Cafe Bustelo originated in Cuba. Today it is owned by the J.M. Smucker Company and produced by Rowland Coffee Roasters, Inc.
It is a popular coffee product made with dark roasted, Cuban-style grounds known to contain a high volume of caffeine compared to similar products. Known for its strong flavor, bold tones, and high caffeine content, it is often the preferred product for making espressos. But how much caffeine is in Café Bustelo?
Is Cafe Bustelo high in caffeine?
The short answer to this question is, yes, Cafe Bustelo is relatively high in caffeine. This is partly the result of the stylized flavor, but it is also part of the overall branding of this product.
Popular among hard-working people, it is appreciated for its strong stimulating effect. Its rich, earthy flavor and strong caffeine content are indispensable features of this beloved product.
However, some fans of the brand want to enjoy Cafe Bustelo while monitoring and limiting how much caffeine they consume. For this, we need to go a little in-depth.
Is Cafe Bustelo stronger than other coffees?
Part of the way Cafe Bustelo gets its distinct flavor and strong caffeinated effect is by incorporating “robusta beans” in its blend. These are listed as high in caffeine content.
While the total concentration of caffeine in Cafe Bustelo is higher than average, it is also lower than the strongest coffee products on the market.
It’s really just above halfway between the strongest and the weakest coffee blends you can readily find on supermarket shelves. In the final analysis, within the category of strong espresso blends, Cafe Bustelo is strong. But it is far from the strongest.
How much caffeine is in Cafe Bustelo?
The average recommended serving is a 12-ounce fluid cup, and a cup of Cafe Bustelo, sized accordingly, will contain an average of 96 mg of caffeine. A 12-ounce cup of Cafe Bustelo will range between 60 and 90 mg.
There will always be some variation because each coffee bean does not receive the same amount of the substance from the trees on which it grows. For this reason, the caffeine content is always a bit tough to measure.
But Cafe Bustelo blends are just a bit above the known and accepted average caffeine levels because of the beans it uses.
How much caffeine is in an espresso shot of Cafe Bustelo?
It might surprise you to learn that the average shot of espresso is really not very high in caffeine. The baseline for a 1-ounce shot of espresso is 63 mg. The average serving of coffee, which is between 8 and 16 ounces, will have between 480 to 961 mg of caffeine.
With the inclusion of its robusta beans, a 63 mg espresso serving of Cafe Bustelo is going to be somewhere between 60 and 70 mg of caffeine.
Clearly, this is not record-breaking, but it is technically higher than average. For a new coffee drinker, this might be a pretty strong shot. But for the modern coffee drinker who drinks a pot or more of coffee each day, this is child’s play.
How much caffeine is in a Cafe Bustelo K cup?
This is another question a lot of people ask about this brand. The answer is that approximately 120 mg of caffeine can be found in the average Cafe Bustelo Keurig K Cup.
Of course, it needs to be borne in mind that this is an average and that no two coffee beans of the same species will have the same amount of caffeine in them. So your Cafe Bustelo can be expected to vary in strength from 110 to 130 mg of caffeine per serving.
Tips on Limiting Your Cafe Bustelo Caffeine Intake
Cafe Bustelo is popular among people who enjoy it at work and rely on it to keep their energy levels high for long periods. If this describes you, then you may want to reduce your intake for optimal long-term health. However, we understand this can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are well-known, tried, and true ways to reduce caffeine intake.
Review Your Caffeine Use
Caffeine is a mildly to moderately addictive substance. This means those of us who enjoy it can have a tendency to use too much of it without putting a lot of thought into our consumption. In order to moderate our coffee drinking, it will be necessary to monitor it and be aware of it.
Try writing down how much coffee you drink each day and make up a little chart at the end of each week. This will help you see how you’re doing over time. Don’t worry about making your record super accurate. The mere act of recording your consumption will generate the awareness we need to moderate our behavior.
1. Back off Gradually
If your consumption is high or growing, try using the data you have gathered to cut back. Now that you can see when you’re imbibing coffee and how much, you can more easily reduce your consumption. You can use this data to make the following tips more practicable and incorporate other beverages into your daily intake to help.
2. Drink Caffeine Only as Needed
If you use caffeine to stay alert during work, cutting back can be tough. One thing that can be especially helpful is to choose to drink it only when you need it to be productive. Don’t drink it on your days off, and stop drinking coffee after the end of your workday. Ideally, stop drinking it four hours before the end of your workday, if possible.
3. Reconsider Espresso
As we discussed above, a shot of espresso contains significantly less caffeine than the drinks the average coffee drinker takes all day long. So, starting your morning with an espresso shot might be a good way to start cutting back.
Espressos are something of a delicacy, and we think you’ll find that making your caffeine drinks more refined will make them harder to produce and easier to appreciate. So it can give you a psychological advantage in your efforts to cut back.
4. Try Alternatives
Introducing an espresso shot is one alternative. But using other less caffeinated drinks will be a good next step. Green tea is one of the strongest caffeinated teas, but it is weaker than coffee. There is a range of caffeine levels in different teas that you can use to stop your intake down.
5. Make Your Coffee Less Strong
If you don’t like tea, you can try gradually making your coffee weaker. You can do this by using fewer grounds or by using more water when you brew it.
6. Drink More Water
Drinking more water will help satisfy the urge to hold something in your hand and drink. But even more importantly, it will help clean your insides. Try adding a twist of lemon for flavor.
This will also do wonders for your filter organs. It will help your kidneys recover from excessive coffee drinking. In turn, this can reduce your tolerance to caffeine, which will help you to drink less while still getting the energizing benefits.
Cafe Bustelo is a beloved coffee brand known for its robust flavor and high caffeine content. While it is stronger than some blends, it falls in the middle of the spectrum of coffee strengths.
Those who wish to limit their caffeine intake can take gradual steps to reduce their consumption, such as monitoring their coffee use, cutting back gradually, and incorporating alternatives like green tea or weaker coffee blends. Ultimately, Cafe Bustelo remains a popular choice for those relying on coffee for daily energy needs.
