Is There Caffeine in Kombucha? Let’s Spill the Tea 🍵

Caffeine. For some, it’s the morning kickstart, the mid-afternoon pick-me-up, the reason they can string a sentence together before 9am. For others, causes jitters that disturbs their zen. So it’s no surprise we often get asked: “Is there caffeine in kombucha?”

Let’s break it down…

First, a little fermentation fun fact.

Kombucha starts life as tea. And tea, as you may know, contains caffeine. Whether it’s the bright zing of green tea or the robust depth of black tea, caffeine is naturally present in those leaves.

So yes, by default, kombucha does contain caffeine. But there’s more to the story.

How much caffeine?

Here’s where it gets interesting. During fermentation, the friendly bacteria and yeasts in the SCOBY (that’s the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast — the magical engine behind your booch) actually consume a portion of that caffeine. 

At Left Field HQ, we brew using real loose-leaf tea, never powders, nor extracts. That means the caffeine content in our kombucha depends on the tea we use. As a rule, green tea naturally has less caffeine than, a black tea, therefore Sencha Green will have a lower caffeine amount than Yunnan Black or Darjeeling.

In general, a bottle of our kombucha will contain significantly less caffeine than a cup of tea, usually around one third of what you’d find in a cup of tea.

So, can I drink kombucha before bed?

Many of our customers enjoy kombucha in the evening with dinner, or a golden hour drink. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, we recommend starting with a green tea-based booch or drinking earlier in the day.

But remember: kombucha brings more than just bubbles — it’s a source of organic acids, healthy bacteria, and a gut-friendly boost, all in one refreshing bottle.

Want to try our kombucha? Explore our range here — and find your new favourite ferment.