However, it has never been determined whether or not this rhythm disturbance equates to an increased risk of hospitalization because of it. In fact, a recent study shows that drinking caffeine in coffee form actually decreases the risk that someone might be hospitalized because of heart rhythm problems.

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, CA recently conducted a study in which the coffee drinking habits of 130,054 men and women were assessed along with their medical history. The research showed that those who had 4 or more cups of coffee a day (400mg of caffeine or more) had an 18% lower risk off being hospitalized because of heart rhythm disturbances while those that consumed at least 1-3 cups had a 7% lower risk.

The head researcher, Arthur Klatsky MD, says that while other factors could have been involved here and that this study doesn’t prove that coffee has a protective effect, it does however, show that coffee drinkers are not harming themselves from drinking the caffeine or increasing their risk of hospitalization due to heart rhythm problems.

In any event, this is good news for the caffeine consuming public, especially those that have 400mg or more of caffeine everyday. However, don’t go crazy people. This isn’t a license to throw common sense out the window.

Coffee is embraced while energy drinks are shunned, banned, and protested. What gives? Something that just stirred the pot for me was the recent news of Top Sail High School in North Carolina, USA opening a student run campus coffee shop where students can get coffee before and after school.

Don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great idea and a way for students to learn about business, economics, making coffee, customer service, cooking etc. but what bugs me is the double standard that this coffee shop represents.

Could you imagine what would have happened if the students wanted to open an energy drink stand before or after school? There would have been public outcry, angry phone calls, and headlines on CNN about schools poisoning their students. However, a coffee shop opening gets commended and will no doubt start a new trend.

As our caffeine database shows, ounce per ounce coffee has more! caffeine. For instance, a fluid ounce of filter coffee has 18mg of caffeine while a fluid ounce of your typical Rockstar or Monster has 10mg of caffeine. Take a look at Starbucks caffeine and you see a fluid ounce of their brew has 22.5mg of caffeine. Yet coffee is accepted and energy drinks are banned.

Some would argue that it’s the other ingredients in energy drinks that makes them bad, but we say if you search, you will find that it is almost always the caffeine content of energy drinks that is criticized. As for sugar, most teens I know would drink their coffee pretty sweet so the sugar would be about equal.

Does anyone else find this coffee and energy drink double standard annoying?

You laugh, but this is a true story. In Warren, Michigan a man was robbed and then stabbed in the chest. After he was stabbed, he walked  a 1/2 mile to the restaurant and called 911 on the pay phone outside the restaurant. He told the operator that he would be inside having a coffee because it was cold outside.

The restaurant staff said he was as calm as can be when he ordered his coffee and I’m sure they were a bit shocked to see a man standing at the counter with a knife sticking out of his chest.

I guess he figured he needed his caffeine because ER waiting rooms can be a bitch.

Source: AP

Usually I’m not much for straight brew it yourself coffee, but thought I would give this a try, with a name like that, how could I pass it up?

Taste

Since I don’t brew coffee and drink it very often, I wanted to get a good honest opinion for you guys, so I had a few of my coffee drinking friends taste it as well.  And they all LOVED Wake the F Up!!!  Yes it quite strong, so if you prefer a stronger coffee you won’t be let down, as for me, it was a little to strong for me.  The taste was a little on the smoother side as coffees go, but yes, there’s quite the kick to your taste buds.

Ingredients

As for ingredients in Wake the F Up!!!, not really to sure.  There’s nothing on the packaging, and doing some research online could only find this, “A secret blend of Costa Rican & Brazilian coffees, Artisan roasted and ground in New Orleans. Espresso beans are ground into the mix.” However, note that espresso is not really a special type of bean, but only a method of brewing coffee. This is a marketing term which alludes to strong, or fancy.

Effect

My coffee drinking guys like strong coffee and they said this is some of the strongest and most powerful coffee they’ve had.  After we drank it, we got back to work and these guys were buzzed for quite some time, a little too long, they began getting a little annoying, a little to much energy (you know what I’m talking about)!

Verdict

For the coffee lovers out there, Wake the F Up!!! Coffee won’t let you down.  It seems to have started as more of a novelty, yet it’s seeming to really take off and from the reaction of my buddies, I can see why.  So if you like your coffee like your energy drinks, then WTFU won’t let you down, more like “lift you the F up!!!”

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

A new study showed that those who drink coffee have lower sugar and insulin levels. It also appears that regular coffee is better than decaffeinated, so coffee could even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

The Basics

In a previous study in 2006, Japanese researchers had similar findings, but they believed the caffeine was the magic bullet. However, in this study coffee’s other components were isolated and tested.

15 overweight but otherwise healthy men were given either decaf coffee, a placebo, or the chemicals chlorogenic acid and trigonelline dissolved in water which are two of the main antioxidants in coffee. The participants’ glucose and insulin levels were checked after consumption of each throughout the trial period. The only sample that showed lowered sugar and insulin levels was the chlorogenic acid and trigonelline solution.

In the decaffeinating process these antioxidants are also removed to much lower concentrations so that explains why results weren’t seen with the decaf sample. Therefore, it is best to have regular full test coffee that’s been un-messed around with if you want to experience this positive health benefit.

This is good news for coffee drinkers or those that would be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Now you can drink all the coffee you want, but I would advise that you learn to drink it without the white stuff if you want to experience the full benefits.

Source:The American Diabetes Association

I eagerly open it and begin reading through all their literature and whatnot and am being blown away by what I’m reading.

First, an energy pump? Hmmm sounds exciting… then I see it has a 400g energy blend, 50,000% vitamin B12, that’s not a misprint, I did say 50,000%, and 23 exotic fruits and herbs all packed into a one-ounce D-Mix energy pump, and it still tastes like coffee???

The world is fueled by coffee, yet some of us need more than just the standard coffee rush, and that’s when some of these coffee energy drinks can fill in that slight gap for us.  So let’s pump this “energy pump” and see what happens…

Taste

WOW! That wow isn’t directed necessarily for the taste, but for the strength.  This energy is potent!  Seemed a little to strong for my liking, but may be a perfect fit for the HARDCORE straight coffee drinker.  The “pump” gives you a direct stream which is more like a coffee syrup, then your normal watered down coffee bean mixture. D-mix is also available in mint and tropical punch for the non-coffee lovers.

Ingredients

Now someone much more educated than me will have to explain this to me.  This 1-ounce D-Mix  Energy Pump claims to contain all the following…  a 400mg energy blend, 14 vitamins including 5000 mg of antioxidants and 50,000% vitamin B12 as well as 21 amino acids and 23 exotic fruits and herbs.  Now how do they jam all of that into a 1-ounce energy drink?  Doesn’t seem possible!

Effect

Effect is tricky on this one.  You control the effect.  I took about 4 pumps and got a healthy energy rush going, yet you can take as many pumps as it takes to get you going.  Product claims to have 30 pumps, yet only a few will be needed to give you your desired rush.

Verdict

The “pump” part of D-Mix didn’t quite live up to my expectations, it’s simply a spray. Even though the coffee taste is a little to strong for my liking, I can definitely see myself keeping a D-mix Energy Pump in my desk drawer for that extra boost during the week.

Reviewed by Brandon Trouten

Photo courtesy of Bevnet.com

Monster X-presso Hammer? Yes, I know. Yet another Monster?  How can one company have so many different energy drinks and each one be totally unique?

Monster was one of the first major energy drinks and  became very successful. Then they were one of the first to create a Java energy, another success, yet can they strike gold again with a energized, nitrous oxide infused espresso?

Appearance/Image

Monster Hammer has kept up the classic look that Monster has portrayed throughout all their cans.  Hammer comes in a 6.75oz can with a dark wood grain background and their signature M ripping through.  Also, the font covering the can only adds to the uniqueness of Monster cans.  Truly one of the better looking cans out there.

Overall appearance: A

Taste

Popping the top instantly gave me that classic espresso aroma.  Taking the first sip, one thing leaped out at me and that was how SMOOOOTH this drink was.  I found it very creamy, with a hint of chocolate in the aftertaste.   There’s a number of java/espresso based energy drink on the market, some good and some tasting and resembling puddle water, yet  Monster Hammer truly gives you a coffeehouse quality espresso in a can.

Overall taste: A-

Effect

With the drink being so smooth and tasty, I found the can empty before I knew it and without any effects.  Yet shortly after, I got the boost I had hoped for. This drink offers the same energy blend as Java Monster so the caffeine content should be comparable.  Not sure if it will provide the boost to get you out of bed in the morning, yet when your crashing at work during your post-lunch break, Monster X-presso Hammer will provide the kick to get you to the finish line.

Overall effect: B+

Verdict

I went into this review with high hopes and high expectations.  Monster never let me down before and with Hammer they only kept up their reputation. This is one of the better drinks I’ve had in a long time, and will definitely be reaching into the fridge to get more in the future and look forward to the future varieties of Monster X-presso.

Overall verdict: A-

Reviewed by Brandon Trouton

At the Kona Brewery in Hawaii, they are brewing up Pipeline Porter with 100% Kona coffee grown on the Big Island.

I’ve tried to envision what this would taste like, but I’m having trouble making any comparison. I guess this calls for a special business trip to Hawaii in order to try this unique creation. It is only available September through March so I’ll have to wait a few months.

I can imagine though, sitting on a warm beach after a surf, drinking a Pipeline Porter then having the energy to go back in for another surf…..

Caribou Coffee began in 1992 after it’s founders made a trek to Alaska and were inspired to start the business. Caribou started in Minneapolis, but is now in 16 states with 500 company owned locations.

Since they are gaining traction across the country and into a few other countries as well, we thought it was time we developed a handy guide to the caffeine content at Caribou.

• One product that stands is the “Depth Charge” with a whopping 445mg/(20oz) of caffeine and the Iced Americano with 450mg/(20oz). Now that’s some bang for your buck!

Caribou has teamed up with Coca-Cola to bring bottled coffee drinks to your local convenience store.

Is it unique because of its non-carbonated approach? Nope. Is it because it’s marketed towards to truck drivers? Nope. Is it because it contains ingredients meant to regulate blood pressure? Getting warmer.

What we have here is a drink that actually follows through with its targeted demographic. Big Ol’ Trucker is an energy drink made for truck drivers first, and a drink marketed towards truck drivers second. When you think about it, this concept is a rare occurrence for energy drinks!

From what I understand, truck drivers have sincere health problems that arise from sitting down for so many hours. In the sitting position, it is difficult for the body to circulate blood properly from the legs on up, leaving it to ‘pool’ in the legs. After so many years of this inefficient circulation, a truck driver’s health becomes threatened.

Taste

Non-carbonated fruit punch. There’s not much more to say, except that it’s awfully tasty. Really, there’s nothing else more to say.

Ingredients

So what exactly allows them to make that statement about blood pressure support? First, it’s sweetened with a natural herb called Stevia Rebaudiana, which in research has shown to be effective in treating high blood pressure and hypertension. Second, this drink contains Hawthorne Berries, which apparently enlarge your blood vessels. Third, inositol adds a hand by reducing cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. It’s also stated to prevent hair loss, which, I guess, truckers could appreciate. Fourth, each bottle is loaded with 390mg of potassium, which has been shown to lower blood pressure.

Now that we’ve established a healthy heart, we can get on to a healthy perception of reality. Four different kinds of B vitamins are running amok in ingredients, with B6 and B12 clocking in at 200% and 2,000%, respectively. Surprise, there’s no caffeine.

Energy

You can expect a standard issue B vitamin boost, which is kind of a “duh” statement if you read the previous paragraph. The boost is no doubt hearty enough to make this drink a favorite among truckers. A job well done.

Now, this is all I experienced. The extra heart-healthy ingredients did not induce any perceivable effect above and beyond the norm.

Verdict

Just when I start to think the energy drink market is getting stagnant with innovation, products like Big Ol’ Trucker come along and renew my faith in the future of energy drinks. This drink is not just innovating within the ingredients/demographics category either, they’re innovating an entirely different thought process. Anybody can make a drink and play it as a special one for a certain type of person, but it is very commendable to play it like you mean it, as Xtreme Beverage Corp. did with this drink.

If you could, leave a comment on how you think a certain niche energy drink could be improved with consideration of what the consumer is actually doing. For example, a video gamer’s energy drink should contain ingredients like A vitamins and beta carotene to maintain visual acuity.

Reviewed by Dusty Smith