Does White Coffee Have More Caffeine? – Yes! But How Much More?

Many coffee lovers after stumbling across white coffee are asking the legitimate question – does white coffee have more caffeine? 

The answer is yes, it does!

While you may have seen a site claiming that there is 50% more caffeine, I’ll tell you straight that this is just not true at all, nowhere near it.

Keep reading to find out just how much more caffeine is in white coffee.

Does White Coffee Have More Caffeine? – White Coffee Vs Espresso Caffeine Content

Yes, white coffee has more caffeine that other coffee beans of the same type and species.

The best and most accurate comparison to make when judging the effect that a roast profile has on the caffeine content is to compare the exact same beans that have been taken to different roast profiles.

While some, or one website in particular, claims that white coffee has up to half as much more (50% more) caffeine than regular coffee, the difference is nowhere near as much.

The correct figure when comparing like with like and removing all possible variables is 5.4%.

Figures can easily be manipulated when comparing the caffeine content of coffee beans of different roast levels. Such inaccuracies can be by comparing beans of different species of coffee, or beans from different locations and ones that have been processed differently.

Of course comparing different coffee drinks and brewing methods also skewers the results further. On a drink by drink and bean by bean basis and removing all other variables the result is that white coffee has only 5.4% more caffeine than regular coffee beans on average.

The reason being that caffeine gets lost during the roasting process. The brewing process that extracts the most caffeine per ounce is espresso, as it has from 65 mg to 75 mg of caffeine per ounce, which would make a shot of white espresso the beverage with the most caffeine by volume.

However,

a shot of espresso is very small and has less total caffeine than the drip brewing methods, percolator coffee, cold brew coffee, French press coffee and other brewing methods. Despite their low amount of caffeine per ounce they have a greater volume in terms of serving which makes them have greater total amount of caffeine.

Read: White coffee health benefits

White Coffee Vs Black Coffee

To compare white coffee Vs black coffee accurately we have to consider the important differences like the caffeine levels, roasting temperature and, of course, the flavor.

Both black coffee and white coffee start out as the same green coffee beans and are roasted at different temperatures and for different periods of time.

White coffee is loved by health nuts for its ability to retain a greater amount of healthy antioxidants and the powerful chlorogenic acid.

The biggest of all is the color of the coffee beans, black coffee beans when roasted to deep, dark roast, French or Italian roast are black beans, they are not brown like you would associate with regular coffee beans that you picture in your mind, they are black coffee beans.

White coffee, do you really need to guess the color of these beans?

They are not exactly white coffee beans, so, to call them white beans is a slight misnomer – just as white chocolate is not particularly white. They are, like white chocolate, they are a pasty, off-white color.

The taste profile of these two coffees is also very different. White coffee has a taste profile that is sweet and nutty and does not have a strong traditional coffee flavor that you are familiar with regular coffee.

The density is also very different – white coffee beans are a lot denser which is why they really need to be bought as pre-ground coffee beans. They will likely break your coffee grinder, no matter what kind you have, ceramic burr or metal burr. They need a stronger industrial coffee grinder to break them down due to the density.

White coffee is also better for you due to having greater amounts of healthy antioxidants like n-coumaric acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid and trigonelline as well as chlorogenic acid.

It is also slightly higher in caffeine, which is also considered as an antioxidant. It is fair to say that there are more health benefits with white coffee when compared to lack coffee.

What is worthy of paying attention to is that white coffee does not brew the same way as regular coffee. The result is a very bright and almost translucent light liquid. A second brewing results in a denser brew with a greater texture.

Read: How to brew white coffee

White Coffee Vs Blonde Roast

Let’s get into more details about White coffee Vs Blonde roast coffee and how they are different, which they are, and they are similar in many ways. Let’s not confuse the two.

Both these coffees have a reduced acidity and bitterness which means both are good for you if you don’t like a strong taste of bitterness or acidity or have stomach issues that make a low acidity a better choice for you.

Both are considered as a light roast with white coffee being by far the lighter of the two.

A blonde roast is a lightly roasted coffee beans that are roasted at a lower temperature and for a shorter period of time than medium and dark roasted coffee beans. White coffee is roasted at an even lower temperature and for a reduced period of time.

The result of short and low temperature roasting is a nutty flavor with hints of sweetness and a very unique and rare cup of coffee that is very enjoyable.

Is Light Roast And White Coffee The Same?

A light roast is a category of roasted coffee, it is a roast profile that includes both white coffee and blonde roast. A white coffee is the lightest roasted coffee in the light roast category.

All coffee beans start out the same, as green coffee beans and as one of the two species of coffee beans, Arabica or Robusta.

Frequently Asked Questions About Does White Coffee Have More Caffeine?

Why Is It Called White Coffee?

The name “white coffee” is a literal translation from the Chinese name. White coffee and the roasting process was brought into Malaysia by Chinese migrant workers to the towns of Ipoh Perak, Georgetown and spread to Indonesia where it is known locally as Kopi Puti.

There are certain inaccuracies regarding why it is called white coffee, perhaps lost in history and translation, the name does indeed come from the color of the coffee beans when roasted. When roasted they are not a light or dark brown color but more of a white, or off-white color – very similar to white chocolate.

Other claims are that the product is called white coffee due to the color of the final cup of coffee when milk is added, usually condensed milk.

Notably, the beans are roasted at a lower temperature and for half as long as other roasts and are roasted with palm oil margarine.

Read: What is white coffee?

Is White Coffee Less Bitter?

Due to the reduced roasting temperature of 162C (325F) there is almost no caramelization noted in the flavor profile and thus by definition is less bitter than dark roast coffee and other roasted coffee beans.

Is Blonde And White Coffee The Same?

Blonde roast coffee is not the same as white coffee, although it is due to the naming, at least initially confusing the two. They are two distinct and different roast profiles.

A blond roast is roasted at 355F to 400F (180C to 205C) compared to 325F (162C) for white coffee.

Also,

the roasting times are different with white coffee roasted for only half as long on average. The result is two very different coffees that both look different in appearance, taste and caffeine content.

White coffee has on average 5.4% more caffeine and has a more prominent nutty sweet flavor profile. The beans are also whitish, similar to white chocolate.

Is White Coffee Easier On Your Stomach?

Yes, if you are seeking out a coffee healthier for your stomach than other beans, then white beans are a better choice due to being low acid beans. Also, if you have a particular issue with the acidity in coffee or acidic flavor, you can consider using white coffee beans to make a tasty and distinctive cold brew coffee which is, of all the brewing techniques, the one that produces the lowest acidity.

What Has More Caffeine White Coffee Or Espresso?

Many coffee lovers and coffee enthusiasts make the mistake of thinking that there is more caffeine in a shot of espresso than another cup of coffee.

The total amount of caffeine in an espresso shot varies from 65 mg at your local coffee shop to 75 mg at Starbucks. The total caffeine is lower than many other types of coffee beverages – regardless of which type of beans were used to pull the espresso shot.

A white coffee, due to having 5.4% more caffeine would have a little extra caffeine than a shot of espresso that is brewed with exactly the same beans when roasted to a medium, medium-dark or dark roast.

A white espresso – which is rare, has more caffeine than a blond espresso and a regular espresso.

What Coffee Is The Strongest Light Or Dark?

Extreme coffee lovers and serious coffee drinkers know the answer to this one!

The greatest caffeine kick is experienced from lighter roasts than darker roasts which means the coffee that has the greatest caffeine levels is the hard-to-find and rare white coffee.

The strongest flavor, in terms of a traditional coffee taste, are darker roasts, but darker roasts have slightly less caffeine.

The caffeine content is lost during the roasting process, meaning the lighter roasts and lighter a coffee is roasted, the more caffeine it will have.

Final Thoughts – Does White Coffee Have More Caffeine? 

If you have read this far, I hope that I have answered the question “does white coffee have more caffeine?” to your high standards and dispelled some myths and inaccuracies. White coffee has only 5.4% more caffeine than other coffees and not the wildly reported 50% more caffeine.

Have you tried white coffee?

How did you brew it?

Did you enjoy it?

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location