200 mg per scoop, easy to double
C4 Original is a powdered pre-workout supplement. Each scoop contains 200 mg of caffeine, an amount the manufacturer lists on the product page. The powder format makes it easy to use more than one scoop, either because the scoop is rounded or because the user wants a stronger effect. Two scoops is 400 mg, which matches the FDA’s daily reference for healthy adults before any coffee, tea or soda is counted.
Pre-workout powders are also absorbed quickly. Mixed with water on an empty stomach before training, the caffeine can peak within 30–60 minutes. That timing is useful for exercise but risky if the dose is doubled.
Where it fits in the exercise range
For exercise performance, research supports 3–6 mg/kg of caffeine taken 30–60 minutes before activity. A 70 kg adult’s 3 mg/kg dose is 210 mg, so one scoop of C4 Original is right at the bottom of that performance range. A 55 kg adult’s 3 mg/kg dose is 165 mg, so one scoop is already above the low-performance dose. Going to two scoops (6 mg/kg for a 70 kg person) is the top of the evidence-backed range and increases side-effect risk without adding reliable benefit.
The 200 mg in one scoop is the same caffeine as a 12 oz Alani Nu Energy or two 8 oz cups of instant coffee. The difference is speed of consumption: a pre-workout drink is usually finished in a minute or two.
Source
The 200 mg per scoop figure is from the Cellucor C4 Original product page, checked 19 September 2026.