Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet

Posted on October 20, 2014 | Last updated February 15, 2025

Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet
This is a review of the second energy coffee from Kowa, Powered Coffee Slightly Sweet.

Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet

Manufacturer	Kowa
Country of Origin
Price	190 JPY
Flavor	Coffee
Total rating	★★★★☆

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.

Flavor of Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet

Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet
The first three varieties of Powered Coffee were all sweet, but this "Slightly Sweet" version with its red packaging has a darker brown color, making it seem like it’s less sweet visually.

When I tried it, the bitter taste was stronger than any of the previous three, and it has the most coffee-like flavor. Though there’s still a touch of sweetness, it’s a good balance that leaves room for possible future variations like "Unsweetened" or "Black."

Energy Ingredients of Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet

Each can of Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet contains 103mg of caffeine, which is moderate. It also includes royal jelly (150mg), Siberian ginseng extract (100mg for fatigue recovery), jujube extract (100mg for immune support), and goji berry extract (50mg for antioxidant effects).

While the effectiveness of these small amounts for energy charging remains unclear, I think it’s great that the energy boost is combined with health-enhancing ingredients, all while maintaining the taste of a regular canned coffee.

Powered Coffee is the Only Surviving Energy Coffee

Powered Coffee - Slightly Sweet
Wonder's Power Blend Coffee has been discontinued, and UCC's Full Throttle is being sold at a steep discount with poor sales. In contrast, Powered Coffee has released a fourth new flavor, "Slightly Sweet," after introducing the original black version as its "first release."

It might have been part of the plan all along to release this "Slightly Sweet" version, but the fact that one brand has managed to release four different types of energy coffee in Japan is impressive.

Despite the popularity of the high-profile Coffee Monster, which many people didn’t repurchase due to its price, Powered Coffee’s more affordable price and its taste tailored to Japanese preferences seem to be what keeps it going. Though the cans aren’t large, its convenience in stores—whether convenience stores, drug stores, or supermarkets—is a big advantage for coffee drinkers.