Is That Gross Energy Drink Really Better Than Coffee?

By Jess

Energy drinks.

Most of us have tried them, and some of us have tried them all. Every week another choice seems to pop up, promising everything from a little “oomph” enhancement to a metabolism increase to an “illegal” amount of taste.We swallow them down because we want the boost, not because they taste anything near good, many of us foregoing coffee for a chemical concoction because of it’s supposed higher caffeine content.

Not to disappoint you, but the amount of stimulant in that sugar-and-piss liquid may be lower than its advertisers would have you believe.

A recent study found that many energy drinks have about the same caffeine content as an 8 oz cup of coffee, dismissing the notion that every drink with the word “energy” attached to it is a better deal than buying a quick cup of java on your way to class.

While the information is interesting, it’s not enough to keep me permanently away from the Red Bull. I now know which drinks aren’t worth it, but giving up the strange, almost hallucinatory feeling of unnatural energy RB provides is not something my body is willing to do right now, especially with school just around the corner.

It tastes like crap, it’s completely unnatural, but it gets the job done…without the often unfortunate coffee consequence of an immediate visit to the porcelain throne.

So, the moral? You’re probably better off buying coffee, unless you want to do something chemically intense to your body. In that case, stay away from lame choices.