Seattle’s Best Coffee
Caffeine
260 mg
Note: Caffeine amounts are based on standard brewed Seattle’s Best Coffee and can vary slightly by roast, brewing strength, and location. Larger sizes (16 fl oz, 20 fl oz) contain proportionally more caffeine.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Caffeine Level | High |
| Serving Size | 12 fl oz |
| Serving Size (ml) | 355 ml |
| Caffeine | 260 mg |
| Calories | 10 kcal |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Caffeine per fl oz | 21–22 mg/fl oz |
Seattle’s Best Coffee is a popular brand owned by Starbucks, known for offering smooth, approachable blends at an affordable price. While it’s often considered a “milder” brand in terms of flavor, the caffeine content in Seattle’s Best brewed coffee is surprisingly high, making it a strong choice for those who want both taste and energy.
What Is Seattle’s Best Coffee?
Seattle’s Best Coffee began in the 1970s as a small coffee shop in Seattle and grew into a nationally recognized brand. Today, it’s sold in grocery stores, cafés, and restaurants across the U.S., offering a range of blends and roast levels.
Key traits of Seattle’s Best Coffee include:
- Owned by Starbucks: Acquired in 2003, positioned as a more affordable option.
- Wide availability: Sold in grocery stores, restaurants, and drive‑thru locations.
- Approachable blends: Known for smooth, less acidic flavor profiles.
- Multiple roasts: From light to dark, catering to different preferences.
- Everyday value: Marketed as a budget‑friendly alternative to premium coffee.
Together, these qualities make Seattle’s Best Coffee a go‑to option for casual coffee drinkers who still want a strong caffeine kick.
Flavor Profile and Roast Level of Seattle’s Best Coffee
Seattle’s Best offers a range of roasts, each with its own flavor profile. While the brand emphasizes smoothness, the caffeine content remains consistently high across roasts.
Flavor and roast highlights:
- Light Roast: Bright, slightly acidic, with a mild body.
- Medium Roast: Balanced flavor, smooth finish, and approachable taste.
- Dark Roast: Bold, smoky, with a heavier body and lower perceived acidity.
- House Blends: Designed to be versatile and crowd‑pleasing.
- Specialty Blends: Seasonal or limited editions with unique flavor notes.
No matter the roast, Seattle’s Best Coffee is crafted to be smooth and easy to drink, appealing to a wide audience.
Nutritional Facts of Seattle’s Best Coffee
Brewed black coffee is naturally low in calories, fat, and sugar. Seattle’s Best brewed coffee follows this same nutritional profile.
Typical nutrition per 12 fl oz cup (black, no additives):
- Calories: 10 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Caffeine: 260 mg
These values apply to plain brewed coffee. Adding milk, cream, or sugar will increase calories and carbohydrates, but caffeine remains unchanged.
Does Seattle’s Best Coffee Contain Caffeine?
Yes — Seattle’s Best Coffee is considered one of the stronger brewed coffees available in mainstream cafés. Its caffeine levels are comparable to Starbucks brewed coffee, which makes sense since Starbucks owns the brand.
Caffeine facts:
- Source: 100% Arabica coffee beans.
- 12 fl oz cup: 260 mg caffeine.
- 16 fl oz cup: 330 mg caffeine.
- 20 fl oz cup: 415 mg caffeine.
- Per fl oz: 21–22 mg caffeine.
This places Seattle’s Best Coffee in the “high caffeine” category, stronger than many other chain‑brewed coffees.
Caffeine in Seattle’s Best Coffee by Cup Size
The caffeine content scales with cup size. Even the smallest size delivers more caffeine than a standard 8 oz home‑brewed coffee.
Approximate caffeine by size:
- Small (12 fl oz): 260 mg
- Medium (16 fl oz): 330 mg
- Large (20 fl oz): 415 mg
- Per fl oz average: 21.7 mg
This means a large 20 fl oz cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee contains more caffeine than four cans of most energy drinks.
Caffeine Content by Roast and Blend Variety
While roast level affects flavor, it doesn’t drastically change caffeine content in Seattle’s Best Coffee. The brewing method and serving size are the biggest factors.
Roast and blend overview:
- Light Roast: 260 mg per 12 fl oz (similar to medium and dark).
- Medium Roast: 260 mg per 12 fl oz.
- Dark Roast: 260 mg per 12 fl oz.
- Specialty blends: Typically in the same range, unless decaf.
- Decaf option: 5–10 mg per 12 fl oz.
In short, roast level changes taste but not caffeine strength — Seattle’s Best remains consistently high in caffeine across blends.
Daily Caffeine Intake: Where Seattle’s Best Coffee Fits In
Health experts, including the FDA, recommend a daily caffeine limit of up to 400 mg for healthy adults. Seattle’s Best Coffee can approach or exceed that in just one large cup.
Comparison to other drinks:
- Seattle’s Best (12 fl oz): 260 mg
- Seattle’s Best (20 fl oz): 415 mg
- Brewed coffee (8 fl oz average): 95 mg
- Espresso (1 oz): 63 mg
- Energy drink (8 oz): 70–80 mg
This means a single large Seattle’s Best Coffee can exceed the recommended daily limit for some individuals, especially those sensitive to caffeine.