America! The land of excess. Our crusts are cheese-filled, our cheese and bacon sandwiched between not bread but two thick-cut slabs of fried chicken. Whatever it is, we must always have more.
https://gizmodo.com/kfc-double-down-sandwich-destroyer-of-touchscreens-5515565
What Is It?
Coffee meets energy drink. Per 12-oz cupful: 32mg ginseng, 42mg guarana, 32mg yerba mate (of which 1mg is caffeine), 1mcg vitamin B12, 8mg taurine.
Who’s It For?
College students, harried housewives, recovering junkies, bloggers.
Design
n/a
Using It
Felt my heart beating… like, I really felt it. Experienced feelings of resentment towards 7-Eleven for not making better-tasting coffee, and toward actual good coffee vendors for not adding into their drinks this special supercaffeine brew. Still felt a little punchy, even after several hours had passed.
12oz normal caffeinated coffee
Resting heart rate before: 103 (yes, wow, I know.)
After: 106
12oz Big Energy
Resting heart rate before: 103
After: 109
The Best Part
20% more caffeine than a regular 12-oz cup.
Tragic Flaw
It tastes terrible. It tastes really, really bad. Flavor is not good. Yucky. Not a fan of the manner in which it assaults your tastebuds.
Test Notes
From our test subjects:
• “It tastes like I made a pot of coffee, then let it sit out in the open for four days: stale and bitter.”
• “Eugh! This is terrible!”
• “Do I really have to drink all of this?”
• “Can I just give mine to somebody else?”
• “My hands are shaking.”
• “Like I drank three coffees, with some but not all of the stomach grossness and anxiety.”
Should You Buy It?
If you want to stay up late: yes. If you’re looking for a tasty artisanal brew: sewer water would be more satisfying than this.
7-11 Big Energy Enhanced Coffee-Like Beverage
• Volume: 12 ounces
• Caffeine Count: Approx 295mg per 12-oz cup: 243mg from base coffee blend, 48mg pure caffeine added, 3mg from guarana, 1mg from yerba mate.
• Price: $1.35
