Caffeine & Sleep
Chocolate

Caffeine in Hot Chocolate

5mg
per 8 oz
1% of FDA daily max

Is that a lot?

Hot Chocolate is 1% of the FDA’s recommended daily maximum, in a single 8 oz.

Hot Chocolate
5 mg
Green tea
28 mg
Espresso
63 mg
Red Bull
80 mg
Coffee
95 mg
FDA daily max · 400mg
Before bed

When can I drink Hot Chocolate and still sleep?

Your Hot Chocolate cutoff
You drink it at
Bedtime
Hot Chocolate · 5 mg · assuming an average ~5 h half-life
At bedtime
2 mg
close to optimal
Latest safe Hot Chocolate: 11:00 PM

How much caffeine is in Hot Chocolate?

A cozy 8 oz hot chocolate holds just about 5 mg of caffeine, a trace from the cocoa. With around 22 grams of sugar, it's really a warm, sweet treat rather than a caffeinated one.

ServingCaffeineSugar
8 oz5 mg22 g

Minimal caffeine.

Will Hot Chocolate affect your sleep?

At roughly 5 mg, hot chocolate is far below the 50 mg threshold and won't affect your ability to fall asleep. It's a fine bedtime drink, though the sugar may be worth a thought.

Source: USDA FoodData Central

Related drinks

Hot Chocolate & sleep — FAQ

No, the caffeine in hot chocolate is minimal at around 5 mg, well under the 50 mg threshold, so it's a safe choice even right before bed.

Hot Chocolate has 5 mg per 8 oz — about 1% of the FDA’s 400 mg daily maximum for healthy adults.

It depends on your bedtime and how fast you clear caffeine. Use the calculator above to see when Hot Chocolate drops below the ~50 mg “ok to sleep” threshold for your bedtime.

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