the taste.
The roast of your coffee beans can have a big impact on the strength of your coffee. Lighter roasts tend to have more caffeine and a weaker flavor, while darker roasts have less caffeine and a stronger flavor.
Many factors can influence how strong your cup of coffee is. For the above statement to be accurate, you would have to compare the same type of coffee, brew it the same way, and use the same cup.
Some varieties of coffee and brewing techniques will result in higher amounts of caffeine. For instance, espresso has more caffeine than drip coffee. And the strength of your drink is a direct result of the method used.
Most would agree that a dark-roasted coffee bean is stronger in flavor than a light one. The intensity of a bean’s taste depends on how long the roasting process lasts. The length of time the coffee beans are cooked determines how strong their flavors are.
If you want to be able to taste the difference in coffee strength, it’s best to drink it black. Sugar and cream can soften the flavor and make it difficult to notice any differences between different roasts.
Coffee is delicious, but choosing the right brew and roasting level can have a huge impact on how much caffeine you get from it. A higher-caffeine blend in the morning can give you the energy you need to power through your morning, while a lower-caffeine option in the evening can help you wind down.
How to Brew The Strongest Coffee?
If you want to enjoy a delicious cup of strong coffee, your best bets are espresso, French press, or drip coffee makers.
Drip coffee takes a bit longer to brew than coffee made in a French press or espresso maker but the extra time is worth it for the rich flavor and increased caffeine content.
The 12-ounce serving of this brew has the most amount of caffeine.
Drip coffee takes about 4-6 minutes to brew, French press takes around 3-5 minutes, and espresso machine takes around 20-30 seconds.
Best Roast for the Strongest Coffee
The roast of the coffee beans is what determines the strength of the coffee. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become. Darker roasts have less water content and appear to be stronger, but in reality, they are not as strong as light roasts.
If you’re looking for the most flavorful cup of coffee, a dark-roasted blend is typically the way to go. For the most potent brew, try a dark-roasted Arabica bean.
If you find a particular cup of coffee to be too bitter, you can sweeten it up by adding some milk.
What is the strongest coffee – Conclusion
To figure out which cup of coffee has the most caffeine, you’ll have to consider the type of coffee bean, the roasting process, and the brewing method.
What is the strongest coffee? The strongest cup of coffee would be one made with fine, freshly ground, dark roasted robusta beans brewed in a French press.