So, BUZZWATER’s caffeine-laden product is still MIA from store shelves, but their website got an overhaul since last I checked up on them:

WWW.BUZZWATER.COM

The website actually doesn’t load for me, but there is some humorous scrolling text at the top of the screen:

The BUZZWATER Site Loading This Is An Audio And Spoken Narrative Site This Site Contains Music On All Pages From BUZZWATER “Times Eye To The Worlds Greatest Nervous Breakdown Of Our MInds” By CALAVATIVA GIGANTEiE “The BUZZWATER Co.” The Worlds Most Potent Beverages Ever Bottled On This Planet The Worlds Number 1 Healthier Choice

I just ran out of coffee concentrate in my office. And there are 5+ hours left. Bah! Back to office coffee for the rest of the day…

The incident reminded me, however, that I’ve been meaning to post instructions for its creation:
NYT recipe for (and explanation of) cold-brew coffee

Super special thanks to Neil for sending me this article and making me my first batch. They sell the stuff in NOLA, and I missed it for years, but didn’t realize you could make it (duh!). It’s really improved the quality of my life lately. I mix it with Light Chocolate Silk soy milk. It’s amazing. Chocolate + coffee = happy me.

So it’s been two weeks and a day with no caffeine (okay, okay, I messed up and had some diet Coke, forgetting it had caffeine in it momentarily), and here’s what’s different:

• My memory is notably better.
• My attention span is longer.
• I retain more of what I read and hear.
• I talk a little less.
• I smile less.
• My eyes don’t sting all the time.
• I get tired sometimes.
• I feel hungry sometimes.

So, with regards to the sleep, I’m sleeping a little more, but actually, I’m still waking up after four or five hours—which is good. I had remembered that not being related to caffeine, but it’s been a while, and I wasn’t sure. Feeling tired definitely happens though. In my caffeinated state, I never really felt tired. I’d just pass out if I stayed still for too long. I always felt wide awake, even when my body clearly needed a rest.

With regards to the increased attention span and memory, while I tend to think about one thing for longer, I also haven’t had as many new ideas. That is, while caffeinated, my brain cycled through all of these things all of the time—things to try, things to write, future projects, project tweaks—which, I think, is the reason I had a hard time listening and a hard time remembering anything for longer than a minute. On the upside, I had more ideas than I could write down. And that’s gone now. On the downside, I couldn’t listen well or remember things for long, and that was terribly problematic. I compensated by writing everything down, which made it easier to process and retain. I don’t seem to need to do that now. So perhaps there’s a way to balance.

With regards to the smiling, I’m smiling a lot less. People keep asking me if I’m okay when I am just fine. But I’m not less happy. I’m not sure what to make of this one right now. With regards to the feeling hungry, caffeine is an appetite suppressant. I was aware of this.

Finally, some quick closing thoughts. Caffeine is good for mood elevation, generating new ideas, and, when used infrequently, focus. I plan on resuming its use for these functions. But I’m definitely going to be cutting back from 200 mg every four hours, the dose I’ve been at steadily for the past couple years. That was a lot, and I don’t need that much at this point.

Starting now. It’s an experiment. If I feel like it’s negatively impacting anything, I’ll stop. I pride myself on being open-minded but I haven’t been without caffeine for long in a few years now. I should probably take some time out to remind myself what it does. While so much else in my life is in flux anyway.

So everywhere I used to get BuzzWater from now doesn’t carry it. It’s no longer for sale on ThinkGeek.com, no longer available to order on any of the Buzzwater-specific dealers’ websites (which are down), and the BUZZWATER Company’s own website says it’s sold out.

The stuff technically exceeds the amount of caffeine that the FDA approves of companies putting in beverages, but that regulation was designed for sodas. Maybe the regulation doesn’t apply to water, just as it doesn’t apply to NoDoz, but it’s the reason that more products aren’t available with as high caffeine contents. 200mg per bottle. Rock.

The last time I mentioned BuzzWater in a blog entry, BLLYieEe from the BUZZWATER Company commented on the post. Strange, but kinda cool.

BLLYieEe, dude, you got me addicted to your product. I’m going to need some more of it now. Where is it? You can’t go making something that’s really, really addictive and then just run out.

Hey, while you’re here, BLLYieEe, I have an awesome proposal. You sponsor me and I blog about BuzzWater all the time. Who better for a caffeine water company to sponsor than a grad student? You send me cases of BuzzWater, I toss out an obscene number of references to your product in this blog! Awesome.

“I was up all night working on a paper and drinking BUZZWATER.” “Laurel and I went out to a wine bar again, but I was saddened that they didn’t carry BUZZWATER.” “I have a big project due… better order extra BUZZWATER.”

Sponsorship idea sponsored by BUZZWATER.

The Journal of Food Science—who knew there was such a journal!—has published a study on the caffeine content of popular sodas. The study used liquid chromatography to analyze the caffeine contents of 56 national-brand and 75 private-label store brand carbonated beverages. The most caffeinated beverage tested? Vault Zero™ at 74 mg per 12 ounces.

I know, I know… Vault Zero? You know, Coca-Cola’s Surge™-flavored beverage that “drinks like a soda, kicks like an energy drink.” (And you remember Surge, don’t you? Coca-Cola’s short-lived response to Pepsi’s Mountain Dew™. R.I.P. Surge: 1997-2002.)

Some more figures from the abstract…

Vault Zero 74 mg/12 oz
Diet Mountain Dew 55.2 mg/12 oz
Mountain Dew 54.8 mg/12 oz
Mountain Lightning (Wal-Mart) 46.5 mg/12 oz
Diet Coke 46.3 mg/12 oz
Diet Dr. Pepper 44.1 mg/12 oz
Dr. Pepper 42.6 mg/12 oz
Pepsi 38.9 mg/12 oz
Diet Pepsi 36.7 mg/12 oz
Coca-Cola 33.9 mg/12 oz
Dr. Thunder (Wal-Mart) 30.6 mg/12 oz
Diet Dr. Thunder (Wal-Mart) 29.9 mg/12 oz
Sam’s Diet Cola 13.3 mg/12 oz
Sam’s Cola 12.7 mg/12 oz
IGA Cola 4.9 mg/12 oz

If I can get a copy of the actual study, I’ll post updates. For the purposes of maximal caffeine consumption, though, stick to espresso and BuzzWater. (Thanks Mikeh!)

So I originally compiled this list in August of 2004 and it likely needs updating. There’s a whole lot more awareness of caffeine contents now than there was when I first did this, and, consequently, I imagine there’s more information available. This list is helpful as a general guideline nonetheless!

COFFEE
Coffee, Drip (8-oz. cup) 115-175 mg
Coffee, Brewed (8-oz. cup) 80-135 mg
Coffee, Brewed Decaf (8-oz. cup) 3-4 mg
Coffee, Espresso (2-oz. cup) 90-110 mg
Coffee, Instant (8-oz. cup) 65-100 mg
Coffee, Instant Decaf (8-oz. cup) 2-3 mg
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Amaretto (8-oz. cup) 25-30 mg
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Decaffeinated (8-oz. cup) 3-6 mg
Maxwell House Cappuccino, French Vanilla (8-oz. cup) 45-50 mg
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Irish Cream (8-oz. cup) 45-50 mg
Maxwell House Cappuccino, Mocha (8-oz. cup) 60-65 mg
Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino (9.5-oz. bottle) 98.5 mg
Starbucks, House Blend (8-oz. cup) 110 mg

SODA
Cherry Coca-Cola (12-oz. can) 34 mg
Coca-Cola Classic (12-oz. can) 34 mg
Coca-Cola C2 (12-oz. can) 34 mg
Code Red (12-oz. can) 55 mg
Diet Cherry Coca-Cola (12-oz. can) 34 mg
Diet Code Red (12-oz. can) 55 mg
Diet Coke (12-oz. can) 45 mg
Diet Dr. Pepper (12-oz. can) 41 mg
Diet Mountain Dew (12-oz. can) 55 mg
Diet Mr. Pibb (12-oz. can) 40 mg
Diet Pepsi-Cola (12-oz. can) 36 mg
Diet Pepsi Twist (12-oz. can) 36 mg
Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi (12-oz. can) 36 mg
Dr. Pepper (12-oz. can) 41 mg
Fresca (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Jolt Cola (12-oz. can) 71.2 mg
Lemon Coke (12-oz. can) 34 mg
Minute Maid Orange (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Mountain Dew (12-oz. can) 55 mg
Mr. Pibb (12-oz. can) 40 mg
Pepsi Edge (12-oz. can) 38 mg
Pepsi One (12-oz. can) 55 mg
Pepsi-Cola (12-oz. can) 37 mg
Pepsi Twist (12-oz. can) 37 mg
7-Up (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Sierra Mist (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Slice (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Sprite (12-oz. can) 0 mg
TAB (12-oz. can) 47 mg
Vanilla Coke (12-oz. can) 34 mg
Wild Cherry Pepsi (12-oz. can) 38 mg

ROOT BEER
A&W Crème Soda (12-oz. can) 29 mg
Barq’s Root Beer (12-oz. can) 22 mg
Diet A&W Crème Soda (12-oz. can) 22 mg
Diet Barq’s Root Beer (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Mug Root Beer (12-oz. can) 0 mg
Xdrinks Root Beer Riot (12-oz. bottle) 70 mg

ENERGY DRINK
AMP Energy Drink (8.4-oz. can) 75 mg
Bawls (10-oz. bottle) 80 mg
KMX (8.4-oz. can) 38 mg
Monster Energy Drink (16-oz. can) unpublished
Red Bull (8.2-oz can) 80 mg
Rockstar Energy Drink (16-oz. can) unpublished
XTC Power Drink (12-oz. can) 70 mg

TEA
Arizona Iced Tea, Assorted Varieties (16-oz. bottle) 15-30 mg
Celestial Seasonings Herbal Iced Tea (16-oz. bottle) 0 mg
Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea (8-oz. cup) 0 mg
Celestial Seasonings Iced Lemon Ginseng Tea (16-oz. bottle) 100 mg
Diet Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix (8-oz. cup) 10-15 mg
Lipton Brisk (12-oz. can) 9 mg
Lipton Iced Tea, Assorted Varieties (16-oz. bottle) 18-40 mg
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, Decaffeinated (8-oz. cup) 3 mg
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, Unsweetened (8-oz. cup) 25-45 mg
Lipton Natural Brew Iced Tea Mix, Sweetened (8-oz. cup) 15-30 mg
Nestea (12-oz. can) 11 mg
Snapple Green Tea with Lemon (20-oz. bottle) 40 mg
Snapple Ginseng Tea (20-oz. bottle) 12.5 mg
Snapple Lemon Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Decaffeinated Lemon Tea (20-oz. bottle) 7.5 mg
Snapple Diet Lemon Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Lemonade Iced Tea (20-oz. bottle) 22.5 mg
Snapple Lightning Black Tea (20-oz. bottle) 35 mg
Snapple Mint Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Moon Green Tea (20-oz. bottle) 30 mg
Snapple Peach Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Diet Peach Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Raspberry Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Diet Raspberry Tea (20-oz. bottle) 52.5 mg
Snapple Sun Tea (20-oz. bottle) 12.5 mg
Snapple Diet Sun Tea (20-oz. bottle) 7.5 mg
Snapple Sweet Tea (20-oz. bottle) 20 mg
Tea, Brewed, Imported Brands (8-oz. cup) 40-80 mg
Tea, Brewed, U.S. Brands (8-oz. cup) 20-60 mg
Tea, Green (8-oz. cup) 15-30 mg
Tea, Iced (8-oz. cup) 47 mg
Tea, Instant (8-oz. cup) 15-30 mg

CAFFINATED WATER
Aqua Blast (8-oz. serving) 42 mg
Aqua Java (8-oz. serving) 25 mg
BuzzWater (16.2-oz. bottle) 200 mg
Glacéau Vitaminwater Energy (8-oz. serving) 21 mg
Java Water (8-oz. serving) 60 mg
Krank (8-oz. serving) 45 mg
Water Joe (8-oz. serving) 30 mg

All sources are listed below. Wherever possible, the caffeine content came from the company and was verified by an independent study.

The sources are as follows: Bawls, BuzzWater, Center for Science and the Public Interest, Coca Cola Company, International Food Information Council, National Coffee Association, National Soft Drink Association, Jolt Cola, Pepsi, Snapple, Tea Council of the United States of America, Think Geek, Red Bull, and WebMD.

I should have been more careful about documenting sources on this one too. I’ll redo this when I have time. Which won’t happen for years. Actually, someone else, you should update this and send it to me, yeah?

A construction worker died of a caffeine-induced heart attack while watching the England-Sweden football match on Tuesday night.

From the Bangkok Press story:

“Hall Kiddee, 38, of Sakhon Nakhon, was found dead in his living quarter of an industrial estate in tambon Tha Toom of Si Maha Phot district.

Friends told police Mr Hall was not a drinker and was very fond of watching the World Cup matches.

He stayed up late to catch the matches on television in the past several nights. To keep himself awake, Mr Hall bought himself coffee and large portions of an energy-boosting drink, according to the friends.

On Tuesday evening, Mr Hall was seen taking a cup of freshly-brewed coffee up to his living quarter after telling his friends he looked forward to watching the England-Sweden match.”

Link (via Bangkok Press)

Caffeine consumption caused female rats to seek more frequent sex, according to the results of a new study at Southwestern University.

Researchers gave 108 female rats moderate doses of caffeine and found that it shortened the amount of time it took the lady rats to return to the gentleman rats after a first frolic in the woodchips. The shortened time between romps indicates the lady rats were hornier than normal.

Unfortunately, the same effect is not expected to improve human ladies’ sex drives in most cases, researchers say.

“These rats had never had caffeine before,” study leader Fay Guarraci, an assistant professor of psychology at Southwestern University, told Live Science. “In humans, it might enhance the sexual experience only among people who are not habitual users.”

That means not you, Little Miss Triple Espresso.

The research is detailed in an already-released issue of Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

Link (via Live Science)

Slimfit Caffeine Tights by Palmers are constructed with caffeine “micro capsules” which the package claims are activated by body heat to improve skin elasticity, burn fat and tighten leg tissue.

Do they work? No idea. But if you find out, please let me know.

The tights run $51, or £26.90, per pack of 3 at TightsPlease.co.uk, but shipping may be a killer. Although if you’re willing to cough up a Grant for the tights, a Jackson for shipping shouldn’t be a problem.

Link

Caffeine therapy helps protect the lungs of premature infants from damage, according to a new study conducted by a group of international researchers.

The lungs of prematurely born infants are often underdeveloped and the central nervous system, which normally directs the body to breathe, is often immature and not yet functioning properly.

The caffeine is believed to be beneficial to the respiratory system because of its properties as a stimulant, but scientists say they don’t fully understand the mechanics of why.

The study, which will look at caffeine’s effects on 2,000 preemies over the two-year period, is just beginning, but researchers released some early findings when it became clear the treatment could reduce the rate of a common type of lung damage called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BDP).

“That’s great news for us!” a Starbucks spokesman said. “Start ‘em young!”

Only joking about the Starbucks spokesman. He didn’t say that outloud.

Link (via Forbes)

Researchers are working to develop dipsticks to measure the caffeine content of coffee and soda—using antibodies extracted from llamas and camels.

New research shows that when camelids, such as llamas and camels, were injected with proteins linked to caffeine, the animals produced antibodies as an immune response. Reseachers found they could then use those antibodies to accurately measure the amount of caffeine in beverages.

The researchers haven’t yet modified their method so it could be used outside of the lab, but they plan to, in the form of portable caffeine dipsticks.

“We believe our test would be the first consumer test for caffeine and would be beneficial for anyone wishing to avoid caffeine for health or personal reasons,” lead researcher Jack Ladenson of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis told a LiveScience.com.

Of course, it’d also be beneficial for anyone wishing to maximize their caffeine intake for term papers or studying reasons!

The research will be detailed in the forethcoming June 1 issue of the American Chemical Society’s journal Analytical Chemistry.

Link (via LiveScience)

There are giant cups of coffee on the streets of New York! Or, at least, it looks like there are, thanks to design agency Saatchi & Saatchi New York. The ad campaign for Folgers Coffee utilizes steaming manhole covers and turns them into what appear to be steaming cups of coffee! How great is that?

Mmmm, coffee. In related news, coffee makes you smarter.

Link (via Coloribus)