Just 10 minutes! At Caffeine Kick you can find the answers to all your caffeine related questions like ‘how long does it take for caffeine to kick in’ & more. 

Do you have 10 minutes? Because on average that’s how long it takes for caffeine to kick in. The specific timing and the overall effect however can vary on several things, starting with the source. Further on you will find out how different forms of caffeine affect the body as well as how long does it take for caffeine to kick in.

What different forms of caffeine are there?

Caffeine comes in many different forms as well as in new and creative cups, cocktails and cake tins. A few common, high caffeine drinks on most menus are:

  • Coffee – Espresso, latte, americano etc.
  • Tea – English Breakfast, green, matcha & more.
  • Energy drinks – RedBull, Monster Rockstar to name a few.

Each example houses many variants which individually include ingredients and/or chemicals that can aid or inhibit the effects of the caffeine they contain.

As for food that contains caffeine – chocolate comes from the cocoa plant, which similarly produces beans which we process into consumable products. It is proven that chocolate contains caffeine too. Dark chocolate has around 43mg of caffeine per 100g (higher than a cup of almost any tea!) and milk chocolate which is 20mg per 100g. The higher the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate the higher the caffeine content.

Coffee is also a key ingredient in a few recipes. You can calculate the amount of caffeine included in your coffee cakes and espresso martini cocktails according to how many shots you use. 

How much caffeine is in coffee?

63.6mg per shot of espresso. Each type of coffee usually consists of (at least) 1 espresso shot and the average espresso shot contains around 63.6mg of caffeine approximately 15.9% of your recommended daily intake of caffeine. Starbucks however averages at 75mg of caffeine per pod. This means coffee drinks like a latte or americano which commonly contain 2 or 3 shots of espresso each start at 124mg and can easily reach up to around 215mg of caffeine per cup if you aren’t careful.

How much caffeine is in tea?

For those looking to cut back on caffeine teas are the top substitution suggestion as they contain far less than the average caffeinated drink. But they are completely caffeine-free, take a look how much is these fan favorites*:

  • English breakfast tea – 40mg
  • Green tea – 35mg
  • Matcha – 32mg
  • Black tea – 20mg
  • Earl grey – 50mg

*Each can vary depending on how long you brew the tea for. With a longer time brewing you can expect higher amounts of caffeine. Adding hot water – reusing the same tea bag will result in a lower amount than the first soak.

Check out this caffeine calculator to see exactly how much caffeine is in your coffee cup.

How long does it take for caffeine to kick in?

10 minutes. Answering the question most commonly asked, ‘how long does it take for caffeine from coffee to kick in?’, is just 10 minutes. From just this far in you will start to feel the effects; how strongly and how long these last will depend deeply on factors such as tolerance, intake and the individual. Even though after only 10 minutes you might notice the effects of caffeine appearing this is far from the peak. Prepare for the side effects to only increase for the next 45 to 60 minutes after you have consumed caffeine.

The quantity of caffeine and combination of ingredients comes into play and can vary the symptoms you might experience. This makes figuring out how long does it take for caffeine to kick in after it is ingested via food far harder to calculate – you may even feel no effects at all. However we do have the data on other caffeine sources such as tea.

How long does it take for caffeine from tea to kick in?

When looking at tea, the time it takes for the caffeine to kick in depends on the blend/brew. English breakfast tea contains around 40mg of caffeine, 70% which is almost as much as one espresso, and while the rate at which caffeine takes effect is the same (10 minutes), other chemicals in certain types of tea, like l-theanine (find out more in our ways to reduce the effects for caffeine section), can reduce, aid or even inhibit the effects of the caffeine. This means you may not experience the caffeine related side effects as strongly or even at all. 

How long does it take for caffeine pills to kick in?

Based on a few brands like ‘Pro Plus’ and ‘ProLab’ they contain between 100-200mg of caffeine per pill. Typically these are expected to peak 1 hour after ingesting. This is when the caffeine in the pills is likely to be fully absorbed into the bloodstream. Afterwards it is not uncommon for sleep to be affected as the caffeine content is more concentrated coming from a pill.

How long does caffeine stay in your system?

Estimated 10 hours. Completely clearing caffeine from your system is expected to take around 10 hours. Although the consistency of your caffeine intake and the quantity at which you regularly consume can vary the results, the mean half-life of coffee falls around 5 hours. From here you should experience a drop off in the effects of caffeine until it’s eliminated from your bloodstream at around hour 10. Of course upping your intake will mean continually resetting the clock with every cup.

If you find you are struggling with the effects for longer than you’d like then we suggest considering ways to cut back your caffeine intake in favor of our alternatives or seek other ways to offset the effects of caffeine – as outlined later on. 

How long do caffeine pills stay in your system?

Designed to simulate the effects of caffeine from drinks like coffee and tea – just with a more intense jolt, caffeine tablets aim to be out of your system in the same period of time as caffeine would naturally. Most brands include an estimate on the label of 8 hours, meaning they should be out of your system completely within 10 hours, as with other forms of caffeine – although more sensitive groups may still see side effects even after 12 hours.

What are the effects of caffeine?

The effects of caffeine on your body vary according to the individual. Some people are more susceptible, and experience more side effects than others. The goal most people seem to seek is a mental alertness they can not achieve by other means. Caffeine consumption offers a quick kick and comes with a few convenient as well as a few concerning symptoms.

Here’s a few things you can look out for while finding out how long does it take for caffeine to kick in:

  • Anxiety
  • Increased rate heart
  • Irritability
  • Mental alertness
  • Sleeplessness
  • Rapid breathing
  • Reduced appetite
  • Trembling/jitters

People suffering with symptoms each day often opt to substitute a brew or two for decaf-coffee, low-caffeine tea or even cut it out all together. Certainly the best choice for some, but before taking drastic action perhaps consider cutting back your daily intake and ways to counteract the effects of caffeine.

What is the recommended daily intake of caffeine?

400mg of caffeine. The recommended daily allowance/intake (or RDA and RDI used interchangeably) for an adult person is around 400mg per day. This is only an estimate however and everyone should learn their own limits.

Whether the caffeine you consume is found in food, absorbed with alcohol or drunk with dairy, the milligrams mount up and often people are unaware of the exact amount they have each day. Keeping track of your intake can help to narrow down the best caffeine combinations for you.

How does age affect caffeine intake?

As you age your caffeine tolerance can be affected. Most people know that your metabolism supposedly slows down over the years and this downward trend applies to the effects you are likely to feel from caffeine too. Those aged 70-80 years old can expect it to take 33% longer to metabolise coffee than it takes teens and twenty year olds.

What are caffeine withdrawal symptoms?

If you are cutting caffeine out of your daily life, or if you even just miss your morning mug of coffee it is possible you will suffer caffeine withdrawal symptoms. So while wondering ‘how long does it take for caffeine to kick in?’ it is also important to know what early indications of caffeine withdrawal you can look out for once the pick me up has passed. Here are a few of the most commonly reported side effects for you can look out for:

  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Lack of concentration
  • Tiredness/Fatigue

These can occur within a few hours or a few days depending on your daily caffeine intake. People who drink a lot of coffee are likely to see symptoms of caffeine withdrawal appear sooner than those who drink it infrequently. Some may not experience or not be aware that they are experiencing any issues from their consumption.

What ways are there to reduce the effects of caffeine?

Just got the jitters and are looking to reduce the effects of caffeine? As well as cutting back on coffee there are all sorts of ways to offset the effects each day. Easy at home methods to reduce the effects of caffeine include exercise, meditation and drinking water. 

Amino acids like L-Theanine, which is found naturally in tea, have been shown to relieve the overwhelming symptoms caused by coffee as well as improve-brain function. Taking these can allow some of the caffeine sensitive crew (who fear the effect when wondering how long does It take for caffeine to kick in) to enjoy the perks without suffering the side effects.

By learning how to make espresso at home you can control every aspect your caffeine intake.