Which Tim Hortons Drink Has the Most Caffeine? (You Might Be Surprised)
Beyond the Double‑Double
Ask the average Canadian which Tim Hortons drink is the biggest wake‑up punch and you’ll hear confident guesses: “Large Dark Roast!” or “An espresso shot, obviously.” The truth is more complicated—and, frankly, more eye‑opening. Using the brand’s latest nutrition data plus our own math for combo drinks, we ranked every core Tim Hortons beverage by milligrams of caffeine so you know exactly what you’re sipping the next time the 6 a.m. alarm hits like a freight train.
Spoiler: a single espresso isn’t even in the top five.
Methodology: How We Measured the Jitters
Baseline Numbers
We pulled the official caffeine milligrams for Canadian restaurants (brewed coffee, teas, espresso, specialty drinks, and cold beverages).Size Matters
Wherever drinks come in multiple sizes, we used the largest everyday menu size (Large for cold/frozen; Extra‑Large for brewed coffees).Combo Math
Some drinks—Redeye coffees, lattes “upped” with extra shots—combine brewed coffee with espresso. We added the published espresso figure (125 mg/shot) to the base coffee amount.Special Editions
Limited energy drinks sold through Tims Express kiosks were excluded; we stuck to items a typical location can make on demand.
All numbers represent averages; beans, brew times, and barista technique can shift caffeine by ±10 %.
Quick Primer: Why Brewed Coffee Often Beats Espresso
Serving Size: Espresso is concentrated, but a single shot is only 30 ml. A 563 ml Large coffee simply holds more liquid—and more dissolved caffeine.
Brewing Temperature & Time: Tim Hortons brews its drip coffee at around 90 °‑93 °C for four minutes, extracting a hefty dose of caffeine from each gram of grounds.
Bean Blend: The Original Blend uses 100 % Arabica beans roasted for balance; the Dark Roast steeps slightly longer, yielding marginally less caffeine per millilitre but a bolder flavour.
The Caffeine Leaderboard (Highest to Lowest)
1. Redeye Extra‑Large Original Blend — ≈455 mg
An Extra‑Large (678 ml) brew already clocks in at 330 mg. Add a single 30 ml espresso shot (125 mg) and you’re staring down 455 milligrams—just shy of Health Canada’s advised daily limit of 400 mg for most adults. It’s the undisputed heavyweight of the Tims menu, yet many customers don’t realise the Redeye option exists. Ask the cashier to “throw an espresso in” and brace yourself.
2. Redeye Large Original Blend — ≈395 mg
Same concept, smaller cup: a Large drip (270 mg) plus one espresso. Perfect if you want maximum buzz without navigating an XL cup the size of a thermos.
3. Extra‑Large Dark Roast — ≈320 mg
Despite its bold taste, Dark Roast actually extracts slightly less caffeine per millilitre than Original Blend. Still, at 320 mg an XL delivers two cans of Monster energy drink in a single pour.
4. Large Original Blend — 270 mg
The everyday office hero: 20 fl oz (563 ml) of classic Tims coffee brewed fresh every twenty minutes. Enough oomph to jolt awake a foggy morning without venturing into over‑caffeination territory.
5. Large Iced Coffee (with Espresso Shot) — ≈285 mg
Straight Large Iced Coffee runs around 160 mg, but regulars often pay a $0.80 “espresso kicker” premium. Do that and your summer patio sipper suddenly outranks Dark Roast mediums.
6. Americano (Medium) — 205 mg
Two espresso shots diluted with hot water create a bolder, more nuanced flavour than drip coffee. Surprisingly smooth, and caffeine matches a medium Original Blend.
7. Medium Cappuccino / Latte — 205 mg
Tim Hortons uses two shots by default in its medium espresso beverages. Milk tempers acidity, but the caffeine punch is identical to an Americano.
8. Large Iced Capp — 170 mg
Blended coffee, cream, and sugar: its reputation says “dessert,” yet the caffeine sneaks higher than many expect. Add mocha syrup and you crest 175 mg.
9. Steeped Tea (Extra‑Large) — 210 mg
Black tea steeped for at least four minutes hits surprisingly hard, matching medium coffee energy while feeling lighter on the stomach.
10. French Vanilla Cappuccino (Extra‑Large) — 135 mg
Part instant coffee, part milk powder, part liquid sugar rush. It lags behind pure coffee but still trounces canned cola.
(For brevity we stopped at the practical 10‑drink cutoff; hot chocolate, herbal teas, and fruit Quenchers hover at 0–35 mg.)
Surprises & Misconceptions
Espresso “Feels Stronger,” But Isn’t King
A single Tim Hortons espresso contains about 125 mg—roughly two thirds of a large drip coffee. The perception of strength comes from the intense flavour and rapid caffeine delivery to your bloodstream when you down it in a couple sips.
Dark Roast ≠ Higher Caffeine
Contrary to myth, darker beans lose a bit of mass during longer roasting, which means each gram holds slightly less caffeine. The richer taste tricks customers into assuming it’s stronger.
Cold Brew Isn’t on Top (Yet)
While U.S. chains market cold brew as über‑caffeinated, Tim Hortons’ cold brew rollout in Canada lists about 150 mg for a medium serving—comparable to a small hot coffee. Until they start steeping Japanese‑style concentrate, iced drip still reigns.
Tea Can Hold Its Own
Leave a Tim Hortons black tea bag in scalding water for five minutes and you’re already at 100 mg in a large cup; bump to Extra‑Large and you’ll surpass a medium coffee. Great news for lactose‑intolerant folks or anyone seeking less acidic buzz.
How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
Health Canada says 400 mg per day is a safe upper limit for non‑pregnant adults; 300 mg for expectant mothers; far lower for kids and teens. One Extra‑Large Redeye basically maxes you out before lunch. Symptoms of overdose include jitteriness, rapid heartbeat, stomach upset, and the dreaded afternoon “caffeine crash.” Rotate in decaf, tea, or half‑caf if you’re hitting Tims more than twice daily.
Pro Tips for Managing Your Buzz
Size Down, Flavour Up
If you crave taste over stimulation, order a Small Dark Roast (130 mg) and savour complex roast notes.Skip the Espresso Add‑On After Noon
Caffeine’s half‑life is about five hours; a 2 p.m. Redeye could linger well past bedtime.Hydrate
Coffee is mildly diuretic. Pair every Large cup with at least 250 ml of water to avoid faux hunger and dry mouth misleading you into extra snacks.Watch the Sugar
High‑octane drinks often sneak in syrup calories. A Large Iced Capp hits 42 g sugar—about ten teaspoons—even before you add flavour pumps.Rotate in Decaf
Tim Hortons decaf still has 12–15 mg in an XL, but using half decaf in custom brews chops your dose without sacrificing ritual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Redeye on the printed menu?
Not always. It’s a “secret‑menu” term for any brewed coffee with an added espresso shot. Staff recognise it, so just ask.
Does steep time really affect tea caffeine?
Absolutely. A black tea bag dunked for two minutes might extract 60 mg; five minutes climbs past 100 mg. Steeped tea lives up to its name because stores hold it hot for extended periods.
Are seasonal drinks stronger?
Most pumpkin spice, peppermint mocha, or maple lattes use the same espresso base, so caffeine mirrors a regular flavoured latte—unless you request the “two‑shot upgrade.”
What about the canned “Tims Energy” drinks in gas stations?
They’re manufactured by an external bottler and vary between 180 mg and 200 mg per 473 ml can—powerful, but still shy of a Redeye.
The Final Word
So, which Tim Hortons drink packs the most caffeine? The Extra‑Large Redeye Original Blend, tipping the scales at roughly 455 milligrams. It turns out the mightiest jolt isn’t a fancy cold brew or a triple‑shot latte but a humble drip coffee super‑charged with espresso—proof that old‑school simplicity plus one barista cheat code beats every trendy concoction on the board.
Craving less chaos? Stick with a Large Original Blend (270 mg) or a Medium Americano (205 mg). Need to pull an all‑nighter? The Redeye has your back—just maybe not your sleep cycle. Whatever you choose, now you can sip smarter at Canada’s most iconic coffee counter. Cheers to balanced buzzes and mornings that actually start before the second alarm.
