Short answer: a little, and much less than coffee.

One tablespoon of our Peruvian cacao powder has roughly 12 milligrams of caffeine. A cup of coffee has about 95. So a cacao drink gives you about one eighth of the caffeine in a coffee.

Why cacao still feels energizing

Cacao’s main natural stimulant is not caffeine. It is theobromine, a gentler cousin of caffeine. Theobromine acts more slowly and lasts longer, which is why many people describe cacao as a calm lift rather than a jolt.

Cacao nibs versus cacao powder

Nibs are simply crushed cacao beans, so ounce for ounce they carry a bit more caffeine and theobromine than powder. A small handful of nibs is still far below one coffee.

Can I have cacao in the evening?

Most people can. If you are very sensitive to caffeine, have your cacao earlier in the day and see how you feel.

Our cacao is grown in Tingo María, Peru, fermented and packaged at the source, and flown to the United States to keep its flavor and nutrients intact. See our Peruvian Cacao Powder or Raw Cacao Nibs.