Order This For A Guaranteed Caffeine Fix

Coffee drinkers know that a cup of joe isn’t just a nice beverage — for many of us caffeine-crazed java lovers, it is a necessary part of our morning routine, not to mention it is the only way for us to make it through the entire work day. Unfortunately, office coffee doesn’t always cut it, and those daily runs to Starbucks can get expensive, so you want to make sure you are getting the biggest buzz for your buck when you do end up shelling out for fancy coffee shop drinks. Luckily for you coffee lovers, Business Insider set out to find what kind of coffee has the most caffeine, so you can get the most out of your cup. Let’s all take a collective sigh of relief.

Breaking down the numbers in a simple, easy-to-understand video, Business Insider shows us everything we’ve ever wanted to know about how much caffeine our morning brew packs. Whether you're looking for a quick fix to keep you awake during your morning meeting at work, or you're just looking for a little extra boost of energy to help make the afternoon go by a little faster, here are three things that determine just how much caffeine you're actually getting when you order up that cup of coffee.

1. Espresso Versus Regular American Drip

A typical serving of drip coffee contains 95-200 mg of caffeine per eight ounce cup, and a standard serving of espresso contains 47-75 mg of caffeine per one ounce cup. So while drip coffee contains more caffeine than a typical serving of espresso does, espresso has more caffeine per ounce, which explains the buzz you get from the tiny cup.

2. The Coffee Bean Matters

Different beans have varying levels of caffeine content. For example, Ethiopian coffee is 1.13 percent caffeine, while Tanzanian coffee is 1.42 percent caffeine. The popular Arabica bean only contains 1.5 percent caffeine, while the strongest bean, the robusta bean, is 2.4 percent caffeine. Believe it or not, the color of the bean reveals information about its caffeine content. Darker beans require a longer roasting time, which means that more caffeine will burn off. Therefore if you are looking for a caffeine fix, stick with light beans.

3. How the Beans are Prepared Affects Caffeine Content

For the most caffeine per cup, buy finely ground coffee beans. Finer grinds have greater surface area for caffeine extraction. Additionally, brewing coffee between 195-205 degrees yields the best caffeine extraction. A longer brew time also results in a more caffeinated beverage, so stick with drip coffee instead of a French press.

So, if you are at a coffee house looking for the most caffeine-infused option on the menu, opt for a double espresso made with lightly roasted robusta beans. Or, if you are anything like me, you will just skip the whole shebang and order tea.

To see how it all breaks down (and for more tips on how to get the most caffeine from your coffee as possible), check out Business Insider's full video.

Images: Brandon Shea, Pen Waggener, tico_24,David Hilowitz/Flickr