A list of easy bottled/canned caffeinated drink options to make your morning(s), noon(s) or night(s) easier, reviewed by me!
Starbucks Double Shot (Vanilla): 3/5
- Price: as low as $2.50/can at Walmart
- Nutrition Info: 210cal, 2.5g Fat, 34g Carbs, 25g Sugar, 12g Protein
- Caffeine: 145mg
- Where to Buy: Almost any chain grocery store and gas station
Review: Knowing that the Double Shot-Protein exists makes me not care to drink the Double Shot-Energy. The caffeine is slightly higher than the Double Shot protein but there is almost 50% less protein and slightly more sugar. The taste is very rich but the texture is too thick and heavy for me, it’s almost syrupy. The taste is also very sweet for someone who prefers their coffee black. Essentially, if I was going to drink a pre-made Starbucks drink it would be the Double Shot-Protein.
Starbucks Double Shot-Protein: 3.5/5
- Price: $2.69/can (Target), closer to $3 elsewhere
- Nutrition Info: 200cal, 2.5g Fat, 34g Carbs, 21g Sugar, 20g Protein
- Caffeine: 110mg
- Where to Buy: I’ve purchased these at Wegman’s, Target and most major gas stations!
Review: I LOVE these but not for a casual coffee drink to go with a large breakfast. It has a significant amount of carbs and sugar but a good amount of protein as well so I tend to use this more as a meal replacement in the mornings when I’m on-the-go! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting this is a healthy alternative for breakfast but it is a good source of protein, caffeine and is filling enough to be an occasional breakfast stand-in. The texture is also very heavy, though, it’s almost better to pour it over ice and let it thin out vs. drinking it out of the can.
Starbucks Canned Refreshers: 1.5/5
- Price: $19/12 Pack at Walmart
- Nutrition: 90cal, 27g Carbs, 20g Sugar
- Caffeine: 50mg
- Where to Buy: Most chain grocery stores
Review: I would not recommend these. They don’t taste like the store-made refreshers, there’s significantly less caffeine than other drinks in the same category not to mention the high card and sugar content. The taste does not make up for what the drink lacks regarding nutrition and caffeine.
La Colombe Triple Draft Latte: 4/5
- Price: $12/4 Pack (as cheap as $9/4 pack at Walmart)
- Nutrition Info: 120cal, 7g Protein
- Caffeine: 175mg
- Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, Kroger, Wegmans (Basically any grocery store chain)
Review: I LOVE these. 100% will drink this alongside a meal or just when I’m on the go. It has a significant amount of caffeine (about the equivalent of 3 shots of espresso). The taste and texture are crisp and rich. I definitely recommend these!!
La Colombe Draft Latte 4/5:
- Price: $12/4 Pack
- Nutrition Info: 120cal, 9g Protein
- Caffeine: 140mg
- Where to Buy: Walmart, Target, Kroger, Wegmans (Basically any grocery store chain)
Review: This is a different, slightly less caffeinated, version of the Triple Draft Latte. You can also get the regular Draft Latte in Vanilla, Mocha, Peppermint, Carmel, Honeysuckle, Pumpkin Spice, Coconut, Coconut-Mocha, Chai & more!). I like these, as well, and it offers different flavors and levels of sweetness for people who might want something other than black espresso flavor.
Runa Zero Blood Orange 4.5/5:
- Price: $2.49/can at Giant Eagle, $38/24 pack on Amazon
- Nutrition Info: 0 cal, 1g Carb, 0g Protein
- Caffeine: 150mg
- Where to Buy: Giant Eagle, CVS, Amazon
Review: The slogan for this company is “From a leaf not a lab,” and it is marketed as a clean energy drink. I don’t know much about “clean energy drinks,” but their marketing campaign worked to pique my interest and make me feel a little better about drinking it!
I actually really enjoyed this. Being calorie free AND highly caffeinated was a huge plus, it’s nice to not have to include my morning caffeine when tracking my macro-nutrient intake. It tasted very much like a carbonated unsweetened ice tea. Very light, decent flavor and pleasantly bubbly. I would recommend this to someone who wants to try something new or is looking for something lighter than coffee! You can get it in a couple different variations like lime and watermelon flavors.
Bang Blue Razz
I initially left out Bang, simply because I don’t view it as a drink someone should have in the morning before they go to work. Bang is formulated to be a “Pre-Workout” drink. But, on request, here you are!
- Price: $25.99/12 Cans at GNC
- Nutrition Info: There’s essentially no nutrients according to the Nutrition label. Along with the caffeine content there is Creatine (common in most pre-workout powders and drinks) and BCAA’s (Branched Chain Amino Acids)
- Caffeine: 300mg (not for the faint of heart, literally)
- Where to Buy: GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Walmart, Amazon, other chain grocery stores
Review: I first tried Bang drinks while bartending. My body no longer responded to me slamming Sugar-Free Redbull. With double the amount of usual caffeinated beverages it really does the trick BUT make sure you have somewhere to focus all the energy you’re going to have. I had an “energy high” after drinking this, for sure. It is DEFINITELY a true “Pre-Workout,” and if you want to crush a leg day then go ahead and shotgun a Bang in the gym parking lot (don’t really do this, please) but if you’re looking to sip on something at your desk job, I recommend something a little less serious. I also experienced a small crash. While it doesn’t have the sugar that’s going to make that crash really significant, the amount of energy it gives you will have you functioning at a high level and once that caffeine wears off you will feel it. Taste wise, there are a billion Bang flavors. I prefer something less sweet and I didn’t hate the Blue Razz. Regardless, Bang tastes about as good as one can imagine a drink with that much caffeine would taste. the caffeine content in a Bang is right under the most that a “healthy adult” can intake so I would stay away from more than one can in a 24 hour period.
XOXO-MaiaElizabeth