Does Cacao Have Caffeine? How Much Is in Brewed Cacao

Yes — cacao has caffeine, just not much of it. A brewed 8 oz cup of Choffy has about 20 mg of caffeine by our own measurement. The same size cup of coffee has about 96 mg, on USDA figures.

So brewed cacao is not caffeine-free. It is a low-caffeine cup that brews, pours and drinks like coffee, which is why people cutting back use it to keep the morning ritual without the full dose.

How Much Caffeine Is in Brewed Cacao?

Cacao beans carry a small amount of caffeine naturally, and brewing pulls some of it into the cup along with the flavour. You still grind, brew and pour the same way you would coffee.

Caffeine vs. Theobromine

Cacao's main stimulant is not caffeine. It is theobromine, a related compound the bean makes on its own. Theobromine is cacao's own stimulant. It arrives gradually and tapers off rather than falling away, which is why an afternoon cup tends not to cost you the evening.

Is Brewed Cacao a Caffeine-Free Coffee Alternative?

Not quite — it is a low-caffeine one. If you need zero caffeine, a roasted grain or root drink is the better fit, and we say so in our coffee alternatives comparison. If you want to cut most of the caffeine and keep a dark, full cup, brewed cacao does that. More on cutting back on caffeine.

Is Brewed Cacao the Same as Hot Cocoa?

Not quite. Hot cocoa is usually cocoa powder stirred into milk or water, often with added sugar. Brewed cacao is roasted, ground cacao beans brewed with hot water, much like coffee. The result is a dark, roasted cup with a deep cocoa flavour, unsweetened unless you sweeten it. Drink it black, add milk or creamer, or pour it over ice.

A Different Morning Cup

New to it? Start with what brewed cacao is, see how it works as a coffee alternative, or go straight to how to brew it.