How to enjoy energy drinks

Posted on April 21, 2014 | Last updated February 17, 2025

I will explain how to savor, not just drink, energy drinks.

I realized that my experience of tasting various types of overseas beers has helped shape my approach to reviewing energy drinks, and I’d like to share that insight.

Author information Author: Energy Drink-kun

In 2001, while living in the United States, I encountered energy drinks through the dance scene and was deeply impressed. After returning to Japan, I found that energy drinks were considered novelty beverages, so I established a comprehensive website in 2013 to share the true appeal of energy drinks. As an energy drink enthusiast, I began drinking them seriously again, collecting over 7,000 varieties of energy drinks from various countries. I am also active as a critic and expert, receiving media interviews.

Start by Drinking at Room Temperature

To truly savor an energy drink, I believe the ideal temperature is around 5–18°C.

Not just for energy drinks, but many people can’t drink juices or carbonated drinks at room temperature, but when they’re too cold, your taste buds are dulled, and you can’t really taste the drink’s true flavor. I used to like drinking energy drinks ice-cold, gulping them down, and couldn’t imagine drinking them at room temperature.

The Habit of Drinking Overseas Beers Transferred to Energy Drinks

However, after drinking beers from Belgium and other countries, I learned that to fully appreciate the flavors, aroma, and nuances, the ideal drinking temperature is close to room temperature. It made me realize how much fun it is to experience the deep flavors from hops, malt, spices, and the brewing process.

As I tasted hundreds of beers from around the world, I started drinking energy drinks at room temperature to better appreciate the subtle flavors, just like with beer. When reviewing, I try to write in a way that lets readers imagine the taste, even if they haven’t had it themselves or remember the flavors if they have tried it before (●´ω｀●).

List of Reviewed Energy Drinks

When You Start Drinking at Room Temperature...

Once you start drinking energy drinks at room temperature, you’ll notice the intense sweetness and fragrance more clearly, and you’ll even be able to taste the subtle flavors of weaker energy drinks that you wouldn’t notice if they were cold. It may just be juice, but drinking at room temperature reveals new flavors that you wouldn’t notice when cold.

However, at temperatures close to 30°C in the summer, it can become too warm and unpleasant, which is understandable Σ(´∀｀；).

The ideal temperature for savoring is probably around 20°C room temperature. Cold drinks still provide the best taste, fragrance, and smoothness though(´∀｀*).

Try Pouring It into a Glass

Like with any drink, it’s important to engage with it in more ways than just tasting. When you pour it into a glass, you can see the color, fully experience the aroma, and enjoy the strength of the carbonation.

With special energy drinks like Monster Energy Rehab, the powder inside may float, or with juice-like drinks, fruit juice particles can float, revealing a "mist." You wouldn’t notice these things if you were drinking directly from the can.

On the Contrary, Freeze It to the Max

Sometimes, there are energy drinks that are just too overwhelming to savor ((((；ﾟДﾟ)))).

Coffee-flavored energy drinks designed for Western tastes often have such a high level of sweetness due to milk, sugar, or caramel flavors that drinking a whole 16oz can be quite difficult when served at room temperature.

Once you understand the original taste and aroma, I think it’s best to fill a glass with ice and enjoy it. When it’s chilled from the fridge, it’ll reduce the sweetness to the point where it becomes bearable, so if you want to maintain that sweetness, you might prefer it without ice.

Interestingly, Starbucks' official site shows drinks served with a lot of ice, and in reality, you need to have this much ice to drink it without finding it overwhelmingly sweet Σ(´∀｀；).