I Quit Energy Drinks for Clean Coffee — Here's What Happened After 30 Days

I QUIT ENERGY DRINKS FOR CLEAN COFFEE — HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 30 DAYS

For three years, I was that guy. You know the one—always with a Monster, Red Bull, or Celsius in hand. I'd go through 2-3 energy drinks per day, telling myself I needed them to function. The truth? I liked the sugar, the artificial flavors, and the quick fix.

I decided to quit energy drinks and switch to clean, zero-sugar coffee. Specifically, Bare Brew—just coffee and water, nothing else. Here's what the 30 days were like.

Days 1-3: Breaking the Habit

I'm not going to lie—the first three days were an adjustment. Not because I wasn't getting caffeine (Bare Brew has 320mg, more than most energy drinks), but because the whole ritual changed.

I kept reaching for the fridge expecting to grab a cold energy drink, only to remember I'd thrown them all out.

What was different: the routine got simpler. With energy drinks, I'd reach for another one mid-morning out of habit. With Bare Brew, one can covered the same stretch.

Days 8-14: A Simpler Routine

Two weeks in, the routine had settled.

With energy drinks, I'd open two or three cans across a day without really thinking about it.

With Bare Brew, I'd have one in the morning around 7:30am and maybe another around 10am if I had a big project. That's it — 320mg per can meant I wasn't reaching for a third or fourth drink out of habit.

I also moved my last caffeine of the day earlier, which is a change I'd recommend to anyone regardless of what they drink.

Days 15-21: Pre-Gym Swap

I lift weights 4 times a week. Before, I'd chug an energy drink 20 minutes before the gym.

With Bare Brew, the pre-gym can became a two-item ingredient list instead of a 15+ item one — 320mg of caffeine from coffee, no added sugar, no carbonation.

Whether caffeine helps your training is well studied and varies person to person. What I can say is that the swap was simple and I stuck with it.

Days 22-30: The Financial Wake-Up Call

By the end of the month, I checked my spending. Energy drinks were costing me $6-8 per day. That's $180-240 per month.

Bare Brew costs $4.50 per can on the 12-pack, and I only need 1-2 per day. That's $135-270 per month—but on the lower end since I was drinking less volume.

I was spending less. Plus, I wasn't drinking ingredients I couldn't pronounce.

What I Noticed Most

After 30 days of clean coffee, here's what changed about my routine:

✓ Fewer cans per day

✓ A two-ingredient label instead of a 15+ ingredient one

✓ No added sugar, so no sugar spike

✓ Caffeine from one source instead of a stimulant blend

✓ An earlier cutoff time for caffeine

✓ Saving money

✓ I actually like the taste

What I Learned About Energy Drinks

After quitting, I read a lot more labels than I used to.

Energy drinks are formulated to be very easy to keep drinking. The combination of sugar (or artificial sweeteners), added B-vitamins, taurine, and caffeine makes for a product you reach for again and again.

Coffee is a single ingredient plus water. You get caffeine from one natural source: coffee beans. No added sugar, no sweetener substitute, nothing else on the label.

Why Bare Brew Specifically?

I tried several zero-sugar cold brews during this experiment. Bare Brew won for three reasons:

1. High caffeine content (320mg) - one of the highest-caffeine canned cold brews
2. 2. Only 2 ingredients - Honduran Arabica coffee and filtered water, that's it
3. 3. Actually tastes good - Bold, smooth, never bitter

Some zero-sugar coffees taste watered down or bitter. Bare Brew tastes like coffee should taste—rich, strong, and satisfying.

Would I Ever Go Back?

Not a chance.

I've been off energy drinks for over three months now (this article was written after 30 days, but I've continued). I occasionally walk past them in gas stations and remember the ritual: grabbing a cold can, that first sip.

But I prefer where I landed: one can, two ingredients, no added sugar, and a label I can read.

If You're Thinking About Switching

Here's my advice:

1. Commit to 30 days - The first week is an adjustment, but push through
2. 2. Choose a high-quality, high-caffeine coffee - You need enough caffeine to replace what you were getting from energy drinks
3. 3. Stay hydrated - Drink plenty of water
4. 4. Be patient - Changing a daily habit takes time
5. 5. Talk to your doctor if you're cutting caffeine sharply or have a health condition

The Bottom Line

Switching from energy drinks to clean coffee simplified my day and my shopping list. Fewer cans, fewer ingredients, less money.

If you're tired of the energy drink aisle and want your caffeine to come from coffee, make the switch.

Start with Bare Brew. It's close to energy drinks in caffeine content, but the label is two lines long. Just coffee and filtered water.

Ready to make the switch? Try Bare Brew for 30 days and see how it fits your routine.