Energy drinks versus coffee

Despite such speedy-sounding names as Full Throttle, Amp and Rush, energy drinks pack a punch that is generally no stronger than coffee, according to Consumer Reports.

A comparison of 12 popular energy drinks, published in Consumer Reports’ September issue, found that the caffeine in 8 ounces of various brands ranged from 50 to 145 milligrams, though most were in the 75-to-80-milligram range. By comparison, the caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee can range from 65 to 120 milligrams, with an average of 85 milligrams, according to the National Coffee Assn.

The least-caffeinated energy drink Consumer Reports tested was the fruit-punch-flavored offering by Target Corp.’s private label Archer Farms, with 50 milligrams. At the high end was the lemon-lime-flavored Celsius with 145 milligrams.

Market-leading Red Bull had 80 milligrams of caffeine. Sobe No Fear, owned by PepsiCo Inc., had 85 milligrams of caffeine. Amp had 75 milligrams of caffeine. Rush and Coca-Cola Co.’s Full Throttle both had 80 milligrams.

Jamie Kopf Hirsh, associate editor at Consumer Reports and the report’s author, noted that although 8 ounces was the standard serving size for measuring, most energy drinks were larger than that and most consumers drank more than that.