Does hot chocolate have caffeine?

Chocolate naturally contains a little caffeine (and its gentler cousin, theobromine). A typical cup of hot chocolate has about 5-25 mg of caffeine, compared with about 95 mg in a cup of brewed coffee.

Caffeine by ingredient (approximate)

Ingredient Caffeine
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa about 12 mg
1 oz dark chocolate (70%) about 20-25 mg
1 oz milk chocolate about 5-6 mg
White chocolate essentially none
1 shot espresso about 63 mg

Our recipes

Every recipe lists estimated caffeine. Lowest: white hot chocolate. Highest: the mocha and peppermint mocha, at about 150 mg with a double shot.

For kids

Plain hot cocoa is low in caffeine, but if you’re cutting it out entirely, white hot chocolate is the safest bet. This is general information: ask a pediatrician about limits for young children.

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