Coffee or Can? Finding Your Morning Shine

For many of us, mornings come down to a simple choice: join the coffee queue or grab something faster from the fridge. Both can kick-start your day, both have their own rituals, and both have their fiercely loyal fans. But with functional drinks like Shine offering nootropics, brain-boosting benefits and controlled caffeine levels, the decision isn’t quite as straightforward as it used to be.

Below, we explore two very familiar morning routines and compare what your brain and body get from a long black versus a can of Shine. The goal isn’t to replace your treasured coffee ritual, just to help you find the right fuel, depending on the kind of morning you’re facing.

Caffeine Levels: Long Black vs Shine+

Caffeine is often the deciding factor in morning fuel, so here’s the comparison:

Typical long black: 80-200mg of caffeine (Depending on the size, roast profile, and café)

Shine cans: 80-160mg (Depending on Better Energy 250ml cans OR Charged 500ml cans)

So yes, Shine contains coffee-level caffeine, but it’s deliberately controlled. Enough to sharpen your focus, but not so much that you get the jitters or crash mid-morning. This predictable range means you know exactly what you’re getting, every time.

Antioxidants vs Nootropics

Here’s where the difference really becomes interesting.

Coffee’s Antioxidants

Coffee is naturally rich in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation and support long-term health. It’s one of the most common sources of antioxidants in modern diets, and that’s a genuine benefit.

Shine’s Nootropics

Shine doesn’t compete with coffee in antioxidant levels - it offers something different.

It delivers brain-supporting nootropics, such as:

• L-Theanine - smooths caffeine’s edges and supports calm focus

• Ginkgo biloba - linked to mental clarity and cognitive support

• Green tea & Green Coffee Beans - natural, clean caffeine + additional nootropic properties

• Vitamins - to support energy metabolism

Where coffee is great for a boost, Shine is designed for mental performance, clarity, and consistency. Coffee wakes you up. Shine sharpens you.

Absorption Speed, Hydration & Portability

Absorption

Coffee caffeine hits quickly, especially on an empty stomach, which is why you often feel a rush followed by a dip. Shine releases more evenly thanks to its nootropic blend, and cleaner caffeine, helping your focus stay steady for longer.

Portability

Coffee requires a café, machine, pods, or clean-up. Shine requires… a can opener if you prefer to be dramatic, but otherwise just your hand. It’s the definition of grab-and-go.

Cost Comparison: Coffee vs Shine Subscription

Let’s talk money. Most people underestimate how much takeaway coffee costs over a working week.

Takeaway Coffee Costs

Average takeaway long black: $4.00 - $6.50 (let’s call it $5.50 for easy maths).

• Weekly spend (5 coffees): $27.50

• Monthly spend (22 working days): $121.00

• Yearly spend: $1,452

That’s without the occasional pastry you justify because “I’m already here”.

Shine Subscription

Typical subscription works out cheaper per can: $2.77 - $4.42 (let’s call it $2.77, if you are drinking one can of 250ml Better Energy per workday (5 days/week):

• Weekly spend: $13.85

• Monthly spend: $55.40

• Yearly spend: $664.80
  
  

That’s a saving of roughly $787.20 per year (compared to drinking coffee every workday), enough for a boujee weekend getaway, a new phone, or nearly 400 extra snacks. And if Shine replaces some of your coffees rather than all? You still save!

A Hybrid Plan: The Best of Both Worlds

This isn’t an argument to ditch coffee forever. Coffee is a ritual, a comfort, and for many people, a genuine joy. But mornings aren’t all the same. Some are slow, warm, and indulgent. Others are tight, stressful, and back-to-back.

A hybrid plan gives you flexibility:

Coffee for slow weekends

• Take your time

• Enjoy the ritual

• Savour your favourite roast

• Start your morning gently

Shine for packed workdays

• No queue

• No crash

• Consistent caffeine

• Added boost for the brain with our nootropic blend

• Clear-headed focus for busy mornings

It’s not about replacing what you love: it’s about choosing what supports your day best!