Luminate vs coffee: what's the difference?
Updated
The short answer
Luminate is a fruit-flavored drink mix with 80 mg of caffeine from coffee berry, plus botanicals like Alpinia galanga, ashwagandha and lion's mane. A 12-ounce cup of regular brewed coffee has between 113 and 247 mg, according to the FDA.
Side by side
| Luminate | Brewed coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | 80 mg per stick | 113–247 mg per 12 oz cup (FDA) |
| Where it comes from | Coffee berry, the fruit around the bean | Roasted coffee beans |
| Anything else in it | Alpinia galanga, ashwagandha, lion's mane, cordyceps, rhodiola, sage | Nothing, unless you add milk or sugar |
| Taste | Berry + Mango, or Watermelon + Lime | Coffee |
| Making it | One stick in 8 oz or more of hot or cold water | Brewing |
| How much a day | Juice Plus+ says no more than 2 sticks | FDA cites 400 mg of caffeine for most adults |
Why coffee berry?
Juice Plus+ points out that coffee beans are roasted at very high heat, and says the coffee berry in Luminate goes through a gentler process.
Can I have both on the same day?
I add up the caffeine. Two Luminate sticks make 160 mg. The FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally linked to negative effects for most adults. If you're pregnant, nursing or sensitive to caffeine, ask your healthcare provider.
Does it taste like coffee?
Not at all. Berry + Mango is light and sweet. Watermelon + Lime is the newer one.
Source: FDA: Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much? (opens in a new tab)
