Both a cup of strong coffee and an energy drink are popular choices for people who want a boost of energy or improved focus.
But which one is healthier?
Most experts consider coffee to be the healthier option than energy drinks. This is largely due to the use of synthetic or concentrated ingredients and high sugar content in energy drinks, and the exceptionally high level of health-promoting antioxidants in coffee.
Here, we compare the health benefits of coffee vs. energy drinks across all major categories.
Natural vs. Synthetic Caffeine
First of all, coffee contains natural caffeine found in the bean itself, whereas energy drinks often contain synthetic caffeine. While both offer similar general effects and are safe to consume, their absorption rates are different.
Natural caffeine gets absorbed more slowly than synthetic caffeine [1], which provides a steadier and more sustained energy release throughout the day.
On the other hand, synthetic caffeine gets absorbed quickly, which may lead to a jittery experience and feeling wired for a while, and the effects wear off quicker.
Coffee Contains A Lot Of Antioxidants
Coffee is also a major source of antioxidants [2], which are awesome for helping protect the cells of your body from becoming damaged. Some energy drinks have fruit juice or natural pigments added to them, which may increase the antioxidant content of the beverage.
Coffee Contains Numerous Vitamins
Coffee contains a variety of vitamins and minerals like niacin, magnesium, and potassium, albeit in relatively small amounts. [3] On the contrary, some energy drinks may contain some B vitamins and a few minerals, but this varies depending on the brand and type of energy drink.
Coffee Provides Amino Acids
Coffee contains a variety of different amino acids, such as glutamic acid, glycine, tyrosine, leucine, histidine, and many others. [4] Not to be outdone, energy drinks also may contain some, most notably taurine and tyrosine. However, while coffee naturally contains many of its amino acids, they’re normally added to energy drinks.
Speaking of added ingredients, both coffee and energy drinks may have a variety of different added supplements that may make the beverages more beneficial to your health. For example, some coffee comes with protein, mushroom powder, or collagen added to enhance the effects.
On the other hand, some energy drinks may be infused with vitamin C, ginseng, or green tea extract.
Energy Drinks Are Saturated in Sugar & Other Additives
Most energy drinks come with a laundry list of artificial ingredients: added sugars, synthetic sweeteners, artificial colors, preservatives, and flavor enhancers. These additives may contribute to spikes in blood sugar, jitteriness, digestive issues, and long-term cardiovascular risks [5].
Coffee, on the other hand, is simple. A quality brew contains just two ingredients: water and roasted coffee beans — naturally rich in antioxidants and free from unnecessary fillers. You know exactly what you're getting.
Of course, it depends on how you drink it. The best black coffee is clean and low-calorie, but if you drown it in syrups, sugar, or whipped cream, you're back in dessert territory. Choose wisely, and coffee becomes one of the cleanest sources of energy available.
Caffeine & Energy: How Coffee & Energy Drinks Differ
While both coffee and energy drinks give you the caffeine you need to get you through a difficult day, the way they do it and how much caffeine they offer vary. A standard coffee provides around 80 to 100 mg of caffeine, while energy drinks are often much higher.
For example, some types of Monster energy drinks can have up to 300 mg of caffeine per can, which is nearly the entire recommended amount of caffeine a person should have in a day.
Absorption & Effect Differences
Caffeine in coffee is absorbed gradually, offering a smoother, longer-lasting lift. Energy drinks, on the other hand, hit fast and hard — thanks to synthetic caffeine and a cocktail of stimulants — but that surge often ends with a crash.
This "crash" isn’t just about the caffeine wearing off. It’s the combination of high doses, sugar spikes, and added stimulants like taurine that amplify the jitters, then slam the brakes on your energy. One study even found that caffeine combined with taurine can intensify overstimulation [6].
Natural caffeine from coffee is less likely to send you on that rollercoaster. Especially when paired with calming compounds like L-theanine — found in Cafely’s VC2 — you get clean, focused energy without the crash.
Caffeine Tolerance & Dependence
Your body adapts to caffeine over time — meaning the more you drink, the less you feel it. Eventually, you may find yourself reaching for higher doses just to feel “normal.”
That’s the danger of caffeine dependence.
If your energy levels crash without your morning fix, or if you’re relying on stronger and stronger drinks to stay alert, it might be time to scale back. Cycling off caffeine periodically can help reset your tolerance and restore its energizing effects — without the need to keep upping the dose.
Coffee vs. Energy Drinks: Health Benefits & Potential Risks
While we briefly mentioned the antioxidants, amino acids, and added supplements in coffee and energy drinks, there are other potential health benefits, too. However, there are also some possible risks to be aware of, as well.
Improved Cognition Function
First, studies have found that coffee may improve your cognitive function. Specifically, coffee may help to improve decision-making, increase processing speed, and boost your attention. [7] Energy drinks make these same claims, as they also include caffeine to improve focus and alertness. However, coffee is generally preferred as it has fewer potential side effects, such as the jitters and more intense crashes of energy drinks that we mentioned earlier.
Reduce Disease Risk
Also, consuming coffee may help reduce your risk of suffering from many diseases, such as Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. [8] This reduction is likely due to many of the beneficial ingredients in coffee, such as the amino acids and antioxidants mentioned earlier.
Caffeine may also help to reduce the risk of some diseases, so in theory, energy drinks may also provide this benefit. However, most scientific studies on the topic have focused on coffee consumption as opposed to energy drinks.
Potential Harm of Energy Drinks & Coffee
Energy drinks come with real risks. Studies link them to elevated blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, poor sleep, and even lower academic performance in young adults [9][10]. The combination of high caffeine, sugar, and synthetic additives can push your system into overdrive — with consequences that go beyond the jitters.
Coffee isn’t flawless either. Overdoing it can lead to restlessness, insomnia, or a racing heart, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine [11]. And whether your go-to is coffee or an energy drink, building a high tolerance can turn an occasional pick-me-up into a daily dependency.
Everyone reacts to caffeine differently — based on genetics, body size, age, and even medications. That’s why it’s smart to keep your intake in check and stay under the FDA’s recommended 400 mg per day.
Making the Healthier Choice: When to Choose Coffee or Energy Drinks
In most scenarios and situations, coffee is going to be a healthier option than energy drinks thanks to its lower caffeine content, fewer calories, and less sugar.
For example, coffee is often better for your daily energy and attention needs, and is a safe bet to help you at school, at work, while studying, or virtually any activity that you need a little more energy for.
However, there are some situations where energy drinks may be the right choice. Any time you need a rapid and intense boost of energy may call for an energy drink. This may be to hype you up before a sports game, to boost your focus before a presentation, or to ensure you’re as alert as possible for an important task.
Tips for Healthier Coffee & Energy Drink Consumption
Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when consuming coffee to ensure you’re doing it as healthily as possible.
1. Choose the Right Coffee or Energy Drink
First up is to make sure you choose the right type of coffee or energy drink to consume. You should look for high-quality beans for a better and more authentic taste, and many higher-quality beans may also contain fewer pesticides.
Do some research about the best coffee for energy to ensure the brews you’re making are actually helping your focus, attention, and cognitive function in general.
When it comes to energy drinks, prioritize the options with moderate levels of caffeine, low calories, and look for the presence of natural ingredients and/or flavors.
2. Watch the Sugar & Additives
When making your coffee or buying it from a cafe, do your best to watch the sugar and other unhealthy additives.
Putting too much sugar into your coffee each day can have a terrible effect on your health, especially if you’re one of those people who like to put multiple spoonfuls in each cup.
In addition to sugar itself, many creams or flavored syrups are also high in sugar and should be avoided most of the time. They’re fine for an occasional treat, but if you add them all the time, it’s making your daily cups of joe much less healthy.
The same goes for energy drinks. Always look for low or no-sugar options when possible, to reduce the negative impact these beverages have on your health.
3. Be Careful Consuming Late in the Day
To reduce the chances of the caffeine in coffee and energy drinks hurting your sleep health, be careful when drinking them too close to your bedtime. In most cases, it’s a good idea to stop drinking coffee and energy drinks around 6 to 8 hours before you sleep, if not earlier.
However, everyone is different. While someone may be able to chug a coffee right after supper and still sleep like a baby, others may be up all night if they even have a sip of an energy drink past 2 PM. Over time, you’ll learn how your body and mind react to caffeine, and will naturally discover when you should stop drinking it so you don’t disrupt your sleep.
Alternatives to Standard Energy Drinks
Looking to ditch energy drinks without sacrificing focus? Try these smarter swaps:
- Green tea, matcha & yerba mate offer a gentler dose of caffeine along with L-theanine, an amino acid shown to support calm, clear focus and reduce post-caffeine crashes [12].
- Hydrating picks like coconut water, smoothies, and electrolyte drinks can keep you alert without the crash — especially when paired with adaptogens or protein.
- Sugar-free energy drinks are a better option than their syrupy counterparts, but watch for artificial sweeteners and sketchy additives. Read the label before you sip.
Want a true upgrade? Functional coffees like VC2 by Cafely give you clean energy from real coffee — plus nootropics like Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Ginseng, Rhodiola, and L-Theanine to support mental clarity without the crash. 🍄⚡
How to Transition from Energy Drinks to Coffee
Thinking of trading your energy drink habit for coffee? Smart move — but go slow.
Instead of quitting cold turkey (and risking withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or irritability), ease in gradually. Start by swapping one can for a cup of coffee. Then another. Within a week or two, you’ll be running on smoother fuel — without shocking your system.
Not into the taste of black coffee? Start with a lighter roast or try diluting it with water or oat milk. Just avoid turning your mug into a sugar bomb — creamers, syrups, and whipped toppings can sabotage an otherwise healthy drink.
And don’t settle for stale beans. Go for high-quality coffee that actually tastes good. You'll enjoy the process more, and your body (and brain) will thank you.
👉 Pro tip: Functional coffees like VC2 by Cafely make the switch even easier — combining clean caffeine with nootropics and adaptogens for focus, energy, and fewer crashes.
FAQs: Is Coffee Healthier than Energy Drinks
If you want to learn about how healthy coffee is compared to energy drinks, check out these frequently asked questions and their answers.
1. Is Coffee Better than Energy Drinks to Stay Awake?
Coffee provides a more sustained sense of alertness after consumption and has fewer side effects. While energy drinks offer you faster energy, it lasts for a shorter duration and may lead to stronger crashes once the effects wear off.
2. Which is Worse for Teeth, Coffee or Energy Drinks?
The higher acidity and sugar content of energy drinks cause more dental erosion than coffee does. Black coffee has a fairly minimal impact on your teeth compared to energy drinks that are sweetened.
3. What Happens When You Switch From Energy Drinks to Coffee?
While there may be some withdrawal symptoms initially, your sleep quality should improve over time. Also, you may notice that the effects of caffeine become more balanced and steady, and you’ll experience fewer crashes and feel less jittery.
4. What is the Healthiest Form of Caffeine?
Natural caffeine that comes from coffee and tea is often better for you than synthetic caffeine, as this artificial caffeine doesn’t have the same beneficial compounds found in natural caffeine sources.
5. Is Starbucks Coffee Healthier than Energy Drinks?
If you just get plain Starbucks coffee, it’s generally healthier than energy drinks. However, if you opt for the specialty drinks that are full of added sugar, they may be just as bad. When making healthy beverage choices, always compare the calorie and sugar content to make the right decision.
6. How Unhealthy Are Energy Drinks?
Energy drinks may cause sleep disruption and cardiovascular issues, and are especially risky for adolescents and people with health conditions.
7. What is the Healthiest Coffee?
The best coffee for your health is generally organic and freshly-ground coffee that doesn’t contain any added sugars. Also, keep in mind that the brewing method you use may help determine the acidity and antioxidant content of the beverage, as well.
8. Is 200 mg of Caffeine a Lot?
While tolerance varies, this amount falls within daily recommendations for caffeine consumption, which is 400 mg. However, 200 mg in a single drink is quite high. For reference, a typical coffee is between 80 and 100 mg, while an energy drink is often 200 mg or more.
9. Why is Coffee Safer than Energy Drinks?
Coffee is generally safer because it only contains natural caffeine and isn’t made with a combination of stimulants like energy drinks are. Also, coffee and its safety have been researched for decades, while similar studies about energy drinks are much more limited.
10. What Can I Drink to Replace Caffeine?
Some natural alternatives you can drink instead of caffeine include golden milk, herbal teas, and chicory coffee. If you’re looking for more energy but don’t want to consume caffeine, consider taking adaptogenic herbs.
References
- Morton, K., Knight, K., Kalman, D., & Hewlings, S. (2018). A Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Two-Period Crossover Pharmacokinetic Trial Comparing Green Coffee Bean Extract-A Botanically Sourced Caffeine-With a Synthetic USP Control. Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development, 7(8), 871–879.
- Kobylińska, Z., Biesiadecki, M., Kuna, E., Galiniak, S., & Mołoń, M. (2025). Coffee as a Source of Antioxidants and an Elixir of Youth. Antioxidants, 14(3), 285.
- What is it about coffee? (2012, February 14). Harvard Health.
- Dong, W., Tan, L., Zhao, J., Hu, R., & Minquan, L. (2015). Characterization of Fatty Acid, Amino Acid, and Volatile Compound Compositions and Bioactive Components of Seven Coffee (Coffea robusta) Cultivars Grown in Hainan Province, China. Molecules, 20(9), 16687–16708.
- Costantino, A., Maiese, A., Lazzari, J., Casula, C., Turillazzi, E., Frati, P., & Fineschi, V. (2023). The Dark Side of Energy Drinks: A Comprehensive Review of Their Impact on the Human Body. Nutrients, 15(18), 3922.
- Moustakas, D., Mezzio, M., Rodriguez, B. R., Constable, M. A., Mulligan, M. E., & Voura, E. B. (2015). Guarana Provides Additional Stimulation over Caffeine Alone in the Planarian Model. PLOS ONE, 10(4), e0123310.
- Payman Raise-Abdullahi, Ehsan Raeis-Abdollahi, Morvarid Meamar, & Rashidy-Pour, A. (2024). Effects of coffee on cognitive function. Progress in Brain Research, 133–166.
- Safe, S., Kothari, J., Hailemariam, A., Upadhyay, S., Davidson, L. A., & Chapkin, R. S. (2023). Health Benefits of Coffee Consumption for Cancer and Other Diseases and Mechanisms of Action. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 2706.
- Chami, M., & Sébastien Di Primio. (2024). Energy drink consumption can induce cardiovascular events, two case reports and a literature review. Toxicologie Analytique et Clinique/Annales de Toxicologie Analytique, 36(1), 43–61.
- Ajibo, C., Van Griethuysen, A., Visram, S., & Lake, A. A. (2024). Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: A systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes. Public Health, 227(227), 274–281.
- Coffee. (2014, April 28). Coffee. Linus Pauling Institute.
- Hidese, S., Ogawa, S., Ota, M., Ishida, I., Yasukawa, Z., Ozeki, M., & Kunugi, H. (2019). Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 11(10), 2362.
