So while most coffee can give a boost, the type of coffee can make a huge difference in the flavor, effectiveness, and experience of drinking coffee. And since coffee is a plant — one of the world’s most important crops! — where the beans come from dictates the quality and properties of your particular brew.

Want to get more out of your cup, whether it’s just for taste or a necessary caffeine jolt? It’s worth trying a single estate coffee, and with the rise of specialty and transparently sourced coffee varieties, they’re becoming easier (and cheaper) than ever to find.

Read below to see exactly how single estate coffee can make all the difference — and give you a productive (and ethical) edge in the process.

1. It tastes much better.

Most blend coffees are made by taking beans from all over the place — different countries, climates, etc. — mixing them together, then roasting until they generally taste uniform. The subtle variations in flavor, intensity, and even caffeine level are lost in this process, which can leave coffee burnt in order to get a more uniform taste. That’ll have you forcing down one cup after the other instead of enjoying and looking forward to a serving of a single estate coffee.

In single estate coffee, the beans aren’t just from the same region — they’re from the same farm, where a single flavor can shine through. That makes for a better tasting cup with actual flavor instead of a rough approximation of what coffee “should” taste like.

2. It’s more effective.

Did you know darker roasts actually have less caffeine than lighter roasts? Blend coffees are often very dark roasts that zap much of the caffeine and nutrient content from the coffee, leaving behind a heavy, cling-to-your-tongue flavor with no subtlety and less caffeine. Single origin (and ideally single estate) beans don’t need that super dark roast to mask poor flavor, as they’re already delicious, so they may end up containing more of that sweet, sweet caffeine.

3. It’s cleaner/organic.

Single estate coffees are easier to find in organic, pesticide-free varieties because they usually come from smaller, family-owned farms, not the mega plantations that the biggest brands use. Coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world, and it’s worth your time to search for a cleaner product. Single estate is a big step in that direction.

4. It’s more ethical.

Know more about where your coffee comes from? Good, you’re taking a step in the right direction toward drinking more ethically sourced, fair trade coffee. The rise of single estate coffee’s popularity is making it easier for smaller family farms and growers to survive on the market.

5. It gives you control.

In our interview with biohacker and former UFC fighter Tait Fletcher, we talked a lot about how important it can be to “pirate” your own life. What does that mean, exactly? It means taking back control of your consumption and making your own choices for what you eat, drink, and buy. Your habits make an impact on your health, wellness, and productivity every day and for years to come.

Taking control of what you’re consuming, and making the effort to know where your coffee is coming from, sets a positive tone that puts you in the driver’s seat. You get to make the choices and take agency in what you’re putting into your body, regardless of what the coffee mega-chains push you toward. And you might discover your new favorite brew in the process.

The post 5 Ways Single Estate Coffee Gives You A Better Buzz appeared first on Brain Wiz.

In a head-to-head matchup, Lumonol wins the Lumonol vs. OptiMind matchup because it gave us more sustained energies with fewer (practically no) jitters as compared to OptiMind’s formula.

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Lumonol vs OptiMind by Alternascript: What’s the Same

Both Lumonol and OptiMind are broad-spectrum nootropic stacks, meaning their formulas are designed around brain enhancement through a variety of pathways and synergistic interactions between the compounds. Both contain B vitamins and some compounds that influence choline metabolism in the brain, which is important in neurotransmitter function.

They also both contain caffeine sources (Lumonol’s comes from guarana) and l-tyrosine, a compound linked to mental performance under conditions of stress.

What’s Different About These Two Nootropic Stacks

However, the differences between Lumonol (from Avanse) and OptiMind (from Alternascript) outweigh the similarities. Lumonol contains a bioavailable source of choline – Alpha GPC – to compliment its other choline-involved compounds. It also contains the compound Noopept, a Racetam-related compound that is potent and fast acting at relatively low doses. Lumonol is among the fastest-acting nootropics we’ve tried, though we do recommend starting with maybe a half dose to assess tolerance (and depending on your caffeine intake/tolerance).

OptiMind gave our testers some significant jitters, even when NOT paired with another caffeine source like coffee. It also contains some ingredients that we don’t feel are really living up to their full potential because of what’s missing (for example, a choline source to compliment Sulbutiamine).

Learn More

Individual experiences with these nootropic stacks will, of course, vary from person to person. To see what each of our testers said about them, get our full OptiMind review here and our full Lumonol review here.

We’ve also put together an article on when to take Lumonol for maximum effect, as well as how and when they stack it with a magnesium supplement for a longer-lasting boost in focus and productivity.

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The post Lumonol vs. OptiMind: Which Nootropic Stack Is Better? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Do Nootrobox’s GO CUBES live up to the hype, and will they replace your morning cup of Joe? Read on to get our full review, including whether they gave us a mental boost and how the flavor stacked up against real coffee.

[Get our exclusive discount coupon on Nootrobox products here.]

The Ingredients

Per cube; typical serving size is 2 cubes. Nootrobox is a company that values transparency in its supplements, so they list all ingredients and ingredient amounts.

Caffeine – 50 mg

The world’s most popular stimulant, caffeine is one of the more common ingredients in nootropic stacks because of its ability to reduce fatigue and enhance concentration and energy. Two cubes of GO CUBES is equivalent to roughly one cup of coffee (100 mg).

L-Theanine – 100 mg

A calming amino acid, l-theanine has been shown to enhance the effects of caffeine while reducing the jitters some people experience with caffeine consumption. This caffeine/l-theanine ratio is common in nootropic supplements.

Vitamin B6 – 10 mg

Vitamin B6 is involved in the production of neurotransmitters. When taken with phenylalanine, vitamin B6 can improve cAMP levels, and dopamine synthesis.

GO CUBES Nootrobox Ingredients Label

Vitamin B12 – 30 mcg

An essential nutrient, B12 plays an important role in numerous bodily functions, including neurological function and development.

Folate – 500 mcg

Often referred to as Vitamin B9, folate (a slightly different form than folic acid) is vital to neurological development in infants as well as a process called methylation for all adults.

This is a pretty high amount of folate for a supplement, as the upper dosage recommended is normally around 400 mcg, and there’s some evidence a high amount of folate could mask a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Go Cubes Nootrobox Pack

Glucuronolactone – 125 mg

Glucuronolactone is a common ingredient in many energy drinks, largely based off claims it can help “detoxify” the body and liver. Current research suggests few benefits to cognition or energy. This compound also found in Nootrobox’s SPRINT supplement (full review here).

Inositol – 125 mg

A compound with some anxiety reducing properties in amounts generally much higher than what’s found here. Also found in Nootrobox’s SPRINT supplement.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – 25 mg

Vitamin B3 acts within the adrenal system to synthesize a number of sex- and stress-related hormones, along with serotonin, a neurotransmitter acting on the central nervous system and the GI tract. Some people experience a harmless “flush” when taking niacin-containing supplements.

Other Ingredients: Corn syrup, sugar, water, pectin, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, citric acid, sodium citrate.

Usage Guidelines

We made coffee you can put in your pocket. GO CUBES are perfect for your purse, backpack, or briefcase. They’re the easiest way to always have coffee on hand with no mess & no stress.

Serving size: 2 pieces

GO CUBES Review on Flavors

GO CUBES come in three flavors: Pure Drip, Mocha, and Latte. There’s a mix of these in each pack (4 cubes), and while they’re slightly different colors, it’s tough to tell exactly which one you’re getting before you bite into them.

Overall, our testers enjoyed each flavor of GO CUBES, citing Mocha as the strongest flavor and very chocolate-y, Latte as relatively mild, and Pure Drip as the straightest coffee flavor of all (tasting a bit like a darker roast, not unlike Starbucks’ normal iced coffee).

What Our Testers Say

“I probably have the lowest caffeine tolerance of any BrainWiz tester, so I really appreciate knowing EXACTLY how much caffeine I’m getting, that’s one reason I don’t drink coffee that often, because it varies so much from cup to cup depending on the beans, roast, etc. I like the taste of coffee, though, and GO CUBES was definitely convenient. When I do drink coffee, I often pair it with 100 or 200 mg of L-Theanine, and I appreciated that they did this for me here. I’ll take GO CUBES with me when I do need a caffeine boost and want more control over exactly what I’m taking.”

“I’m a coffee snob, and GO CUBES will never replace coffee for me. But...they’re interesting. I think you start absorbing some of the caffeine while you’re chewing (probably sublingual), so you feel an almost immediate kick, then another as you digest. The flavors were all good, though I normally take my coffee black, and these were a bit too sweat for me to have every day.”

“I didn’t get as excited as some outlets about these. They’re not going to replace coffee for everyone, if only because they taste more like candy and have sugar in them. But they were convenient and they were pretty tasty, and the flavor profiles seem like they took a lot of work. The boost felt mostly like caffeine and l-theanine, not a ton beyond that, but they fit easily in a backpack, which my iced coffee does not.”

“It’s worth having a pack or two of GO CUBES at your desk. Sometimes coffee won’t be available. Sometimes it won’t be convenient, or you want to know exactly how much caffeine you’re getting. GO CUBES solve that, but they’re never going to replace a morning cup.”

BrainWiz Tips

• Nootrobox’s GO CUBES are sweet, and if you’re watching your sugar intake, save these for after a workout or just go with black coffee, these are definitely not calorie neutral, especially considering you’ll probably have between two and four cubes in a sitting.
• Our testers were impressed with GO CUBES flavor, and they do pair well with breakfast if you’d rather chew your coffee than drink it.
• A full pack is 200 mg of caffeine, more than you’ll find in some energy drinks. Stay aware of your caffeine intake when taking GO CUBES and other nootropics.

Supplement Summary

Just like SPRINT and RISE, Nootrobox’s GO CUBES sets out to bring transparency to a brain boosting industry; in this case, they’re trying to disrupt coffee as opposed to nootropic supplements proper. And they partially succeed: These gave us a good, jitter-free boost with the added nootropic ingredients to compliment caffeine. And with GO CUBES, it’s clear exactly how much caffeine you’re getting in every serving. They also fit in well with Nootrobox’s other supplements, including RISE, which is one of the top research-backed, caffeine-free, and transparent nootropic stacks we’ve ever tried.

We look forward to seeing what Nootrobox comes up with next, and we hope it’s a sugar-free version of GO CUBES. For us, they’re a sweet treat, but they’d be even more useful to more people without the sweetener.

Read our interview with Nootrobox’s co-founder and CEO Geoffrey Woo here.

The post GO CUBES Review: Is Chewable Coffee Better for Your Brain? appeared first on Brain Wiz.

FocusAID is now available, but is it a legit nootropic, or just another carbonated beverage with clever packaging? We were especially curious if the liquid form nootropic sped absorption and the perceived effects of certain ingredients as opposed to a capsule. Read below to see what the BrainWiz testers thought of this nootropic beverage.

Focus AID Ingredients

Ingredients

FocusAID has 45 calories per can with 11 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of which are from sugar.

• Vitamin C, 603 mg
• Vitamin D, 200 IU
• Thiamine, 2 mg
• Riboflavin, 2 mg
• Niacin, 20 mg
• Vitamin B6, 2 mg
• Folate, 300 mcg
• Vitamin B12, 12 mcg
• Biotin, 0.15 mg
• Pantothenic Acid, 10 mg
• Proprietary Blend, 906 mg

Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (also referred to as ALCAR) is one of the most studied and research-backed nootropics around. It can increase alertness, energy, and mitochondrial activity, which is why it’s sometimes marketed as a fat burner (though the fat burning effects of the amounts found in nootropics would be minimal at best). ALCAR also has neuroprotective properties and may help prevent damage to the brain that comes from excess alcohol consumption.

Alpha-GPC

One of the most bio-available forms of choline, an important neurotransmitter. We talk more about Alpha-GPC and why it’s becoming increasingly common in nootropic stacks here.

Ginseng Root Extract

Ginseng has long been touted for its cognitive-enhancing abilities. However, current and recent research suggests its most potent effects are related to its anti-fatigue properties, as reported by The New York Times and numerous science journals.

Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract

An adaptogenic herb with anti-fatigue (both mental and physical) properties, rhodiola is one of the most common “natural” nootropic ingredients in brain enhancing supplements. Read more about why rhodiola rosea is so popular and why it has so few reported side effects here.

Yerba Mate Extract

FocusAID’s source of natural caffeine, green tea and yerba mate extracts also contain ingredients like theanine that may enhance the stimulatory effects of caffeine. Research suggests yerba mate may also be a vasodilator and can help improve microcirculation in humans.

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neuropsychotropic drug that functions as both a nootropic and as a tranquilizer by stimulating dopamine production. Dopamine plays a part in controlling flow of information in the brain while alleviating stress and anxiety. GABA itself has difficulty crossing the blood/brain barrier, and oral consumption is typically not very effective at increasing GABA concentrations in the brain.

Other ingredients: Carbonated water, certified raw organic blue agave nectar, natural flavors, citric acid, stevia extract

Note: The manufacturer lists valerian root and bacopa monnieri as highlighted ingredients of FocusAID on their homepage slider, but neither appears on the ingredient list for the supplement itself.

Usage Guidelines

This new LifeAID product is the perfect supplement to help you focus when you need it, keep your mind in flow, & help you recover from an intense day at work or school… Unlike energy drinks that are filled with artificial flavors & sweeteners, taurine, tons of sugar & added caffeine.

What Our Testers Say

“I’m actually a little more familiar with this company than I might want to admit (it has to do with EDM festivals and PartyAID, that’s all I’m saying). I’ve liked their products in the past, but I’ve never thought of them as more than lower-calorie sodas. FocusAID was pleasant tasting (when cold) and gave me a little kick at first sip, I think because I was getting some sublingual absorption of the caffeine. The actual nootropic effect is pretty mild, maybe noticeable just a little bit after lunch.”

“The drink didn’t taste as sweet as I expected, and it was really convenient and a nice break from coffee. I tried it in the morning as my day’s primary nootropic stack, and I didn’t get as much out of it as my other go-tos. However, I enjoyed drinking it with lunch or right after as an alternative to coffee. It might also not be a bad option for later in the evening, when you want a little boost while staying under 100 mg of caffeine.”

“Look, this didn’t give me a crazy boost. It’s not a high-potency nootropic stack. But I liked it better than soda or the Diet Coke I’ll grab from the commissary during the afternoon. It’ll never be my primary nootropic supplement, but when I started to think of it like a drinkable booster shot to extend focus during a long day, I started to like FocusAID a little more.”

“I made the mistake of bringing a can to work and then letting it sit at my desk until it got warm. Let’s just say that first sip was…warm. But cold, it tastes pretty good, like something I’d want to drink after or during a workout. I felt a slight boost in focus and concentration, but overall that was pretty mild. I think I see this as a replacement for soda, not my favorite nootropic supplements.”

But How Does It Taste?

FocusAID’s manufacturer describes the drink as having a “Light Lemon Tea Flavor.” Our testers who have tried their products before, FitAID, PartyAID, etc., felt FocusAID was slightly less sweet and had less of a heavy agave flavor than the other varieties. We didn’t think it tasted much like tea, though there are definitely tones of citrus.

Wesley described his first taste as “sort of like the chewable Flintstones vitamins I had as a kid, but in drinkable form” (note that he didn’t say this in a negative light). We would recommend drinking it very cold, as the drinking experience was not pleasant when having FocusAID at room temperature. If you’re serving it on ice, give the drink a second to sit to evenly chill.

BrainWiz Tips

• FocusAID contains 55 mg of caffeine. However, when combined with some of the other ingredients and 9 grams of sugar in FocusAID, it can feel like significantly more. Drink accordingly.
• Serve COLD for a tasty experience, this beverage did not taste good at room temperature.
• We don’t know the exact breakdown of FocusAID’s “proprietary blend” of nootropics, but at 905 mg spread across seven ingredients, we didn’t feel like there was an overabundance of any one. As such, we had some success stacking this with other nootropics, or drinking FocusAID with or after lunch for an additional afternoon boost.
• Cut with cold water if you have a lower tolerance for sweets or carbonation.

Supplement Summary

Our testers felt FocusAID was a refreshing beverage that could give them a slight focus boost, and that it was best when taken in the afternoon; as a morning nootropic supplement, most felt it was pretty mild. They enjoyed it when served ice cold, and it could be a lower-calorie replacement for sodas with the added benefit of some tried-and-true nootropic ingredients in small amounts.

If you enjoy LiveAID company’s other products, you’ll probably enjoy their take on drinkable nootropics.

The post Focus in a Can? Reviewing FocusAID by LifeAID Beverages appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Best Price for Neurofuse

If you’re looking for the best price, this section of Neurofuse’s website usually features the cheapest option and includes any seasonal or promotional discounts. Like we said, it’s rare for them to issue coupons or discounts, but their official site, as opposed to a reseller or box retailer, will normally get you the best price.

Other Nootropic Picks

New to nootropics and brain enhancers? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Nootropic Supplements to see where we’ve rated every brain enhancer we’ve ever tested. We constantly update the page with our rankings and preferences.

The post Neurofuse Coupons appeared first on Brain Wiz.

That means that no matter why I’m traveling, work or vacation, I am always prepared to get some work done. Here are my top five tips for getting work done while traveling, sometimes more than at my home desk.

1. Get comfortable working in uncomfortable places.

If you need a precise combination of environmental factors to get your work done, working while traveling may be harder, but not impossible. And if you tend to need a specific environment to get work done, like sitting in a specific chair or having the temperature just right, try weaning yourself off of things slowly as you approach your travel date. If you still have trouble concentrating in a foreign environment, give this hack a try and learn to own your productivity anywhere, anytime.

2. Fight the jet lag.

Whether it’s a two or twelve-hour time difference, jet lag may creep up on you at the most inopportune time. To avoid the slump, craft a good sleeping environment in your new destination. For some people, that means napping as soon as you’re at a hotel. Make sure you’re getting enough magnesium, which is both a brain booster and sleep enhancer that can help you relax on the road. If I’m taking a redeye, I normally take 1 capsule of Nootrobox‘s YAWN before the flight so I can actually get some rest while in the air.

3. Designate time blocks to get work done.

This is a biggie. Even if you are traveling solo, it is important to set up specific time blocks to get work done. Traveling usually comes with its own unique sets of distractions, and unless you are consistent about setting aside enough time to get your work done, you’ll be playing catchup once back home.

4. Invest in a mobile hotspot and in-flight wifi.

Whether it’s unlimited data on your phone or a portable wifi hotspot, make sure that you have what you need to stay connected. (It’s not elegant or super sleek looking, but the most reliable hotspot I’ve used is Verizon’s popular device.) I am a big fan of getting work done while traveling, so unless I’m on a redeye flight, I purchase in-flight wifi access, and keep an eye out, because sometimes you can get a discount by snapping it up with your ticket. Before leaving on the trip, double check your VPN or remote log-in before heading out, and make sure you give your IT department a heads up on your travel if you work for a larger company. That way, if you run into technical difficulties, they will already know where you are and how to help.

5. Arm your brain.

I take nootropics at home and at work, and I DEFINITELY take them on the road to help keep my productivity consistent. I’ve written about my favorite travel stack before (check out the full article and stack here), and some of the other BrainWiz reviewers have their own preferences. My stack is focused on keeping me productive and sharp even if there’s no good coffee in sight, something I’ve run into numerous times while staying in hotels for work and pleasure.

6. Make sure work is accessible offline.

Before leaving on your trip, make sure as many of the materials you need to get your work done are available offline. No matter how well-prepared you are with HotSpots or Tethering, it is likely you will encounter at least one instance of no connectivity during your trip. Don’t let that be an excuse for not getting work done by making sure documents, emails, or reports are all available offline.

So if you can’t avoid working on your vacation, or you need to prep for an offsite meeting while en-route to it, take a shot at these tips to ensure productivity. And if you have any other productivity hacks you use while traveling, please send them our way. I’m always looking for ways to optimize my time away from the office.

The post How Entreprenuers Stay Productive While Traveling appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Read our full review of Alpha BRAIN here, and find out why Alpha BRAIN Instant is different here.

Learn More About Alpha GPC

Alpha GPC supplies dietary choline to the body. In the brain, choline is used to make acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved in many cognitive processes. In people who don’t get enough choline in their diets, choline supplementation on its own may be enough to give them a perceived cognitive boost, in some of our testers’ experience, it’s reduced brain fog and enhanced focus. Alpha GPC may also fight cognitive decline and the decay of neurons and their membranes in older mammals.

Alpha GPC is about 40% choline by weight, meaning it has the potential to confer about 40% of its dosage to the body as dietary choline. Along with CDP-Choline (about 18.5% choline by weight), it’s a form of choline most likely to be seen in nootropics because it confers choline that can more easily cross the blood/brain barrier. Compounds that increase the presence of neurotransmitter acetylcholine are often called cholinergic. Alpha GPC seems to be the preferred, though more expensive, cholinergic for newer and/or high-quality nootropic manufacturers.

Many of the studies involving Alpha GPC use dosages between 300 and 600mg. However, more research is needed to indicate the “optimal” dose for various effects, and this may vary somewhat between users.

Alpha GPC may have also have potent implications for strength and muscular output; when taken in dosages around 600mg as a pre-workout, it has been shown to increase muscle force and potentially stamina.

How Much Alpha GPC Is in Alpha BRAIN?

Both Alpha BRAIN and Alpha BRAIN Instant include Alpha GPC as part of their “Onnit Focus Blend,” which is 240mg total per serving and also includes bacopa and huperzia. Basically, the dosage of Alpha GPC you’re getting in a single serving of Onnit’s Alpha BRAIN products is well under the 300-600mg you see elsewhere, and maybe well under 200mg (Onnit doesn’t indicate the exact proportions in many of their blends). While both forms of Alpha BRAIN have proved popular among our testers, some people may respond better to a higher dose of Alpha GPC. Remember, Alpha BRAIN also contains numerous other nootropic compounds that interact synergistically with Alpha GPC.

Looking for a nootropic with a higher dose of Alpha GPC, along with ingredients to fight the effects of stress? Check out our review of Nootrobox’s RISE supplement, which contains 300mg of Alpha GPC per serving.

The post Alpha BRAIN vs Alpha GPC: What You Need to Know appeared first on Brain Wiz.

Both supplements have proprietary blends, meaning that the exact quantities of each ingredient in their formulas are not disclosed. While this is a fairly common practice in the supplement industry, it makes it harder to compare the efficiency of formulas with similar ingredients.

Read our full Lumonol review, and find out what our testers thought about the manufacturer’s other formula, Lumonol Nova.

In the case of Lumonol vs Addium, the comparison is easier, since these two supplements only have a couple of ingredients in common, namely L-Tyrosine and caffeine. Both Addium and Lumonol rely on caffeine as a stimulant, but Lumonol’s caffeine largely comes from guarana, a plant that contains both more caffeine and more phytonutrients than coffee.

Lumonol combines well-researched nootropic  that are not only powerful, but also fast-acting, perhaps due to the inclusion of noopept in its formula, in a package that is a favorite of many of our testers. The combination of stimulants and fast-acting ingredients  makes the effects of Lumonol felt almost instantaneously. Another benefit of this formula is that its Energy Blend, while strong, did not result in a crash when we tested it out. Our testers also reported a wave of energy from Addium, but they were more likely to experience a crash, usually in the afternoon, once the caffeine wore off.

Find out what our testers thought about Addium.

In general, our testers prefer Lumonol for the observationally “powerful” formulation; they experienced few if any jitters and sustained energy when taking the supplement. While Addium did provide a boost of energy, some of our testers were disappointed with the relatively short duration of the pill’s effects, along with the abrupt dropoff in energy levels after a few hours.

Want to find out more about Lumonol? One of our testers tried it for 90 days straight, find out what they had to say at the end.

The post Lumonol vs Addium: Comparing Nootropic Stacks appeared first on Brain Wiz.

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The company has developed a number of instant drink mixes featuring Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps mushrooms, and these formulas are targeted at boosting digestion, immunity, relaxation, and/or focus. Several of their products feature common nootropic ingredients combined with mushroom extracts and instant drink mixes like coffee and hot chocolate.

Mushroom Coffee with Cordyceps is one such product, which Four Sigmatic says provides stimulatory effects of caffeine without the jitteriness. Our testers tried out the coffee, reviewing it for both its purported effects and flavor. Read below to see what we found.

The Ingredients

Active Ingredients:

Instant Coffee Powder – Caffeine 40 mg

The world’s most popular stimulant, caffeine reduces drowsiness and sedation by inhibiting adenosine (a nervous system depressant) from reaching receptors in the brain. There are extensive studies on the effects of caffeine on cognition, alertness, and athletic performance.

Strong Mushroom Dual-Extract 500 mg

Siberian Chaga Mushroom Dual-Extract (Inonotus obliquus) – 350 mg

The Chaga mushroom has been used extensively in both Ayurvedic and traditional medicine. The extract is typically prescribed for its diuretic and potentially anti-cancer properties. Four Sigmatic claims the highly alkaline mushroom also helps neutralize some of coffee’s natural acidity and bitterness, resulting in a smoother taste along with increased anti-oxidants properties.

Chaga mushrooms have been used in the past as replacement for coffee during times when it’s in short supply, so it’s not a big surprise that the two could be paired as far as flavor profile.

Cordyceps Dual-Extract – 150 mg

The cordyceps mushroom is an adaptogen that has been used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine as a treatment for numerous ailments, though its exact effects on the body still need to be determined through extensive clinical research. There’s also some early but promising clinical research indicating cordyceps extract has significant anti-fatigue properties, which is one of Four Sigmatic’s main claims about the ingredient.

While previously medicinal cordyceps mushrooms were hatched inside caterpillars, the mushrooms used in the Four Sigmatic’s products are vegan. Their site also contains extensive information about their ingredient extraction processes.

Usage Guidelines

Instant – Add one packet to 7fl oz of hot water.

What Our Testers Say

“The Mushroom Coffee with Cordyceps had me feeling like I’m enjoying a cup of coffee without worrying about bouncing off the walls, and the subsequent crash. My caffeine tolerance is prety low. My limit is usually ¼ cup of coffee before I start feeling off, but I was able to enjoy my whole cup, and the clean energy that came with it. There’s not a ton of caffeine in here, but I still felt effects.”

“I wasn’t crazy about the potency of this when mixed with the full amount of water, but I did feel a nice bit of energy after taking it. I ended up following it with my regular cup of coffee, and also tried mixing it with less water, which got me better results. I would use it again, especially on trips where quality coffee options are limited. Like the company claims, this coffee doesn’t taste acidic at all, or just very mildly so.”

“This was a little too mild for me on its own, so I mixed it in with my cold brew. The flavor was fine, and I do think that the Cordyceps took a bit of my jitters out, maybe not quite on the level of 200mg or so of l-theanine, which I like pairing with caffeine, but it was still noticeable. I will keep adding this to my normal brew for days when I need an extra push and don’t want to feel jumpy.”

“I mixed 1 packet with a vanilla protein shake, and it was amazing. There was a really mild, and sustained wave of energy, with no slump. It was a little too tea-like for me with the full 7 oz of hot water, but it was just right in my shake.”

Brain Wiz Tips

• Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee mixes well with both cold and hot liquids.
• The taste is mild. Our testers had success mixing it with less water for a stronger taste.
• This supplement contains about half the caffeine as a regular cup of coffee, making this a potentially solid option for those sensitive to caffeine or other stimulants.
• Some of our java junkie testers mixed the powder with hot or cold coffee for a stronger taste and buzz.

<li”>This coffee is noticeably less acidic than plain coffee.

• It tastes like coffee, NOT mushrooms, though the mouth-feel is slightly thicker when mixed with 7 ounces or less of water.
• Individually packaged servings makes it portable and convenient for travel.
• This product is vegan and Non-GMO.

Supplement Summary

Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee with Cordyceps surprised us and, at least mildly, impressed even our biggest coffee fanatics. It may be a great option for people who do well on smaller amounts of caffeine but would still like the buzz and energy boost with a lower instance of jitters and no crash. The flavor of the coffee is good, albeit extremely mild, it will likely be too light for those accustomed to a stronger brew. Some of our bolder testers mixed it with both protein shakes and coffee with great success. As with any caffeine-containing product, start slow and assess your tolerance before adding additional ingredients.

For our testers, this product performed basically as advertised, promoting an even wave of energy with no crash and no jitteriness. The convenience was also a plus.

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Recently, neuroscientist-backed truBrain (click for current price) has released a line of what they call “performance coffee,” which sells with “focus sticks” packing Alpha-GPC and l-theanine. TruBrain is best known for their nootropic “shots,” which provide a variety of nootropic compounds in slick, on-the-go packaging. (Read our full review of truBrain shots in regular, caffeine-free, and boost.)

With the rise in popularity of Bulletproof Coffee, it’s no surprise companies are following suite with their own roasts and complimentary or bundled supplements. But how does truBrain’s brüd hold up in the eyes of a longtime coffee drinker? I tested it out under numerous circumstances, along with a few other BrainWiz testers. Read below to see my final thoughts!

The Ingredients

Coffee: According to the manufacturer, brüd coffee is shade grown, single origin, and fair trade. In a video (embedded below), truBrain explains they put their coffee through a “special cold marinade pre-roast process with trained plant stems” before roasting in order to get an optimized brew.

However, the company doesn’t list the geographic origins of their beans, although it claims all customers receive beans roasted within 48 hours of shipping.

Focus Sticks: 

Alpha-GPC, 200mg

Alpha-GPC is the most efficient compound to increase both systemic and brain concentrations of choline when ingested orally. It’s been linked to increased cognition and reduced cognitive decline, in addition to, more recently, increased power output and growth hormone production in athletes. It’s a form of choline we tend to see most often in supplements from more reputable and higher quality manufacturers.

L-Theanine, 200mg

Theanine is a calming amino acid that is also non-sedative. Research suggests pairs well with caffeine and/or coffee in order to reduce jitters and increase focus. One of our favorite simple stacks featuring just the caffeine/l-theanine pairing is Smart Caffeine.

In addition to the above, focus sticks contain organic blue agave, purified water, manitol, vegetable glycerine, and silicon dioxide.

Usage Guidelines

• Take our beans and brew them however you like.
• beans + focus sticks = smart coffee

Brud Coffee Focus Sticks reviews and side effects

My Personal Experience

I first tried brüd in several different preparations: Cold brewed in a french press, drip coffee in a standard 12-cup coffee maker, and as espresso. This is a remarkably light roast, and because I drink dark roasts normally, I found it to be a little lighter on the tastebuds than I would have liked. True to what the company claims, it’s very much non-bitter. While it’s smooth to sip, its very light nature means it does not mix well with dairy if you enjoy those types of beverages; the result just seems like watery milk or cream.

I do see truBrain’s reasoning for keeping the roast light. It’s a common misconception that darker roasts have “stronger” caffeine contents; on the contrary, lighter roasts tend to preserve more of the bean’s caffeine content. True to form, truBrain’s brüd provides a very solid caffeinated kick, I’d estimate among the top 10% of coffee I’ve tried as far as the caffeine boost I actually felt.

My favorite preparation ended up being regular drip coffee, as the cold brew ended up tasting far too mild and the espresso was a disaster with beans this light. Note: The beans do not come pre-ground, so make sure you have a grinder handy before ordering.

Onto the next one: the sticks. The focus sticks are a cool concept, but the packaging makes them a bit difficult to open without scissors. Even then, they’re easy to spill, and more than once I ended up with bits of plastic in my coffee as I tried to cut the stick over my cup. Squeezing and end hard is effective, but it may end up squirting coffee and/or focus stick liquid everywhere. The bit of sugary liquid doesn’t taste like much and wasn’t perceptible in my coffee, so I’d much rather truBrain include these as single-serving powders.

Overall the focus sticks did deliver as far as ingredients, and when paired with any good coffee, I tried a few apart from brüd, they add a nice, calming focus to the caffeine buzz.

What Some of Our Other Testers Say

I asked two of the other Brain Wiz testers who regularly drink coffee for their takes:

“The coffee is a light roast, and I felt like it contained a lot of caffeine; I felt it kick in before I was halfway through my cup. I’d definitely recommend drinking less of this particular brew than you think you’ll need. Also, I couldn’t taste anything from the focus sticks, I thought they would make my coffee much sweeter.”

“Good, non-bitter coffee, I put a bit of sweetener in mine and it tasted great. Definitely a decent bean, but I’m not much of a coffee snob. The focus sticks are a cool gimmick, but like Alexandra, I wish they were just a powder or pill, good pairing of ingredients, the delivery got a little too creative.”

Brain Wiz Tips

• This is a light roast that does not mix well with dairy.
• brüd seems to contain a relatively high caffeine content based on our tests, so don’t go overboard on your first batch.
• Be careful when opening the focus sticks to avoid spillage; we never found a “best” way that worked for us.
• The beans do not come pre-ground.

Summary

Overall, I liked truBrain’s coffee, but I’m not sure I’d subscribe to it every month, which is the deal they’re currently pushing (though unlike some subscription-based companies, they made it very easy to cancel when I wanted to). It’s a good, light roast, but I enjoy variety in my coffee. And while the focus sticks contain a really great pairing of ingredients, their delivery system is a bit too gimmicky for my taste. I may resubscribe every few months to restock, however, and they’re currently (as of writing this article) running a special where the first month is discounted to $19.

If truBrain reimagines the focus sticks into something a little easier to deliver to your actual cup, I’d definitely consider buying them on their own.

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