Latest news with #caffeine
CNET
a day ago
- Health
- CNET
Is Your Iced Coffee Making You Dehydrated in the Summer Heat? I Asked the Experts
As the summer sun beats down, we should all stay hydrated, as dehydration can increase our risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. However, when I saw the National Weather Service in Las Vegas advising residents across parts of California, Nevada and Arizona to stop drinking caffeine in extreme heat to prevent dehydration, I wondered if that was taking things too far. To find out whether caffeine actually causes dehydration to the point where you need to put your iced coffee down, I consulted three experts. Does coffee cause dehydration? "Caffeine, the main active ingredient in coffee, does have a mild diuretic effect," explains Jessica McAllister, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian based in Honolulu, HI. "However, the common idea that drinking coffee automatically causes significant dehydration, especially in hot weather, is an oversimplification that deserves a closer look." A diuretic is a substance that increases the production of urine. Though coffee mildly has this effect, McAllister states that for healthy individuals, moderate coffee intake doesn't cause dehydration, but can instead contribute to daily fluid intake. Zeitlin adds that what is being talked about in NWS Las Vegas's post is caffeine, which isn't just in coffee. It can also be found in sodas, energy drinks and chocolate. She advises that people keep their caffeine intake to about 300mg daily. This is about 1-2 cups (8-16 ounces of drip coffee) or 1-2 shots of espresso daily. If you stick to this and are otherwise healthy, Zeitlin states that you don't need to be concerned about the outside temperature. Amelia Ti, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator in New York City, who is also part of CNET's medical review board, adds, "It's not a major concern unless you're already at risk (e.g., high blood pressure or other cardiac issues) or heat-sensitive. The main concern with drinking coffee when it's hot out is that caffeine may mask early signs of dehydration or overheating, especially if you're sweating a lot or not replenishing fluids adequately." Boy_Anupong/Getty Images Is coffee a vasoconstrictor? In response to these caffeine-dehydration headlines, one Bluesky user stated that the issue isn't dehydration. It's actually vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of the blood vessels. When I asked McAllister about this, she said, "Studies have found that while caffeine can cause some blood vessel narrowing, or vasoconstriction, this doesn't necessarily translate to reduced heat dissipation or increased body temperature in real life." Zeitlin agrees, stating, "The kernel of truth is that yes, caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it constricts your blood vessels, and preventing heat stroke (or any stroke) requires our blood running freely, unconstructed around our body." However, for coffee to significantly affect your blood vessels, it depends on three factors: how sensitive you are to caffeine, how much caffeine you drink and your personal health and medical history. "If you drink water throughout the day, you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet and your doctor has never directly told you to monitor your caffeine intake, then you can comfortably enjoy 1-2 cups of coffee without stressing," concludes Zeitlin. On the other hand, if you have a cardiac health history, you should check with your doctor to figure out your daily caffeine limit. Do experts recommend that people stop drinking coffee in the heat? "I wouldn't recommend that most people completely stop consuming coffee just because it's hot out, as long as you're staying hydrated and not over-consuming," says Ti. "I would recommend opting for an iced coffee, limiting extra-large or multiple cups of coffee or other caffeinated drinks, especially if you're sweating more, and watching out for signs of heat exhaustion like dizziness, rapid heart rate, nausea, headache or clammy skin." Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images McAllister agrees, as long as your coffee consumption doesn't replace more hydrating fluids, like water, especially if you're sweating heavily. "I don't think there's sufficient scientific evidence to support avoiding coffee when it's hot outside," she states. "For one, most people drink coffee for either the 'pick-me-up' or to warm up. If you're drinking coffee, you're likely to be outside in hot weather for only a short time, so you should be able to stay cool and drink plenty of water to minimize your risk of dehydration or overheating." Zeitlin is on the same page. "I recommend people keep coffee to 1-2 cups daily, regardless of the weather, and to drink a full glass of water for every cup or shot of espresso they have and enjoy it," she says. "But if your doctor told you to avoid caffeine for any reason, then do so." Important precautions to take in the summer heat Though you may not have to worry about your coffee consumption in the heat as much as headlines are saying, you should still exercise certain precautions when it's hot out this summer. Increase fluid intake: "Drink water regularly throughout the day, and consider including electrolyte-rich beverages if you're sweating heavily or exposed to the heat for longer than 1 hour," says McAllister. Zeitlin adds that drinking more water on hotter-than-normal days "means 2-4 glasses more than your usual baseline water intake." Add electrolytes if sweating heavily: "Precautions I would recommend in hotter-than-normal temperatures include hydrating with water and adding electrolytes if you're sweating heavily or outside in the heat for long periods of time," states Ti. Drink a glass of water before coffee: "A good general rule for anytime you consume coffee is to first have an 8-ounce glass of water," says Zeitlin. "Your body's response to the caffeine will be more gentle and prevent jitters." Avoid excessive alcohol: "Drinking alcohol can increase your chances of getting dehydrated, particularly if you're spending a lot of time outdoors," explains McAllister. Consume foods with high water content: Ti specifically recommends watermelon, berries and greens. McAllister adds that cucumber, oranges and strawberries are great for this, especially if you don't love drinking water. Eat raw fruits and vegetables: "Raw fruits and veggies will hydrate you with their own water content and give you essential minerals (aka electrolytes) to help prevent you from dehydrating," states Zeitlin. "Cooked veggies are great for those minerals, but you'll be cooking out the water content." Skip workouts at the hottest part of the day: Unless your body is used to the heat, Ti advises scheduling your high-intensity workouts for a cooler time. Exercise indoors: On a similar note, Zeitlin states, "Stay indoors in the air conditioning when possible and change your outdoor exercise routine to an indoor one on these super-hot days." Listen to your body: McAllister stresses the importance of remaining vigilant about signs of heat exhaustion, which include dizziness, headache or nausea. If you feel unwell, move to a cooler area.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists share how a cup of coffee can change the brain
Decaf coffee may not be what you want if you want a caffeine boost to get through the end of the day but if you want to wake feeling rested, you should reconsider. New research has found that drinking just two cups of coffee after midday could be enough to shift the brain towards a more excitable and dynamic state during the night, wreaking havoc on your energy levels. Canadian researchers said that caffeine - one of the most widely consumed stimulants in the world - can change the structure and complexity of brain activity during different stages of sleep. Lead author of the study Professor Philipp Tholke said: 'The widespread use of caffeine among the public makes this topic an important health consideration. 'Understanding how caffeine affects sleep architecture and brain dynamics can help clarify its impact on neural health.' The researchers, from the University of Montreal, analysed the sleep health of 40 healthy adults with moderate caffeine consumption aged 20 to 58. Participants spent two nights at a sleep clinic one after ingesting 200mg of caffeine - approximately two cups of coffee - and another after having a placebo. The researchers used a double-blind design so that they also did not know whether participants were coming into the clinic caffeinated or caffeine-free. The participants' sleep quality was monitored using an electroencephalogram (EEG) which records brain activity by picking up electrical signals produced by the brain. Using a sleep EEG, researchers focused on several markers of brain complexity looking at how random a brain signal is, how easily the signal can be compressed and how consistent a signal is over time. They also looked at the distribution of electrical activity across different frequencies. The results showed that caffeine mostly affected brain activity during non-REM sleep - the stage of the cycle which is considered the quiet or restful stage. This stage is split into three distinct phases: a person falls asleep, and then moves from a light sleep into a deep sleep. At this point a person's breathing, brain activity and heart rate typically slow down, body temperature drops and eye movement stops. This is a very restorative phase helping the body repair tissue and muscle and strengthen the immune system. However, researchers found that consuming caffeine after midday had a negative impact on this crucial stage, resulting in less restorative sleep. 'Caffeine delays but does not prevent sleep, so even though we can sleep under the influence of caffeine, the brain, and therefore also sleep, is impacted by the drug,' Prof Thölke told PsyPost. 'It leads to shallower sleep with increased information processing during the sleep stages where the brain normally enters deep restorative rest.' The researchers also noted certain brain signals were flatter, suggesting that the under the influence of caffeine the brain more closely resembled a 'critical state' - where the brain is most responsive and adaptable. They also analysed how age affected caffeine's impact on the brain and sleep health. Generally, younger adults aged 20 to 27-years-old were more susceptible to caffeine's stimulant effects during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep compared to middle-aged adults. Researchers theorized that this could be because older people have less adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine is a chemical that builds up in the brain during waking hours eventually making us feel tired. Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, making us feel more awake. The researchers suggested that because older adults have fewer receptors, the blocking effect of caffeine may not be so effective especially in REM sleep. During non-REM sleep however the effects of caffeine were broadly the same across all age groups. Researchers concluded therefore that caffeine has the ability to restructure the brain and impact how well we sleep. However, they acknowledged that their study only included healthy individuals so concluded that the findings could not be extrapolated to individuals with neurological or psychiatric conditions like restless leg syndrome or Parkinson's.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
A cross between a nicotine pouch and an energy drink: What to know about caffeine pouches
David Gomez, a school resource officer for the Boise County Sheriff's Office in Idaho, started noticing caffeine pouches last spring. Students were using the pillow-shaped pouches, which can contain more than 200 milligrams of caffeine, alongside nicotine pouches like Zyn. They'll use them either as a disguise for nicotine pouch usage — caffeine and nicotine pouches often look virtually identical — or a complement to it, Gomez said. 'They'll use the Zyn pouches that they put in their lip, and then they'll take a caffeine pouch,' he added. 'They don't care what it is they're putting in their lip.' The use of caffeine pouches among teens is still relatively rare. But some experts and educators have concerns that that could soon change. Teen-friendly marketing of these products is spreading on social media. And Richard Mumby, the marketing executive who helped launch the e-cigarette Juul, which was widely blamed for sparking a teen vaping epidemic, is back with a caffeine pouch startup called Wip. Wip joins a growing market drafting off the popularity of nicotine pouches and trying to sell Americans on a new alternative to caffeinated beverages. Caffeine is part of 'the fabric of many Americans' everyday lives,' Mumby told NBC News — but he argues there's room for improvement. Wip and its competitors are pitching caffeine pouches as a convenient, portable and affordable alternative to caffeinated drinks. A cross between nicotine pouches and energy drinks, they are placed between the lip and gums to quickly deliver a hands-free hit of caffeine. Pouches typically last anywhere from roughly 20 minutes to an hour, but their caffeine buzz can linger longer. Wip's pouches come in flavors like mint, strawberry kiwi and sour cherry, and each one contains either 100 or 200 milligrams of caffeine — the latter being roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee, or half the amount of caffeine most adults can safely consume in an entire day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The health effects of caffeine pouches are not well-studied. But not all experts are sold on this new form of caffeine delivery. Rob van Dam, a professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health who studies caffeine, voiced concerns about the potency of some pouches on the market, particularly for consumers who are not used to them. 'It may be a bit different than coffee,' he said. 'It may hit faster, and you may overdose, in a way, more quickly.' The potential appeal to teens is another concern, given the existing popularity of nicotine pouches and energy drinks. (Philip Morris, which makes Zyn, has previously told NBC News that 'Zyn's marketing is directed toward legal age nicotine users who are 21+.') While there are no federal age restrictions on the sale or use of caffeine, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teens consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day — or, even better, avoid using it at all, said Dr. Mark Corkins, chair of the AAP's Committee on Nutrition. Youth caffeine use came under increasing scrutiny following high-profile reports of death and serious injury among young people who consumed Panera Bread's heavily caffeinated Charged Lemonade, which the brand discontinued in 2024 as part of a 'menu transformation.' Separately, medical visits related to kids drinking other caffeinated beverages are also on the rise: From 2022 to 2023, America's Poison Centers charted a 24% increase in calls related to energy-drink consumption among people younger than 20. And the rate of pediatric emergency room visits related to caffeine usage roughly doubled between 2017 and 2023, although such visits remain rare, according to data from Epic Research. 'Caffeine, in general, is an area we are very concerned about,' Corkins said. 'Pouches are just another delivery form.' A growing market — and an ethical 'gray zone' Caffeine pouches aren't entirely new. The brand Grinds started selling coffee pouches about 15 years ago, initially targeting the niche market of baseball players who wanted an alternative to chewing tobacco. At first, business 'was like flying a plane into headwinds,' said co-founder Patrick Pezet. 'No one knew what pouches were. It was totally foreign.' Business has increased steadily over time, growing by 20% to 50% each year since the company launched, Pezet said. Especially in the last five years or so — in parallel with the rise of the popular nicotine pouch brand Zyn — there's been a dramatic shift in the public's awareness of and willingness to use mouth pouches, Pezet said. (Wip said in a press release that almost half of adults ages 18 to 40 are interested in using pouches for energy.) Caffeine pouches are still a small market, particularly compared to the multibillion-dollar U.S. coffee industry or even the nicotine pouch industry. Still, Pezet said, his company has a growing customer base, mostly made up of adults who want an alternative to nicotine products. Another sign of growth: an explosion of competitors. 'We keep close tabs on the entire market,' Pezet said. 'There's probably 50 to 60 total caffeine pouches or energy pouches out there. Two or three years ago, that number was a couple dozen.' As the market proliferates, it has given rise to a 'gray zone' of legal but ethically dubious promotion to young people, Pezet said. (A blog post on Grinds' website says 'there is absolutely no age restriction on purchasing or using Grinds Coffee Pouches,' but Pezet said the brand directs its marketing toward customers 18 and older.) In some social media posts, creators explicitly promote caffeine pouches to students. 'Can you pop a lower decky in school?' asked an influencer in one TikTok post about pouches from the brand LyvWel, using a slang term for mouth pouches. 'One-hundred percent, guys. You can use the lower deckies in school. You don't have to be 21 to buy them.' A representative for LyvWel said the post was not created, approved or sponsored by LyvWel. 'Although caffeine products are legally available to anyone who can purchase tea, coffee, or energy drinks, LyvWel was created specifically as an alternative for adult nicotine pouch users,' the representative wrote in an email. 'We do not market to teens.' Some TikTok creators who review and promote caffeine pouches appear to be teenagers themselves, although it is not clear whether their posts have been approved by the brands they mention. 'Viral, organic social-media marketing' Dr. Robert Jackler, a professor emeritus at Stanford Medicine who studies tobacco-industry advertising, sees echoes of Juul in Wip's marketing. Wip is active on TikTok and Instagram — two platforms used heavily by young people — and features athletes and fitness influencers in its posts, a combination that Jackler said is 'patently youth-oriented' and reminiscent of the lifestyle-focused, influencer-driven marketing campaigns that Juul ran under Mumby, now the Wip CEO. Such marketing prompted multiple lawsuits alleging Juul purposely targeted underage customers. Juul executives have repeatedly denied that allegation and have not admitted wrongdoing in legal settlements. But the company's product became nearly synonymous with youth vaping at a time when almost 30% of high school students used e-cigarettes. '[Mumby] is doing the same kind of viral, organic social-media marketing that he did with Juul,' Jackler said. 'We take responsible caffeine consumption and responsible marketing of our product seriously,' a Wip spokesperson said in a statement provided to NBC News. 'While there are no legal age restrictions on caffeine products, we have adopted marketing guidelines that exceed the age-related standards set by the American Beverage Association for most common energy drinks. Wip is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18, and our guidelines ensure the product is marketed responsibly. We proactively train all external partners on our marketing guidelines so there is education and alignment at every layer of our business.' Despite their spread online, caffeine pouches do not seem to be nearly as ubiquitous in schools as Juul was at its prime, nor as either energy drinks or nicotine pouches are today. An estimated 64% and 5% of teenagers have tried energy drinks and nicotine pouches, respectively, while there is little data on youth caffeine pouch usage. Dylan Lippold, a middle school teacher in Wisconsin, said he remains more concerned about energy drink consumption among his students. 'I would walk into a class and see five or so kids drinking [an energy drink] in the morning,' he said. 'That's a little concerning that a middle schooler needs that much caffeine to get going for the day.' Health concerns Caffeine is often seen as a harmless, or even beneficial, stimulant — and within reason, it can be. Although most experts agree it's possible to become dependent on caffeine, it's not considered as addictive as nicotine. And in addition to providing energy and mental clarity, caffeine consumption can come with significant health benefits, studies conducted among adults have shown. 'In population studies, people drinking three or four cups of coffee per day have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, like coronary heart disease and stroke,' van Dam said. 'But going beyond that, like more than five cups of coffee per day, we do not see the same benefits.' And, he noted, it's not clear whether the caffeine in energy drinks or pouches carries the same benefits as classic coffee. At high levels of consumption, caffeine can cause side effects that range from relatively benign (anxiety, jitters, GI distress, difficulty sleeping) to more worrisome (heart palpitations, high blood pressure, increased heart rate). In rare cases, heavy caffeine consumption can cause fatal complications, including cardiac arrest, studies show. For children and teenagers, who are typically smaller and weigh less than adults, the thresholds of safe caffeine consumption are lower. The AAP recommends against pediatric caffeine usage not only because of the potential for toxicity, but also because kids who need to use a lot of caffeine probably aren't getting enough sleep, Corkins said. 'Even if you get a stimulant, it's not a substitute for sleep,' he said. Research also suggests that children who consume more than 100 mg of caffeine during a school day are more likely than those who don't to struggle with self-control and behavioral issues. For users of all ages, caffeine pouches, like nicotine pouches, may pose a threat to oral health, added Jackler, who in addition to studying tobacco marketing is an ear, nose and throat doctor. Routinely placing a foreign substance between the lips and gums may lead to gum recession and dental problems, so 'it's not necessarily an optimal way of taking in your caffeine, especially if it's something you're doing all day,' Jackler said. Consumers should also be aware that caffeine pouches may not be tightly regulated, van Dam said. While the FDA has cracked down on the sale of 'pure and highly concentrated' caffeine products — like tubs of caffeine powder that contain thousands of servings that users must measure out themselves — caffeine pouches are regulated 'as either dietary supplements or conventional foods, depending on their composition and marketing,' an FDA spokesperson said. Supplements typically do not go through FDA review and approval before being sold to consumers. Labeling is another concern, Jackler said: Some energy pouches on the market do not clearly state how much caffeine they contain. Even with accurate labels, the potency of some caffeine pouches raises eyebrows. Two-hundred milligrams of caffeine is 'really the maximum amount that's being recommended in one sitting,' van Dam said, and some brands meet or exceed that amount in a single pouch. The pouch industry isn't alone in that; energy drinks and coffee drinks can also pack in huge amounts of caffeine per serving, often also without clear labeling. But these products are both more familiar to consumers and easier to pace, in that people can stop sipping if they start to notice side effects, van Dam said. A caffeine pouch, by contrast, delivers a concentrated dose of caffeine fairly quickly, and 'once it's absorbed, it's absorbed,' he said. Research also suggests that consuming nicotine and caffeine at the same time can compound their negative effects on the heart — a concern, given that some users alternate between nicotine and caffeine pouches. Given these dangers, Jackler fears what could happen if caffeine pouches go the way of nicotine pouches, 'where kids put in four pouches in the upper lip and three pouches in the bottom lip,' he said. 'Young people, particularly, think that if a little bit helps, they're going to take even more. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
WIRED
5 days ago
- General
- WIRED
The Best Coffee Concentrates for the Fastest Caffeine of Your Life
Skip to main content Whether you're into cold brew, a frothy confection, or classic hot coffee, we've got a concentrated pick for every sipping style. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. When I started hunting for the best coffee concentrates, I was skeptical. Can a little jug of liquid or bottle of syrup really hold up to drip coffee or other methods of coffee making? Reader, it can. Our top pick, Javvy ($25), is affordable, tasty, and—most important—easy to use for all coffee drinkers. Read on to find the best coffee concentrates for your favorite ways to sip, fueled by (so much!) caffeine-filled testing. Be sure to check out our many related buying guides, including the Best Coffee Subscriptions, the Best Pod Coffee Machines, the Best Cold-Brew Makers, the Best Latte Machines, and the Best French Press. Photograph: Louryn Strampe Javvy (formerly Javy) was the first coffee concentrate I tried, and I still reach for it before all others. It's available in a mind-boggling array of flavors, and my favorite part is that the different flavors aren't super-sweet. The Caramel variety, for example, has buttery notes of caramel with very little sweetness. I rarely use sweetener in my coffee, so flavored blends are not usually my go to; Javvy managed to make me rethink that decision, and I'm reaching for Brownie Batter, Mocha, and Caramel Brûlèe without a second glance. I like the flip-top lid and the syrupy consistency of the concentrate. You need only a teaspoon or two for a full 8-ounce cup. The flavor profile of the Original is good, too, with a satisfying Arabica bean taste that almost made me forget I wasn't drinking freshly brewed. There was no bitter or funny aftertaste. I prefer my coffee cold, but I made this hot and it was tasty (if a tiny bit thin). Available Flavors 17 (plus limited-edition options) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 35 Caffeine per Serving 80 mg per tsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1-2 tsp. for 6-8 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 10 weeks once opened Photograph: Louryn Strampe If you like your coffee extra kicky, this concentrate is what you're looking for. It packs 150 milligrams of caffeine into a single tablespoon-size serving, but it doesn't taste too acidic or bitter. There's a nice jolt but not jitters or an overt shock to the senses. I also like the cork closure. The flavors are good, too—my favorite is Caramel, but there are lots to choose from. And the base coffee flavor is very unlike other concentrates—it's robust and rich, lending a fuller body (even diluted) than some others I tried. One note is that this must be mixed into 8 ounces of water, rather than 6. I personally think it's quite obvious that Jot and Javvy are very similar, and choosing between them should ultimately come down to what flavor sounds the best to you. Both products are fantastic and worth trying. Available Flavors 6 (plus limited-edition options) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 14 Caffeine per Serving 150 mg per tbsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 tbsp. for 8 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 2-3 weeks once opened If you know a thing or two about coffee, you might find the other brands recommended here too lowbrow. But can you out-taste a coffee sommelier? Kloo's coffee concentrates are curated by such tasters, also known as 'Q Graders,' and I couldn't stop saying 'Wow' out loud while I tested the brand's offerings. From the upscale, frosted packaging and shiny metal stopper to the included measuring jigger, I was impressed upon first glance. And once I mixed in a shot full of the extract-consistency liquid, the taste was somehow more impressive. Think nuanced, fruity flavors in the Ethiopia blend or nutty, berry notes in the Colombia blend. I am not a coffee snob—I do test pod coffee makers, after all—and even I could taste the difference here. This is not necessarily the most economical of options—one $33 bottle of concentrate makes 12 cups of coffee. Another note is that this has a shorter shelf life than some others we tested. But if you're a true coffee lover, this single-origin stuff is up your alley. Available Flavors 4 Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 12 Caffeine per Serving Unlisted Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 shot (0.75 oz.) for 7 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 3 weeks once opened Photograph: Louryn Strampe Cold brew is a notoriously tricky thing to make. It's not so much difficult as it is time-consuming. Once your grounds are wet, you need to let them steep for at least 24 hours. In a blind taste test, I don't think I could tell homemade cold brew from the kind made with Pop & Bottle Concentrate. It nails the mellow, smooth, slightly sweet flavor of true cold brew, and it takes seconds to make. It's a little less concentrated than other kinds I tried—one bottle gets you up to 16 cups of coffee—but it truly tastes like cold brew specifically and not just a coffee-flavored beverage. I found it tasted best diluted slightly more than the packaging calls for. I didn't care much for the beverage hot—it still reminded me too much of cold brew—but your mileage may vary there. Available Flavors 4 Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 16 Caffeine per Serving 90 mg per tsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1-2 tbsp. for 6 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated after opening; 2 weeks once opened Photograph: Louryn Strampe This concentrated Starbucks cold brew tastes exactly like what you'd buy in its stores. That is, delicious. You can finally be your own barista. The flavored varieties aren't too heavy-handed—I like the earthy notes in the Madagascar Vanilla and the creamy quality of the Caramel Dolce—and I like that this is readily available in most grocery stores. It isn't super-concentrated, so you might want to start with slightly less water than is called for, and the bottle is pretty big in my fridge. But if you know what you like and you like it, this is smarter than going to the Siren for a simple cup of coffee. Available Flavors 7 Cold, Hot, or Both? Cold Servings per Bottle 5 Caffeine per Serving 235 mg per 6 ounces Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 6 ounces for 6 ounces of water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated after opening; 2 weeks once opened Are you running a circus pie car? Do you have a family full of caffeine addicts? Do you drink the stuff all day? This giant jug of cold brew concentrate is the jug for you. It can make 32 cups of coffee! You can make it in a big batch or just dilute it as needed. The coffee is tasty, especially once you get the dilution dialed in right (like most other concentrates, I like mine slightly less diluted). There are notes of chocolate and a toasty nuttiness that go well black or with creamer. Available Flavors 1 Cold, Hot, or Both? Cold Servings per Bottle 32 Caffeine per Serving Unlisted Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 2 weeks once opened Photograph: Matthew Korfhage $79 $69 (13% off) Cometeer Cometeer's flash-frozen coffee pods (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are featured in our list of the best coffee subscriptions. Cometeer starts with beans from quality roasters like Intelligentsia or Counter Culture. It brews the coffee, then flash-freezes it into a little pod. You'll get the frozen pods and pop them in the freezer, where they'll keep fresh for months. To make it, just melt it and then mix with hot or cold water or milk. The aluminum capsules are recyclable. The coffee tastes excellent, with all of the guesswork taken out. You don't have to buy a bag of beans and go through the rigamarole of figuring out the perfect grind and extraction temperature—you literally just have to melt, dump, and stir. If you want good coffee but don't want to deal with a single bit of thinking to get it, this is a very safe bet. Available Flavors 50+ (varies by month) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle Each box has 8 capsules Caffeine per Serving Varies Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 capsule for 6 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep frozen; 1 day at room temp, 3 days in the fridge How We Tested & What's Up Next AccordionItemContainerButton During my testing period, I completely replaced my once- or twice-daily regular coffee habit with coffee concentrates. I followed the packaging instructions exactly. I made iced coffee with every candidate; I made hot coffee when the packaging said I could. I tried each variety black, with milk, and with flavored creamer. I tried the 'Original' blend when applicable, and a few flavored varieties as well. I looked for ease of use, caffeine content, dissolubility, and—above all—taste. I'll be testing more coffee concentrates from Chameleon Coffee, Dunkin', Explorer, La Colombe, and more. How Do You Use a Coffee Concentrate? AccordionItemContainerButton The packaging has instructions, which are very simple. Mix the concentrate (usually a teaspoon or a tablespoon) into your liquid of choice (hot water, cold water, milk, or a mixture; usually 6 to 8 fluid ounces. Six fluid ounces is 3/4 cup). Stir more than you think you need to. Then add flavorings, syrups, cream, or sugar to taste. You can add a bit more concentrate, but this will increase caffeine levels, and a little goes a very long way. Coffee concentrates can also be used to lend coffee flavor to other foods and beverages. Try mixing a little in your vanilla protein shake or ice cream sundae for a caffeinated kick. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
Entrepreneur
6 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Liquid Death Announces 'Sane' Energy Drink
Liquid Death, the water brand known for its tongue-in-cheek "extreme" branding with skull-emblazoned beer-style cans, told The Wall Street Journal that they are about to kick things up a notch. But not too high of a notch. The brand will be releasing an energy drink in January called Sparkling Energy — and always going against the norm, their drink will have a decidedly "unextreme" 100 milligrams of caffeine. Per WSJ, that's about half the caffeine drinkers get in a Celsius or Prime. "We thought, 'Let's have a sane level of caffeine, that's equal to a cup of coffee, because it seems like the category has gone a little caffeine-crazy,'" Liquid Death's founder and Chief Executive, Mike Cessario, told WSJ. Related: How David Beckham and Shaun Neff Are Creating Buzz Around Their New Snack Brand BEEUP Each 12-ounce can of Sparkling Energy will offer vitamins, but no sugar or artificial sweeteners. It is another entry in the "better-for-you" category of packaged goods that are growing in popularity. The expected price will be between $2.59 and $3. The company says it will promote the drink with the same humorous approach that it takes with its water and sparkling waters, which helped propel Liquid Death to become a $1.4 billion juggernaut. As Dan Murphy, the brand's SVP of marketing, told Entrepreneur, everything they do comes through the filter of whether their ads will be shared on social media. "Because if it's not compelling enough for people to share, then it's probably not good tip-of-the-spear, top-of-the-funnel marketing," he explained. In the below video, Entrepeneur magazine's editor-in-chief, Jason Feifer, breaks down Liquid Death's breakout marketing success and how you can apply it to your business.
