Introduction: A Basic Description of Caffeine

Coffee. Chocolate. A can of soda. A cup of tea. What do all of these have in common? Aside from being largely consumed products worldwide on a daily basis, they all contain a compound known as caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant found primarily in coffee beans, the seeds of the plant Coffea arabica, as well as tea leaves, in which its bitterness serves the purpose of discouraging consumption by pests. It is consumed orally via the products in which it is present, in which it acts as the primary psychoactive ingredient.

Caffeine use is legal, and it is an easy to obtain and socially acceptable to consume substance, which makes it one of the most used drugs in the world. It is estimated that in the United States almost 75% of children under  18 years of age consume caffeine on any given day, and coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. Approximately 90% of adults report regular caffeine use (Temple, 2009). The morning coffee to start the day is a tradition followed by many around. However, are there any risks accompanying this chronic consumption? Can caffeine be considered an addictive substance? Does it present other benefits aside from this extra burst of energy to get us through the day? These are all questions we seek to answer. 

Products that contain caffeine eaten on a daily basis:

Chocolate:	Average:
Cocoa beverage (6 oz)	4 mg
Chocolate flavored syrup (2 tbs)	5 mg
Chocolate milk (8 oz)	8 mg
Milk chocolate (1 oz)	7 mg
Semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz)	18 mg
Unsweetened chocolate (1 oz)	25 mg
Coffee:*
Brewed (6 oz)	100 mg
Instant (1 rounded tsp)	57 mg
Brewed decaffeinated (6 oz cup)	3 mg
Instant decaffeinated (1 rounded tsp)	2 mg
Cappuccino (4 oz)	100 mg
Espresso (2 oz)	100 mg
Latte (single)	50 mg
Mocha (single)	55 mg
Other Beverages (12-oz servings):
Coca-Cola, Diet Coke	46 mg
Dr. Pepper (regular & sugar-free)	40 mg
Mello Yello	52 mg
Mountain Dew	54 mg
Pepsi-Cola, Diet Pepsi	38 mg
Red Bull (8.2 oz)	80 mg
5-Hour Energy	138 mg
Monster Energy	160 mg
Tea (5-oz cup):
Brewed, green or black, U.S. brands (3 minutes)	40 mg
Brewed, imported brands	60 mg
Instant (1 tsp)	30 mg
Iced (8 oz)	25 mg
Decaffeinated	5 mg
Non-Prescription Drugs:**
Caffeine Tablets:
No-Doz	100 mg
Vivarin	200 mg
Pain Relievers (per tablet):
Anacin	32 mg
Excedrin	65 mg
Midol (maximum strength)	60 mg

*Caffeine content of coffee varies depending on type of bean, quantity used, how finely beans are ground and brewing time