How Much Caffeine is in Death Wish Coffee? A Review

If you’re a coffee lover like me, this is the stimulating, energy and brain bolstering brew that you need in your life. (Ok, need is a strong word but if you love coffee, you will want to check it out.) After twelve years of searching for a strong, quick kick to the pants I stumbled upon a very intesting, highly caffienated coffee. In fact, Death Wish Coffee caffeine content is, according to the company, among the highest in the world.

What is Death Wish Coffee?

This coffee brand was started in Saratoga Springs, New York by a man named Mike Brown. Using a selection of beans noted for producing high caffeine content, Brown is constantly changing his blend to continue to produce his coffee’s rich flavor and caffeine blast.

The coffees are also fair trade and USDA certified organic.

TO TRY: Have you ever tried cooking with coffee?

How much caffeine is in Death Wish Coffee?

Death Wish is really dedicated to producing high-caffeine coffee. And to ensure that they stay in the ranks of the world’s strongest coffee, they put a lot of money and effort to regularly testing their coffee to give the most accurate results on caffeine content. They do this to make sure they stay on top as the strongest coffee in the world.

According to Consumer Reports, Death Wish’s caffeine content is 59 milligrams per fluid ounce. Is that really the world’s strongest coffee? I couldn’t find anything stronger, although I did notice that the company used the wording, “among the strongest coffees in the world” on marketing material.

Death Wish Coffee caffeine content compared to your average cup of joe

If Death Wish Coffee caffeine mg is around 59, how does that compare to other coffee brands? The average cup of coffee, like Dunkin Donuts or Seattle’s Best, has around 12 mg of caffeine per ounce. In other words, a typical eight-ounce cup of coffee has around 96 mg. But a cup of Death Wish has over 470 mg of caffeine.

That’s a big difference!

But be sure to see my comments below about the amount of ground coffee per serving and how this might impact caffeine content.

Possible side effects of drinking Death Wish Coffee

The FDA recommends a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day for healthy adults. A single cup of Death Wish exceeds this amount, which has led to some concern about the possible side effects of this coffee brand.

However, according to FDA information on the effects of caffeine, toxic side effects, such as seizure, has only been seen with the rapid consumption of around 1,200 mg of caffeine. (This could happen from dietary supplements.)

However, caffeine, when consumed in lower doses, is considered to have some beneficial health effects, like increasing brain function. It also elevates energy and is considered to have aphrodisiac properties.

But because the per cup serving of caffeine is so high in Death Wish, this is a coffee you may want to drink in moderation, like sticking to one cup per day. I drank one cup per day for several weeks without any unwanted side effects. In fact, I felt great.

However, those who are sensitive to caffeine could experience some unwanted side effects, such as:

• Insomnia
• Jitters
• Increased heart rate
• Nausea
• Headache
• Anxiousness

Keep in mind that you can experience these side effects from any coffee, not just Death Wish. But if you experience them from drinking Death Wish coffee, you should discontinue use.

My Death Wish Coffee review

Death Wish Coffee is made using a strategic roasting plan to give it a robust flavor and optimal caffeine. The resulting roast is fairly dark, which enhances the sensation of strength. Overall, this organic coffee is full-bodied and flavorful.

RELATED: Do you enjoy a good coffee cocktail? Here’s a drink you will want to try! 

How much ground coffee do you use to make a cup of Death Wish?

I tasted Death Wish whole bean bagged, original dark roast blend coffee, which I ground myself at home. I followed the company’s instructions to use 2.5 tablespoons of coffee grounds for every six-ounce cup.

For the record, this is more coffee than I would typically use per cup of water. I normally put somewhere between one and a half and two tablespoons of coffee per six-ounce cup of water into my drip coffee maker. If you use fewer grounds per cup of coffee, you will not only have a less intense brew but you will also decrease the caffeine content of your cup of java. This is something worth considering if you’re looking to maximize (or reduce) the caffeine impact.

The tasting experience

It makes one robust cup of java! But unlike some strong brews, this coffee blend offers a smooth, not bitter, sipping experience. It’s the kind of blend that satisfies your desire. And we’re talking about more than your desire for caffeine! Did you know that coffee is considered a potent aphrodisiac? Learn more about coffee’s sensual side.

Where can you buy this stimulating brew?

Find Death Wish Coffee on Amazon or order directly through deathwishcoffee.com to make your mornings feel more lustrous. They also offer a pretty compelling subscription service and have a very fun Twitter account, @deathwishcoffee.

Death Wish sells medium and dark roast coffees in whole bean and ground one and five-pound packages. You can also buy the coffees in K-cup packaging. (The company says each Death Wish K-cup has about twice the amount of caffeine as the standard K-cup coffee.) For those who appreciate instant gratification, they also sell instant dark roast. The lineup also now includes canned cold brew and canned lattes.

If I haven’t sold you on Death Wish Coffee, perhaps some compelling facts about the health benefits of coffee will turn you to the dark side! For more info supporting the health benefits of coffee see: http://authoritynutrition.com/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee/

Need your coffee fix right now? Order it from Amazon!

This article was written in 2012 and most recently updated in September 2021.