La Colombe vs Stok Cold Brew: 160 mg vs 125 mg Caffeine

On the figures printed by each brand, one 9 oz La Colombe Cold Brew can lists 160 mg of caffeine, and one 12 fl oz Stok Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew serving lists 125 mg. Per fluid ounce, that works out to about 17.8 mg for La Colombe and about 10.4 mg for Stok. The two labels both show 15 calories per serving, but they measure different serving sizes, and their fiber, phosphate, and sodium entries differ.

Key takeaways

• La Colombe lists 160 mg of caffeine per 9 oz can, about 17.8 mg per fl oz (calculated from the brand figure). Stok lists 125 mg per 12 fl oz serving, about 10.4 mg per fl oz.
• Both labels show 15 calories per serving. La Colombe's serving is one can, while Stok's is 12 fl oz (360 ml), with about 4 servings per 48 oz bottle.
• La Colombe shows 2 g dietary fiber (7% DV) and lists chicory root fiber, trisodium phosphate, and disodium phosphate. Stok shows 0 g fiber and lists only coffee and natural flavor.
• Sodium is 45 mg (2% DV) per La Colombe can and 10 mg (0% DV) per Stok serving. Potassium is 220 mg (4% DV) versus 290 mg (6% DV).

Which Has More Caffeine, La Colombe or Stok Cold Brew?

La Colombe's brand page lists more caffeine per container: 160 mg in a 9 oz can, compared with 125 mg in a 12 fl oz Stok serving. Measured per fluid ounce, the two are about 17.8 mg and about 10.4 mg.

The answer depends on the measure. A La Colombe can holds less liquid than a Stok serving, so the per-container figure is higher for La Colombe. Per fluid ounce, the La Colombe figure is roughly 1.7 times the Stok figure, using the brand numbers.

How Much Caffeine Is in La Colombe Cold Brew Per Can and Per fl oz?

One 9 oz can of La Colombe Cold Brew contains 160 mg of caffeine according to the brand page, which is about 17.8 mg per fl oz (160 divided by 9).

The brand page marks that figure with a footnote. It says 160 mg "represents our new reduced caffeine level" and that the current product may still appear in upcoming shipments while remaining inventory is sold through. The page does not give the earlier caffeine figure and does not explain how to tell an older can from a new one. A shopper therefore cannot confirm from the label which caffeine level applies to a specific can.

La Colombe Cold Brew is sold in 12- and 24-packs. Each can is one serving, so the per-can figure is the figure to use when comparing with a single Stok serving.

How Much Caffeine Is in Stok Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew Per Serving and Per fl oz?

The Stok brand page lists 125 mg of caffeine per serving, captioned "approximately," and the serving is 12 fl oz (360 ml). That works out to about 10.4 mg per fl oz.

The caffeine icon's caption reads "CAFFEINE PER SERVING (approximately)." The page's image text uses different wording, so this article relies on the visible per-serving caption and does not calculate a per-bottle total. Because the figure is labeled approximate, the exact caffeine content of any single bottle is not disclosed.

What Are the Serving Sizes for La Colombe and Stok Cold Brew?

La Colombe's serving is one 9 oz can, and Stok's serving is 12 fl oz (360 ml). The two serving volumes are different, so per-serving numbers cover different amounts of liquid.

• La Colombe Cold Brew: 1 serving per container, serving size 1 can (9 oz), sold in 12- and 24-packs.
• Stok Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew 48 oz: about 4 servings per container, serving size 12 fl oz (360 ml).

Read the serving line before comparing any figure in this article. A 12 fl oz serving is 3 fl oz larger than a 9 oz can, and the Nutrition Facts panels are built around those different volumes.

Why Does La Colombe Cold Brew Have Calories and Does Stok Have Them Too?

La Colombe's label lists 15 calories per 9 oz can, and Stok's label lists 15 calories per 12 fl oz serving. Neither brand page explains which ingredient accounts for those calories.

La Colombe's panel lists 0 g total fat and 4 g total carbohydrate, including 2 g dietary fiber. Stok's panel lists 0 g total fat, 3 g total carbohydrate, and 0 g dietary fiber. Both ingredient lists start with coffee and water, and neither ingredient list names a fat.

The pages report the calorie figure but do not describe its source. Calories also depend on the serving size printed on each panel, so the two figures should be read alongside those serving sizes.

Does La Colombe Cold Brew Have Sugar, and Does Stok Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew?

La Colombe's total sugars line shows "1" with no unit printed, and the brand page does not say what unit applies. Stok's panel lists 0 g total sugars and 0 g added sugars.

La Colombe carries a "No sugar added" claim and its ingredient list names no sweetener. Stok's brand page states "No cream. No sugar." Protein is not shown on the La Colombe page, while Stok lists protein as less than 1 g.

Because the La Colombe sugar unit is not printed, shoppers should read the physical Nutrition Facts panel on the can for the exact layout rather than rely on a summary.

Does La Colombe Cold Brew Contain Chicory Root Fiber and Why Does It Show 2 g?

Yes. La Colombe's ingredient list names chicory root fiber, and its panel shows 2 g dietary fiber (7% DV) per can.

The 2 g figure is consistent with the chicory root fiber on the ingredient list, which is the only fiber source the brand page names. The page does not break down fiber amounts further.

Does Stok Un-Sweet Black Cold Brew Contain Phosphates or Chicory Root Fiber?

No. Stok's ingredient list reads "Coffee (Filtered Water, Coffee), Natural Flavor," and its panel shows 0 g dietary fiber.

Neither phosphates nor chicory root fiber appear in that list. The brand page's other statements, "Brewed with Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee" and "BREWED LOW & SLOW," describe sourcing and brewing, not additives. Bean origin, roast level, and brew time are not disclosed.

What "Natural Flavor" consists of is not described on the page, so its composition is not disclosed.

What Phosphates Are on La Colombe's Label?

La Colombe's ingredient list names trisodium phosphate and disodium phosphate, alongside nitrogen. The brand page does not say why these ingredients are included.

How Much Sodium and Potassium Do Both Cold Brews Contain?

La Colombe lists 45 mg sodium (2% DV) and 220 mg potassium (4% DV) per 9 oz can. Stok lists 10 mg sodium (0% DV) and 290 mg potassium (6% DV) per 12 fl oz serving.

Per serving, La Colombe's sodium figure is higher. Per fluid ounce, the sodium figures work out to about 5 mg for La Colombe and about 0.8 mg for Stok, using the brand numbers. The potassium figures are closer per fluid ounce.

The brand page does not say which ingredients account for La Colombe's 45 mg of sodium. For background on the phosphate additives on its list, see Is Sodium Phosphate in Food Safe? What FDA and EFSA Say.

How Do the Ingredient Lists Differ on Each Label?

La Colombe's list has five items: coffee (water, coffee), chicory root fiber, trisodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, and nitrogen. Stok's list has two: coffee (filtered water, coffee) and natural flavor.

• La Colombe makes the claims Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, No sugar added, Dairy Free, Vegan, and Kosher.
• Stok's brand page states No cream and No sugar, and says the coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified.
• Neither brand page explains the function of each ingredient in the label list.

For what chicory root fiber is and how it appears on labels, see Inulin and Chicory Root Fiber: What the Label Means.

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much, According to the FDA?

The FDA has cited 400 mg a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults, which it describes as about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee.

The FDA also states that sensitivity to caffeine varies widely between people. The 400 mg figure is a general reference for most adults, not a personal limit. This article does not address pregnancy, medication use, or other health conditions, which call for individual medical advice.

For comparison, the brand figures are 160 mg for one La Colombe can and 125 mg for one Stok 12 fl oz serving. The FDA's reference is stated per day, while these figures are per serving.

Several label items are not disclosed on the brand pages, including the La Colombe sugar unit, the purpose of its phosphates, and the caffeine level of older La Colombe cans still in circulation.

For more on how caffeine is shown on food and drink labels, see Caffeine on Food Labels: How Much Is Too Much?.

Related reading: For a lower-caffeine coffee option, see Which Has More Caffeine, Ryze or Four Sigmatic? Both ~50 mg, which compares the caffeine, fiber, calories and named mushrooms on both mushroom coffee labels.