Does Coffee Ice Cream Have Caffeine?
If you’re like many people, you try to avoid drinking coffee in the evening since you don’t relish the idea of lying awake until 2 a.m., staring at the ceiling. But have you ever munched on a post-dinner bowl of coffee-flavored ice cream, only to suddenly wonder, is there caffeine in here?
At Lapp Valley Farm, ice cream is our specialty, and we love to see the joy it brings people. At the same time, we know there’s little joy to be found if you can’t fall asleep at night!
That’s why, today, we’re helping you explore the vital question: Does coffee ice cream have caffeine?
Does Coffee Ice Cream Contain Real Coffee, and How Does That Impact Caffeine Levels?
Yes, when you enjoy a delicious dish of coffee or espresso-flavored ice cream, that rich coffee flavor comes from real coffee. In fact, most coffee ice creams have “coffee” listed as an ingredient.
However, that coffee flavor can come from varied sources, including:
- Whole or broken coffee beans
- Ground coffee
- Coffee extract
- Brewed coffee
- Instant coffee
Some of these might not seem like “real coffee” to you, especially coffee extract. In fact, you may have noticed that some coffee ice creams have a bit of an artificial taste. But even coffee extract—while it’s not “real coffee” in that you would never drink a cup of it at a coffee shop—is still “real” in the sense that the flavor comes from coffee, and that flavor includes caffeine.
Thus, you can assume that all coffee ice cream contains at least a few traces of caffeine. However, some coffee ice cream brands use decaffeinated flavoring options, making their ice cream virtually caffeine-free. For example, according to their official website, Tillamook coffee almond fudge ice cream has so little caffeine that “it can effectively be considered 0.00mg per serving. The amount is so small that it rounds down to zero.”
How Much Caffeine is in Coffee Ice Cream Compared to a Cup of Coffee?
The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee varies depending on the type of coffee and the way it’s prepared but usually hovers around 113-247 mg per 12-oz cup.
A typical serving of ice cream might be around two scoops, or 8 oz. How much caffeine is in 8 oz of coffee ice cream? Well, it will vary somewhat depending on the brand, but you can expect it to be significantly lower than straight-up coffee. For instance, 8 oz of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream has about 38 mg of caffeine, which is pretty typical.
In general, a serving of coffee ice cream will have a caffeine content much more similar to a cup of green tea than a cup of coffee.
Can Coffee Ice Cream Keep You Awake at Night?
Any amount of caffeine can affect your sleep, but it varies dramatically depending on how sensitive you are. Some people can down a cup of coffee before bed with no problem, while others can be kept awake by something as simple as eating chocolate, which contains small amounts of caffeine.
Many people will find that they can eat coffee ice cream before bed without issue due to its much lower caffeine content than coffee. However, we wouldn’t recommend getting hooked on coffee ice cream as your go-to midnight snack, especially since caffeine sensitivity tends to increase with age.
In general, don’t worry about an occasional coffee ice cream in the evenings unless you struggle with insomnia. However, if you are struggling to sleep, the first thing you should try is cutting out caffeine in the afternoons and evenings.
If that doesn’t work, you can try other things like:
- Staying off screens before bed
- Maintaining a regular exercise routine and sleep schedule
- Relaxation and breathing exercises
Remember—if you have persistent insomnia, consult your doctor!
Comparing Caffeine Levels in Homemade vs. Store-Bought Coffee Ice Cream
If your friend makes you some homemade coffee ice cream, there’s no guarantee that the ice cream will have more or less caffeine than your typical off-the-shelf ice cream brand from your local grocery store.
What you can expect is that the homemade ice cream will probably be delicious! But like store-bought brands, the caffeine content depends on how it was made, what type of coffee was used, and how much was added to the ice cream base.
Of course, if you make your own homemade ice cream, you have complete control over the caffeine levels.
Whether you’re using a recipe that calls for brewed coffee, coffee extract, coffee beans, or instant coffee, you can choose a decaf version if you want to make your ice cream virtually free of caffeine and safe to eat at night.
The Best Caffeine-Free Alternatives for Coffee Lovers Who Enjoy Ice Cream
If you love coffee-flavored ice cream but are avoiding caffeine for health reasons, insomnia reasons, or a general caffeine intolerance, here are some alternatives that you might consider.
Caffeine-free coffee ice cream
Not all coffee-flavored ice cream contains caffeine! Here are some caffeine-free options:
- Tillamook Coffee Almond Fudge ice cream is caffeine-free, according to their website
- Straus Family Creamery Organic Coffee ice cream is another caffeine-free option and the go-to decaf coffee ice cream for many consumers
- Nightfood Cold Brew Decaf ice cream is specially formulated to be caffeine-free for people who struggle with insomnia
Homemade ice cream
As mentioned in a previous section, a great way to get delicious ice cream is to purchase an ice cream maker and whip up your own coffee ice cream, substituting a decaf version of whatever coffee product you use for the flavor.
Decaf affogato
An affogato is a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato with a shot of espresso poured over it—perfect for people who love coffee and ice cream. You can make your own decaf version by using decaf coffee to make an espresso shot with an AeroPress, french press, or moka pot
Portion control
Finally, since coffee ice cream has a lower caffeine content than brewed coffee, most people can have an essentially-decaf experience by only eating a small amount.
If you want to learn more about portion control and other ways to enjoy ice cream guilt-free, read our blog post on The Ultimate Guide to Eating Ice Cream Without Guilt.
Are You Craving Homemade Coffee Ice Cream You Don’t Have to Make Yourself?
If you’re near Lancaster County, PA, and you enjoy coffee and homemade ice cream, you’ll love Lapp Valley Farm Ice Cream Shop and Creamery!
Our homemade ice cream flavors include coffee ice cream, as well as chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, chocolate chip cookie dough, and many more. If you’re in a hurry, our drive through sells ice cream and espresso drinks on the go.
If you have a bit more time, come into our cafe to taste our delicious affogato, which comes in four flavors—toffee, vanilla, mocha, and double espresso.
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, we have so many non-coffee ice cream flavors to choose from.
Try our decadent chocolate almond ice cream, savor our peanut butter twirl ice cream, or try something new like black cherry ice cream!
Stop by and see us on your next drive through Pennsylvania—we’d be delighted to serve you.