M.S. Food Science
Washington State University, 2018
Thesis on caffeine metabolism and CYP1A2 enzyme kinetics
Q Grader Certified
Coffee Quality Institute, 2016
Cupped 200+ coffees weekly for 6 years
SCA Certified
Specialty Coffee Association, 2017
Barista Skills & Sensory Evaluation
Why I Built CaffeineCheck
I used to cup 200 coffees a week as a Q Grader for a specialty importer in Seattle. Every sample got scored for acidity, body, flavor — but nobody was tracking the milligrams. I was consuming caffeine all day, every day, and I had no idea what it was doing to my sleep.
When I left the industry to get my master's in food science at WSU, I started studying caffeine metabolism for real. I learned about CYP1A2 — the enzyme that breaks down caffeine — and discovered I am a slow metabolizer. That means 200mg hits me like 400mg hits a fast metabolizer. No wonder I could not sleep.
I built CaffeineCheck because most people have no idea how much caffeine they are actually drinking. A Starbucks Grande Blonde Roast has 360mg — nearly the entire FDA daily limit in one cup. Cold brew can hit 200mg+ per 16oz. Energy drinks are marketed to teenagers who have no concept of half-life.
This site treats caffeine like the drug it is: useful, but dose-dependent. Every tool is built with lab-verified data, pharmacokinetic models, and a healthy respect for sleep architecture.
I live in a converted warehouse loft in Capitol Hill with my partner Sam, who drinks tea and thinks my obsession with milligrams is "endearing but exhausting." Our cat Espresso sleeps 20 hours a day and has never had a sleepless night in his life. I am trying to learn from him.
Quick Facts
5,000+ Data Points
Personally logged caffeine intake over 4 years
CYP1A2 Slow
Confirmed by pharmacogenetic testing
350+ Beverages
Database of lab-verified caffeine content
2-Cup Limit
My personal daily max to protect sleep
What this site is not: CaffeineCheck does not provide medical advice. The tools are for educational and self-tracking purposes only. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or are concerned about caffeine's effects on your health, please consult a healthcare professional. The FDA 400mg limit is a guideline for healthy adults, not a prescription.