Which Energy Drink is the Best?

09 Aug Which Energy Drink is the Best?

(Becca’s Opinion)

Have you ever wondered which energy drink is best? What makes it the best, anyway? Is it the flavor? The way it makes you feel? What makes an energy drink go from mediocre to non-negotiable in someone’s day?

Coolbreakrooms set out to answer the question: What is the best energy drink?

Many factors go into what makes an energy drink “good”. Rebecca Swindale — a Coolbreakrooms team member (and sleep-deprived mom of two) — was chosen to select and try several popular energy drink brands and evaluate from there. Three different factors determined her rating:

1. 1. 1. Taste
      2. Energy Level
      3. Ingredients

 

Note: Something to keep in mind while reading this: On a product label, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, with the most prevalent ones at the top. So if sugar is the second ingredient, there is a lot of sugar in the energy drink!

The rules for Becca’s taste test were simple:

1. 1. 1. Only one morning cup of coffee.
      2. Only one energy drink per day.
      3. The energy drink must be consumed around 3 pm.

 

That’s it! Here are her findings:

Red Bull – Juneberry Flavor

Taste: “This one tastes like a sweet tart. Artificially sweet, slightly bubbly.”

Energy levels: “I was mentally alert when I normally crash. By 9 pm, I was definitely sleepy again though.”

Flavor: “Artificial, not natural.”

Color: “Blue like a blueberry.”

First 5 Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Glucose, Citric Acid, and Taurine.

Becca said, “Sugar is the second listed ingredient after carbonated water, so I’m assuming sugar might be what fueled me … caffeine was listed in the middle.”

Becca’s Rating: 7/10 (Neil thinks it deserves at least an 8 though!)

Monster Energy – Ultra Peachy Keen Flavor

Taste: “Peachy, but sweet and artificial. Slightly fizzier than Redbull.”

Energy levels: “Not super high, not super low, but I did not finish it entirely. My heart rate felt fast and I didn’t love the taste.” Keep reading to see why this might be …

Flavor: “Artificial, not natural.”

Color: “Clear, yellow-tinted.”

First 5 Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Taurine, Sodium Citrate, Panax Ginseng Flavor

Becca said, “When I googled “Panax ginseng,” it said when paired with caffeine, it might increase the risk for side effects, including increased heart rate. The part that confuses me, however, is the ‘flavor.’ What is ‘Panax Ginseng flavor’ exactly?”

Rating: 3/10

Rockstar – Lemonade Flavor

Taste: “This reminds me of the very sugary lemonade you can pick up at the mall or local fair.”

Energy levels: “I was mentally alert until around 9 pm.”

Flavor: “Fake and flat. Just okay.”

Color: “Clear.”

First 5 Ingredients: Water, Glucose Syrup, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, and Taurine.

Becca said, “Glucose syrup was the second listed ingredient after water, so it basically is a sugary lemonade. I didn’t notice sugar itself listed though. Caffeine content is 160mg, which is quite a bit. (For the record, an 8 oz. coffee typically contains 80-100 mg of caffeine.) And I noticed a very small amount of Magnesium was added, which I thought was an interesting addition for an energy drink.”

Rating: 6/10

C4 – Frozen Bombsicle Flavor

Taste: “This tastes like a melted frozen popsicle after a long day of swimming.”

Energy levels: “I definitely felt energized, but I think the amount of caffeine made my heart hurt a bit.”

Flavor: “Fake, bubbly. Just okay.”

Color: “Clear.”

First 5 Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Carnosyn Beta-Alanine, L-Citrulline, Malic Acid, and Betapower Betaine Anhydrous.

Becca said, “I’ll give bonus points for the can, which said this: ‘Made in the U.S.A. using strategically sourced, imported and domestic ingredients and components.’ I wasn’t in love with the drink itself though.”

Rating: 6/10

Celsius – Kiwi Guava Flavor

Taste: “This tastes like a fruity sparkling drink. It tastes more natural and less fake, which I also liked. It’s very refreshing.”

Energy levels: “I was mentally alert when I normally crash. I also woke up with a headache on this day and I think it helped remove it, due to the extra B vitamins.”

Flavor: “Bubbly, but more natural and less fake compared to the others.”

Color: “Clear, maybe slightly peachy.”

First 5 Ingredients: Taurine, Guarana Extract (Seed), Caffeine (as Caffeine Anhydrous), Glucuronolactone, and Ginger Extract (Root).

Becca said, “I didn’t notice sugar listed, but green tea extract and caffeine were listed in the middle.”

Rating: 9/10

Gorgie – Sparkling Watermelon Flavor

Taste: “This tastes like watermelon with Stevia added to it. Like sugar but not cane sugar …”

Energy levels: “Typical energy levels. I wasn’t sleepy until the evening.”

Flavor: “Slightly bubbly, but not like a soda. And its flavoring is primarily natural.”

Color: “Very light pink.”

First 5 Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, Citric Acid (Acidulant), Natural Watermelon Flavor with Other Natural Flavors, Potassium Citrate, and Natural Caffeine from Green Tea.

Becca said, “Bonus: Zero sugar and only 5 calories!”

Rating: 7/10

Becca’s Favorite: Celsius Kiwi Guava

“I am someone who does not normally drink energy drinks, but the Kiwi Guava flavor by Celsius was my clear winner. The Kiwi Guava flavor was enjoyable and not overbearing. Some of the drinks’ flavors were overpowering, which made them not enjoyable. Celsius’s Vitamin B was appreciated and I think it helped relieve my headache that day. Lastly, it is only 10 calories. If I had to drink an energy drink, this would be my choice (hands down).”

Do you agree or disagree with Becca’s findings? What is YOUR favorite energy drink?