Why Coffee Beats Energy Drinks Every Time

Written by Mike Klemmer, Founder of Aerial Resupply Coffee—veteran, coffee addict, and firm believer that caffeine should fuel you, not destroy you.

Walk into any gas station in America and you’ll see an entire refrigerator glowing with neon cans—Monster, Bang, Red Bull, Celsius, Reign, Ghost. Every label promises “extreme energy,” “zero sugar,” and “clean focus.” They’ve become the unofficial fuel of the modern workforce—and for a lot of veterans, first responders, and gym rats, they’ve replaced coffee altogether.

But here’s the truth: energy drinks might deliver a fast jolt, but they come at a cost—your health, your wallet, and your long-term performance. That’s why I’ll always stand by one thing: black coffee is the superior, healthier, and more sustainable caffeine source on Earth. And I say that as someone who’s lived on both sides of the caffeine spectrum—from the battlefield to the roastery.

The Energy Drink Era: Caffeine and Chemicals

Energy drinks exploded in the early 2000s—marketed as high-performance fuel for athletes, soldiers, and students. They sell speed and alertness in a can, but what’s inside those bright designs often looks more like a chemistry experiment than something you should put in your body.

Let’s break it down. A typical 16oz can of Monster or Bang contains anywhere from 160 to 300 mg of caffeine—roughly equal to two to three cups of coffee. But that’s not the problem. The issue is what surrounds that caffeine: artificial sweeteners, preservatives, synthetic vitamins, and proprietary “energy blends” filled with compounds like taurine, guarana, L-carnitine, and massive doses of B-vitamins that your body simply flushes out.

According to the National Institutes of Health, excessive consumption of these drinks has been linked to heart palpitations, insomnia, high blood pressure, dehydration, and in some cases, kidney damage. That’s not “fuel”—that’s burnout in a can.

The Caffeine Trap: Why “Zero Sugar” Isn’t Zero Risk

Here’s the clever trick: energy drink companies market “zero sugar” as healthy. But most of them replace sugar with artificial sweeteners like sucralose or acesulfame potassium—chemicals that can disrupt gut health and cause insulin resistance when overused. Add that to the massive caffeine load and carbonation, and your digestive system is under constant stress.

And those “electrolyte” claims? Most are marketing fluff. Unless you’re sweating through a two-hour CrossFit session or a ruck march in August, you don’t need them. You need hydration and clean energy—not sugar alcohols and lab-grade stimulants.

The Result:

• A fast spike in energy
• A sharp crash in mood and focus
• Dehydration and increased heart rate
• Long-term fatigue that feels like burnout

In the military, we used to joke that “motivation in a can” came with consequences. You’d slam a Monster before a patrol and feel invincible for 45 minutes—then crash harder than a dropped rucksack. That cycle kills performance, both mentally and physically.

Why Black Coffee Wins the War on Energy

Now let’s look at coffee—the oldest energy drink on the planet, used by warriors, thinkers, and night-shift workers for centuries. The key difference? Simplicity. Good coffee has two ingredients: water and roasted coffee beans.

That’s it. No dyes, no synthetic vitamins, no preservatives. Just natural caffeine and antioxidants. Your body knows what to do with that. It absorbs slowly, provides steady mental alertness, and doesn’t come with a crash or a bloated gut full of carbonated gas.

Here’s why I—and every serious operator I know—switched back to black coffee long ago:

• Better Caffeine Control: A standard 8oz cup of coffee has around 95mg of caffeine. You can scale it up or down easily, unlike an energy drink that hits all at once.
• Zero Calories: Black coffee has 0 calories, 0 sugar, and 0 carbs. You’re not adding junk to your diet—you’re giving your metabolism clean fuel.
• Rich in Antioxidants: Coffee is one of the largest sources of antioxidants in the American diet, helping reduce inflammation and fight free radicals.
• No Artificial Ingredients: Coffee comes from a farm, not a factory. You can trace it, roast it, and brew it without mystery chemicals.

When I founded Aerial Resupply Coffee, that purity mattered. Our roasts—like Lifeline for clarity, Firewatch for balance, and 15W40 for raw power—deliver caffeine the way nature intended: steady, clean, mission-focused.

Healthy Caffeine: The Key to Staying Lean

Here’s where coffee really shines for anyone who trains, diets, or wants to stay mission-ready: it helps your body burn fat. According to research published by the NIH, caffeine stimulates thermogenesis—the process by which your body converts stored fat into energy. That means every cup of black coffee increases calorie expenditure without any sugar or junk calories attached.

Energy drinks, on the other hand, often come loaded with artificial sweeteners that can confuse your metabolism and spike cravings. Even “zero sugar” drinks can cause your brain to crave sweetness, making weight management harder in the long run.

That’s why I tell every veteran, athlete, and everyday coffee drinker this: if you’re serious about performance, skip the chemicals. Drink your caffeine black, and let your body work smarter—not harder.

Black Coffee Benefits for Your Body:

• Boosts metabolism without sugar or calories
• Improves insulin sensitivity over time
• Supports mental clarity without anxiety spikes
• Protects your liver and heart health long term

The Veteran Advantage: How Coffee Fits the Mission

In the Army, coffee wasn’t optional—it was doctrine. Before the first convoy rolled out, there was always a percolator bubbling on the field table. It didn’t just wake us up; it centered us. That ritual—the pour, the first sip, the shared silence before the day began—was discipline in liquid form.

When I see young troops or law enforcement officers pounding four Monsters before 0900, I get it. They’re tired. They need a boost. But I also know what it feels like when your hands start to shake, your stomach turns sour, and you realize your body’s running on fumes instead of focus. That’s not sustainable leadership—it’s burnout.

So I built Aerial Resupply Coffee as a return to fundamentals: quality caffeine, veteran craftsmanship, and products that fuel performance instead of harming it. Coffee isn’t about hype—it’s about readiness.

MOAB: The Energy Drink Killer

Now, let’s talk to my fellow caffeine junkies who love the energy rush. You don’t have to give that up. You just need to upgrade your source. That’s why we created MOAB—our high-caffeine medium roast that delivers twice the punch of a standard cup without a single gram of sugar, dye, or synthetic additive.

It’s clean, powerful, and purpose-built for those who grind through long days, night shifts, or training cycles. You get all the focus, none of the crash. Just caffeine the way nature—and logistics—intended.

Compare the Mission:

Beverage	Caffeine	Sugar	Calories	Artificial Ingredients
Monster (16oz)	160mg	54g	230	Yes
Bang (16oz)	300mg	0g (artificial sweeteners)	0	Yes
Red Bull (12oz)	111mg	37g	160	Yes
MOAB Coffee (12oz)	200mg	0g	0	No

The Bottom Line: Discipline Over Hype

Energy drinks sell adrenaline. Coffee builds endurance. One gives you wings; the other gives you focus. If you want long-term energy, better metabolism, and real performance, drink coffee. Drink it black. Drink it with purpose.

Our mission at Aerial Resupply Coffee is simple: to provide better fuel for people who serve, protect, and lead. From the mountains of Virginia to bases across the world, we roast for those who understand that discipline is the ultimate energy source.

Energy drinks burn fast and fade. Coffee sustains. The choice isn’t between caffeine sources—it’s between lifestyles. Choose the one that builds you up instead of breaking you down.

Load Up, Not Crash Out.

So the next time you reach for a can, think twice. Then reach for a bag of Firewatch, 15W40, or MOAB instead. Your heart, your waistline, and your mission will thank you for it.