Drinking 76 to 156 shots of espresso or 52 to 105 cups of coffee in a single day could potentially kill you. Experts recommend no more than 6 shots of espresso or 4 cups of coffee per day, but definitely, no more than 25 shots on a single day to enjoy coffee benefits without risking side effects.
I’ve experienced the same issue too many times before: I’ve drank a few espresso shots more than usual.
My heart was pounding in my chest, I had sweaty palms, and my head was splitting from all the pain.
I wasn’t thinking about the potential dangers of drinking too much espresso.
If you have found yourself in this situation before, keep reading.
We’ll discuss the health hazards of consuming too much caffeine and the symptoms that it causes.
Shall we begin?
How Many Espresso Shots Are Lethal?
A caffeine overdose is a real possibility, but it’s unlikely to happen in your lifetime. Caffeine has such a low lethal dose that you would have to consume many cups of coffee at the same time in order to get a fatal dose of caffeine.
We’ll start from the very basics. One espresso shot has 63 milligrams of caffeine in it, which is equal to 1 ounce in size (the size of an espresso shot).
Regular coffee has less caffeine compared to other forms of coffee. On average, regular coffee contains 12 to 16 milligrams of caffeine per 1 ounce. That means about 95 to 128 mg of caffeine if you drink an 8 oz cup of coffee.
According to the FDA, the safe amount for adults is about 400 mg of caffeine a day. That’s about six to seven single shots of espresso.
Now, according to scientific data, some lethal dosage of caffeine is 5,000 to 10,000 mg over a short period of time.
If you convert these statistics into espresso shots, it’s between 75 and 155 single shots (Or, like, 100 cups of regular coffee, depending on which type you drink.). That just might be enough to last a lifetime!
I can’t even imagine myself drinking this many espresso shots in a day.
Now, we also have to remember that a lot of people have different reactions to caffeine.
Some people can’t drink caffeine and get uncomfortable side effects such as shaky hands, whereas others are more immune to it.
How caffeine will affect you depends on what you’ve eaten and other factors. Like, as how fast your metabolism is, how much you weigh, when you ate last time, whether you are too tired already, etc. For example, if you eat a lot of carbs, then it’ll take longer for caffeine to kick in because your body breaks down those carbs more slowly.
But, if you really wanted to drink 80 espresso shots, and it’s about as easy as drinking 60 cans of soda, it still won’t be that easy.
Your body has a natural tendency to protect itself. So, it is much more likely that you will vomit the coffee you downed before it can poison you.
Although coffee can have many benefits, you should be careful to not over-indulge in it.
TIP:
When you order an espresso-based beverage, like a latte or cappuccino, you can ask the barista how many espresso shots are included in there. For these drinks, they usually use a double shot – that’s an important detail to know when you’re keeping track of your daily caffeine intake.
Symptoms of Caffeine Overdose
The symptoms of caffeine overdose can vary, but they typically include a rapid heartbeat, increased urination, tremors or shaking, and seizures.
If you drink a lot of coffee, you may be interested in knowing what the side effects and symptoms are of caffeine overdose.
Keep an eye out for these signals. Your body will know when it’s time to engage in a different activity, like drinking more water.
If you’re starting to feel the side effects of caffeine, there are a few things you can do that may help.
Obviously, the first thing you need to do is stop drinking coffee and drink some more water. Give yourself some time to relax and get a good night’s rest.
Activated charcoal is an excellent remedy for upset stomachs, and it is easy to make.
If the symptoms you’re having are extreme, go ahead and call your doctor.
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Dizziness
Dizziness can happen if you’ve had too much caffeine or if you’ve been standing upright for too long. It’s a feeling of lightheadedness and might not last very long.
Too much caffeine can make you feel energized. It might also make you feel excited, too nervous, or restless (as well as dizzy, weak, unbalanced, or lightheaded).
When you’re sick, it’s best to stay hydrated, sit and rest.
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Fever
It’s possible to get a fever if you drink coffee too quickly. It appears that coffee, when taken in large quantities, can heat up the body. This is why it doesn’t mix well with aspirin.
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Diarrhea
If you have diarrhea, it’s a signal that your body can’t break down that amount of caffeine at once.
Drinking too many espresso shots can be bad, especially if you don’t remember to eat something afterward.
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Anxiety attack
Coffee might give you a temporary energy boost, but it can also increase your anxiety. In fact, research has found that caffeine and anxiety are linked.
Drinking caffeine can make you feel more alert and increase your irritability. That increased level of adrenaline is a result of the caffeine staying in your system for longer than it should.
If you start feeling anxious after drinking coffee, try breathing deeply and relaxing. You can also try distracting yourself with something like a TV show or movie that you like.
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Heart problems
Drinking too much coffee can hurt your cardiovascular system.
High blood pressure can be dangerous. It even affects people who don’t usually suffer from hypertension.
If your heart is racing wildly, or if you have a racing heartbeat, you may be over-caffeinated.
All of those can be red flags indicating an unhealthy state. You should call your doctor while you can.
If you don’t do it, you could be risking heart failure.
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Nausea and vomiting
One of the most common signs of caffeine toxicity is nausea and the feeling you need to vomit.
Don’t hold back! You won’t regret it!
Your body is trying to rid itself of all the caffeine that you’ve been ingesting. If you allow it some time, you’ll feel much better soon and be able to get back to your daily routine.
What do you do when you have too much caffeine? How to manage an espresso overdose?
A lethal dose of the espresso is hard to measure since it depends on the person’s body weight. As such, you should monitor how many shots it takes before the symptoms of an overdose are seen.
If you’re experiencing symptoms without consuming large amounts of espresso, it might be because of the caffeinated foods you’re currently eating. Once you’ve identified these culprits, cut back on your caffeine intake to see if the symptoms disappear.
Verdict,
One question many people ask is how many shots of espresso can kill you. A lot of people think that it takes a bunch of espresso shots to be lethal, but that’s not necessarily true.
Drinking espresso while brewing your favorite cup of coffee? We’ve got you covered! In the event that you drink too much, just be sure to limit the number of espresso drinks you consume in a row.
To help you out, I’ve gathered some last-minute questions about the subject. I’m going to answer them now so you can avoid any confusion.
ALSO SEE: Single vs Double Shot Espresso
How much caffeine is there in 4 shots of espresso at Starbucks?
Starbucks’ espresso is stronger than many brands out there. The Solo espresso shots are roughly 0.75 fl oz and contain 75 mg of caffeine. Four shots of Starbucks’ regular espresso, also referred to as Quad, is 3 fl oz with 300 mg of caffeine in it.
How much caffeine is there in a single shot of espresso?
The USDA lists coffee as having around 63-65 milligrams of caffeine. However, that can depend on the type of coffee beans. For example, Robusta beans have more caffeine than Arabica beans.
Which espresso shot has the most caffeine?
Here is the ranking for caffeine content per ounce:
- Ristretto – it has about 63 mg of caffeine in 0.8 fluid ounces
- Espresso has an average of 63 mg of caffeine per 1-ounce serving.
- lungo– It has 1.5 to 2 fl oz of liquid and roughly about 65 mg of caffeine.
Should my kids drink espresso?
No, a smaller amount of caffeinated coffee (espresso) is likely to be safe for youths and adults. If you’re worried, offer your kids a lower-caffeine-content beverage such as a latte that has more milk than espresso.
Is 8 espresso shots too much?
Eight espressos in one day can lead to caffeine toxicity. However, if you want to be safe you should drink one or two espressos per day.
Which is worse for your body, coffee or espresso?
Generally speaking, both coffee and espresso are made from the same coffee beans. The difference is that coffee is prepared by pressing it down, like a French or Turkish press, as opposed to an espresso machine, where hot water is forced through ground and agitated coffee beans.
Espresso coffee is brewed under pressure and coffee can be brewed with hot water, so there is no difference between the two in terms of health benefits or risks.
Is espresso stronger than filter coffee?
Espresso has less caffeine than filtered coffee. This is because a shot of espresso has 63mg of caffeine, but filter coffee has around 180mg of it.
What are the most espresso shots I can get at Starbucks before dying?
Espresso is supposed to offer a strong flavor and a perfect balance of bitter and sweet. However, Starbucks doesn’t always do so well on this front. Their automated machines don’t create enough pressure, they use too much water to make their shots and they end up tasting really burnt.… And besides all that, it’s just not worth it. Go on a long walk and watch a sunset, don’t kill yourself with subpar espresso!
Want to enjoy a great cup of joe? You should head to Espresso Vivace in Seattle or Ninja Bar. It’ll take about 40 of them to kill you, so tip well!
The point where caffeine is toxic is 500 grams, A normal cup of espresso has about 40-50 milligrams of caffeine. That might sound like a lot, but a typical shot contains anywhere from 40 to 70 milligrams. So I guess at any point after 10 shots you could get a heart attack.
In conclusion,
You’re much more likely to vomit yourself to death than you are to die of caffeine poisoning.
Symptoms of caffeine overdose can include dizziness, anxiety, and nausea. If you’re feeling any of these, you’ve probably consumed too much coffee.
If your symptoms are getting worse, please call your doctor. If you need to take a break, it would be best to wait until things improve before continuing.
You’re done with caffeine, but don’t want to miss out on the great taste of espresso? Here’s a list of some of the best decaf coffee beans.