The Best Answer:
A single espresso shot contains 63mg of caffeine. According to Healthline the lethal dose for caffeine is 10g, which amounts to approximately 155-160 shots of espresso. However, this varies from person to person depending on your weight and other health factors. So it is best not to consume too much espresso, no matter how harmless you think it is.
Espresso shots are the lifeblood of coffee shops. They’re also an easy way to accidentally overdose on caffeine.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about how many espresso shots it takes to kill you and what happens when you over-indulge in these tasty caffeinated beverages.
The Espresso
The espresso is a caffeinated beverage that is prepared with very finely ground coffee beans. It is produced by forcing hot water through the coffee, which results in a thick and intense coffee beverage. Espresso can be made by either an automatic machine or by using a manual coffee maker.
You can make espresso using methods such as the AeroPress or the French Press. Espresso in general is a very popular drink and many coffee shop products are espresso-based. For example, lattes and macchiatos are both types of espresso drinks that are created from the very same base drink!
Caffeine Toxicity And Symptoms
Caffeine toxicity is the buildup of caffeine in your body that leads to adverse effects. When you consume too much caffeine, it can lead to dizziness, fever, anxiety, heart problems, and more. If you consume too much caffeine over a long period of time then it can lead to digestive issues as well.
Let’s explore some of the most serious caffeine-related problems:
Dizziness
Dizziness is one of the most common side effects of caffeine consumption. This typically happens when a person drinks too much coffee in the course of a day. If you feel lightheaded or unbalanced when you consume coffee, then it’s best to slow down.
Related Research: Dizziness Causes by Mayo Clinic
Fever
High levels of caffeine can cause you to have a fever. This is especially so if you consume too much for an extended period of time. You should quit drinking coffee or at least cut back on how much you are consuming to avoid experiencing this symptom.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another side effect that’s linked with the body’s inability to process too much caffeine. This can happen when you drink four or more cups of coffee in a day, especially if you don’t eat enough food while drinking coffee.
The best way to avoid these serious problems is to limit your consumption of caffeinated drinks, particularly coffee. One or two cups of coffee are more than enough to have the health benefits without the risk of getting too much caffeine.
Anxiety
Caffeine can make you feel anxious. The more caffeine you consume, the higher your anxiety level will be. If you have experienced anxiety after drinking coffee, then it’s best to cut back on how much you drink in the future.
Heart Problems
The truth is that too much caffeine can cause irregular heartbeats which can lead to heart failure and make you feel like you’re having a heart attack. If you notice that your heartbeat is irregular after drinking coffee, then be sure to slow down on how much caffeine you consume.
And More
There are many more symptoms associated with a caffeine overdose, including fatigue, dehydration, and insomnia. The key to avoiding caffeine-related health problems is moderation. If you stick to only a few cups of coffee per day then you can avoid experiencing these symptoms altogether.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!
So, How Much Espresso Can Kill You?
As we said before, it’s not easy to consume too much espresso. It might sound like a silly question, but people really do wonder how many espresso shots can kill you. In general, consuming too much caffeine is what leads to serious health problems.
One way of answering this question is to know how much caffeine is in your espresso beverage. A typical shot of espresso has 63mg of caffeine, depending on who you ask and what type of coffee beans they are using. So, consuming more than 150 espresso shots in a day (which is way too much) can be fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ
Is 8 espresso shots too much?
Eight espressos in a day can lead to caffeine toxicity and potentially more serious health problems. If you want to be safe, drink one or two espressos per day.
Is espresso worse for you than coffee?
In general, coffee and espresso are both made from the same coffee beans. The difference between the two is the way in which they are prepared.
Espresso is brewed under pressure, while regular coffee is brewed with water that has been boiled for a long time. So there is no difference between the two in terms of health benefits or risks.
Is espresso stronger than filter coffee?
No, espresso is weaker than filter coffee. This happens because a shot of espresso contains 63mg of caffeine, while filter coffee has around 180mg of caffeine.
Last Thoughts
The takeaway from this is that you should enjoy your espresso drinks responsibly! Espresso does contain a high amount of caffeine, but it’s not enough to kill someone.
For the most part, we can all have our favorite morning cup without worrying about getting into trouble with an overdose.
Just remember to drink responsibly and limit yourself to under 5 cups per day.
More About Espresso
- Single vs Double Shot Espresso Shots: All The Differences
- Espresso vs Americano: Which One Tastes Better?
- Cold Brew vs Espresso Coffee: A Detailed Comparison
Evelina
Evelina’s passion for coffee could never been hidden. Having worked as a barista, she learned the true value of the coffee bean and its secrets. As she continued to evolve as a barista, so did her knowledge, techniques on making different coffee blends and most importantly how to operate every kind of gear when it comes to coffee. Having a degree in biomedicine and being a barista, allows her to provide our community with in-depth knowledge surrounding the topics of coffee.
Get this free cheat sheet to step up your coffee game and learn about the different grind sizes!