Inside: Wondering if your kids should drink coffee? Here’s advice on coffee and kids, including how caffeine affects children, recommended limits, and coffee shop alternatives.
Has your kid ever asked for a sip of your mocha?
Or has your teen strolled in with a venti iced caramel macchiato with extra-whip?
And you’ve wondered: Is this …okay?
More kids than ever are drinking coffee these days, thanks in part to coffee shops on every corner (heck, your teen’s high school may even sell coffee!).
So is it okay? And how much is too much?
Kids & Coffee: What Parents Should Know
Why are Kids Drinking Coffee?
So why are kids drinking coffee in the first place?
- They’re tired. Many teens tweens don’t get enough sleep, thanks to early school start times, packed schedules, and late-night screen time. A morning coffee or Frappuccino may feel like a quick fix to up their energy levels.
- It’s social. Coffee shops are hangout spots, and picking up iced coffee drinks is a now social outing.
- It tastes good. Coffee isn’t a bitter, acquired taste anymore. With all the syrups, flavorings, and whipped cream, it feels more like dessert.
- Coffee culture is popular. It’s no surprise that kids want in on the ritual, and drinking coffee may feel “grown-up” to kids.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much For Kids?
Though the U.S. doesn’t have official guidelines for children’s caffeine intake, Health Canada has set maximum daily limits for age groups and milligrams of caffeine per day:
- 4 – 6 years: No more than 45 mg/day (about the amount in a Mini Mocha Frappuccino)
- 7 – 9 years: No more than 62.5 mg/day (about the amount in a Tall Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino)
- 10 – 12 years: No more than 85 mg/day (about the amount in a Grande Caramel Cocoa Cluster Frappuccino)
For comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 100mg caffeine.
If a child has multiple caffeinated beverages–like soda, coffee drinks, and energy drinks–it can push them over the limit pretty easily. Just one energy drink puts kids over these recommended daily limits.
What does that mean for health? A research review concluded that “typical, moderate caffeine consumption” in kids and teens is relatively safe–but that high doses (more than 400mg per day) can cause “physiological, psychological, and behavioral harm”, especially for kids with mental health issues and heart problems.
How does caffeine affect kids?
There’s not as much research on caffeine and kids as there is with adults. But we know that caffeine is a drug that works as a stimulant. And because kids are smaller than adults, the effects of caffeine tend to be stronger for them.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the side effects of caffeine on kids include:
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Elevated blood pressure
- Rapid breathing
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Diarrhea
- Sleep loss
Certain kids may be more sensitive to caffeine, says the AAP. These include:
- Children with heart or lung conditions, since caffeine speeds up heart rate and breathing
- Kids who take stimulant medications for ADHD, who may have more sleep and mood issues with caffeine
- Possibly boys because more boys than girls visit the ER for caffeine-related issues
Kids and teens who struggle with anxiety (and unfortunately, many young people do today) since caffeine can intensify feelings of nervousness and panic.
Can kids become addicted to coffee?
Like adults, kids can become dependent on caffeine. Regular consumption of caffeine can lead to caffeine dependency and trigger withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability, and even flu-like feelings for a while if they stop using them.
In extreme cases, caffeine overdose can happen. The Poison Control Centers regularly receive calls concerning caffeine. Though thankfully still uncommon, caffeine-related visits to the ER among middle schoolers doubled between 2017-2023.
Symptoms of mild caffeine overdose are shaky hands and upset stomach. Severe overdose can lead to high blood pressure and seizures.
How Much Caffeine Is in Popular Coffee Drinks?
Here’s the amount of caffeine in some popular drinks from Starbucks (all sizes are 16 oz Grande unless noted):
| Starbucks Drink | Caffeine Content |
| Regular Coffee | 315-390 mg |
| Caramel Macchiato | 150 mg |
| Espresso (1.5 oz shot) | 150 mg |
| White Chocolate Mocha | 150 mg |
| Java Chip Frappuccino | 105 mg |
| Caramel Frappuccino | 90 mg |
| White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino | 80 mg |
| Iced Chai Latte | 95 mg |
| Matcha Latte | 65 mg |
| Decaf Coffee | 25 mg |
And here are some from other chains (all are 16 oz unless noted):
| Drink | Caffeine Content |
| Panera Cappuccino (16 oz) | 126 mg |
| Panera Iced Caramel Latte (20 oz) | 126 mg |
| Dunkin Donuts Frozen Coffee (medium) | 295 mg |
| Dunkin Donuts Iced Macchiato (medium) | 284 mg |
| Dunkin Donuts Regular Coffee (medium) | 210 mg |
| Dunkin Donuts Iced Cappuccino (medium) | 166 mg |
What Other Foods & Drinks Contain Caffeine?
There are other sources of caffeine beyond coffee–like ice cream, gum, and even caffeinated water! Here’s a sampling of foods and drinks and their caffeine content:
| Food/Drink | Amount | Caffeine Content |
| Ghost Pre-Workout Powder | 1 scoop | 300 mg |
| Prime Energy | 12 oz | 200 mg |
| Run Gum Extra Strength Energy Gum | 1 piece | 100 mg |
| Mio Energy (water flavoring) | 1/2 tsp. squeeze | 60 mg |
| VitaminWater Energy | 20 oz | 50 mg |
| Monster Energy | 16 oz | 160 mg |
| Mountain Dew (diet or reg) | 12 oz | 54 mg |
| Jelly Belly Extreme Sport Beans | 1 oz | 50 mg |
| Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch Ice Cream | 2/3 cup | 49 mg |
| Honest T Half Tea & Half Lemonade | 16 oz | 46 mg |
| Dannon Lowfat Coffee Yogurt | 5.3 oz | 40 mg |
| Hershey’s Milk Chocolate | 1 bar | 10 mg |
Lower-caffeine & caffeine-free options
If your child wants something from Starbucks, here are some picks with less caffeine or no caffeine.
- Vanilla Crème (Grande): 0 mg
- Caramel Brûlée Crème: 0 mg
- Strawberry Crème Frappuccino: 0 mg
- Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk Box: 0 mg
- Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino (Tall): 10 mg
- Chocolate Cookie Crumble Crème Frappuccino (Grande): 25 mg
- Iced Passion Tango Tea (Grande): 0 mg
- Hot Chocolate (Grande): 25 mg
And here are a few options from Panera:
- Hot Chocolate: 0 mg
- Pomegranate Hibiscus Tea: 0 mg
- Mango Smoothie: 0 mg
Are coffee shop drinks just about caffeine?
Caffeinated or not, coffee shop drinks can still be loaded with added sugar. Many of these beverages contain more sugar than a can of regular soda.
| Drink | Grams of Sugar | Tsp of Sugar |
| Starbucks Grande Caramel Frappuccino | 55 g | 13.75 tsp |
| Starbucks Grande White Chocolate Mocha | 53 g | 13.25 tsp |
| Starbucks Grande Java Chip Frappuccino | 60 g | 15 tsp |
| Dunkin Donuts Frozen French Vanilla Swirl Coffee Coolatta (Small) | 70 g | 17.5 tsp |
| Dunkin Donuts Vanilla Chai (Medium) | 46 g | 11.5 tsp |
| McDonald’s McCafé Mocha (12 oz) | 42 g | 10.5 tsp |
| Panera Frozen Caramel (Medium) | 66 g | 16.5 tsp |
| Panera Chai Tea Latte (Medium) | 40 g | 10 tsp |
The Bottom Line
An occasional coffee shop treat isn’t a big deal for most kids and teens.
But they may be getting caffeine in a lot of places, including in energy drinks, pre-workout powder, and even gum, mints, and water. That can add up over the course of a day.
Caffeine in higher amounts can lead to dependence, sleep problems, nervousness, and other health concerns. And some kids are more sensitive to the effects.
So it’s smart to know how much caffeine your kid or teen is getting overall and to help them figure out if it might be affecting their sleep, mood, or health in some way.
If your kid likes coffee drinks, here are a few things to try or suggest:
- Order smaller sizes
- Choose decaf or lower-caffeine options
- Ask for just one pump of syrup for flavored drinks to reduce sugar but keep it sweet
- Make DIY versions at home with less sugar (like this Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Steamer)
- Get milk-based drinks which also supply kids and teens with calcium and vitamin D
