mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Has our nation become caffeine-obsessed? From hyper-caffeinated Starbucks coffees to a proliferation of energy drinks that puts the Cold War arms race to shame, it’s the rare American who’s more than an arms-length from a few hundred milligrams of liquid happiness. (Confession time: I’m an espresso guy. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Not only does it taste better than regular coffee (who needs milk and sugar?) but one serving of espresso has less caffeine than a regular cup of coffee, not to mention that less liquid equals less bloaty stomachness and fewer trips to the loo. Rant over.)
But our national obsession may be rounding the corner to becoming a national craze: witness novelty products like “Shower Shock,” which is “scented with peppermint oil and infused with caffeine anhydrous.” If you build up a good lather in the shower, their website claims, you end up absorbing about 200mg of caffeine through your skin. Personally, I think energy drinks and even Shower Shock miss the point; half of what’s great about getting your caf in the morning is the ritual of the coffee/espresso brewing, the smell, the texture — it’s a sensual thing you can’t get from something that comes cold in an aluminum can.
But for those who insist on caffeinating things Mother Nature never intended, now there’s Purecaf, a 2-oz. grenade of liquid caffeine that you can use to spice up anything from orange juice to water to wine. It’s not recommended that you tipple straight from the can, though — one teaspoon of this stuff is enough to caffeinate any drink to Starbucks strength; the can itself carries the equivalent of 44 Diet Cokes. According to Energy Fiend’s handy-dandy “Death by Caffeine” calculator, in which you enter your weight and caffeinated drink of choice and let their Death Engine do the rest, it would only take six cans of Purecaf to send me to that great java stand in the sky. Yeesh.
Maybe I’ll switch to decaf.
Comments (8)
Comment
I’ve used the Shower Shock soap before. I don’t know if the caffeine aspect worked, but it was good soap!
posted by Kate on 7-24-2007 at 9:47 am
Caffeine is my friend.
posted by Jason! on 7-24-2007 at 10:11 am
And how long before families start sueing after some kid od’s on purecaf? My guess is that it won’t be on the shelves long. I better get mine now!
posted by Truovrld on 7-24-2007 at 10:13 am
I reckon that the caffeine in the Shower Shock soap is good for cellulite, and not just marketed for the energy boost. There are lots of anti-cellulite products that purport to work because of caffeine.
posted by Pica on 7-24-2007 at 7:49 pm
Actually, a few years back there were some studies showing that adding coffee to an after-sun bath prevented sun-related skin damage. So this might be a great summer skin care idea.
posted by Soni on 7-24-2007 at 8:52 pm
good lord, my generation is going to have serious heart problems when we get older.
People in my town are practically addicted to energy drinks and sugar. Most people my age drink the stuff because of the buzz it gives you, but ignore the obvious health hazards from drinking too much of it. It won’t be long before what Truovrld says comes true and someone dies.
posted by heather on 7-24-2007 at 10:41 pm
I have to agree with Mr. Ransom. The best way to enjoy caffeine is to brew it, enjoy the smell, add you desired amount of cream and or sugar (I do both), and enjoy the taste! The occasional Pepsi or Coke works too!
posted by John Brown on 7-25-2007 at 1:20 pm
I have a caffeine addiction myself- as do several coworkers- so there are a lot of coffee and soda runs. The other day, someone bought a case of Diet Pepsi Max, which has become the latest fave around here- has anyone seen their yawnathon website? www.wakeuppeople.com It’s pretty entertaining- although looking at all the yawns posted is just making me yawn :)
posted by Jenna on 7-26-2007 at 10:40 am