About this calculator
The coffee calculatorletsyou calculate the amount of coffee you need, comparing it to the recommended healthy amount.
How to use the coffee calculator
Using the calculator is simple and straightforward:
- Start by entering your weight, pick whichever unit you like.
- Select your caffeine sensitivity:
- Pick your favorite drink from the list
- That’s it! The calculator shows you the caffeine in each serving, your total intake, and a quick note on what it means for you.
How Much Coffee Is Too Much?
The upper limit of caffeine intake is widely regarded as a safe amount of 400 mg per day, or to put it in other words, approximately four cups of brewed coffee, which, however, varies greatly even in healthy adults.
Pregnancy generally has much stricter limits of caffeine (usually to 200mg/day or lower) and children have little or no at all; consult your healthcare provider to seek specific advice.
On the other extreme side, there is a toxic or life-threatening dose that is by far higher than the daily cups of coffee. Clinical literature has estimated a median lethal dose of approximately 150-200mg of caffeine divided into 1 kg of body mass (equivalent to approximately 10-14g of powdered caffeine) but deaths have been reported with lower doses in predisposed individuals and with concentrated powdered caffeine. That is, a normal cup of brewed tea is thousands of times below the death dose, however, large, rapid doses, in particular, of pure caffeine powders or high-dose supplements may be fatal.
Toxicity (nausea, shaky heartbeat, seizures, hazardously abnormal rhythms) normally occur long before the fatal levels and depend on body weight, genetic background, liver activity, medications, and the speed with which the caffeine is ingested. Due to that discrepancy, the most risk averse way is to monitor total daily consumption with the help of the calculator, do not take high-concentration supplements, and stay in touch with the clinician in case of heart disease, anxiety disorder, pregnancy, and interaction with caffeine medication.
How can I know if I overdosed coffee?
If you’ve had too much caffeine you may notice one or more of:
- Jitters, tremor, nervousness or restlessness.
- Fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations).
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea.
- Insomnia, racing thoughts, anxiety or panic.
- Increased urination or thirst.