GUARANA VS. COFFEE

What is Guarana?

Guarana is a soap tree plant and originates from the Amazon region. The guarana plant also likes to be called caffeine vine, because it has five times the amount of caffeine compared to a coffee bean.
It is often used as a natural energy and performance enhancer and has a sweet, almost fruity taste. Guarana is offered as a dietary supplement in various forms, such as capsules, powder form, as an additive in drinks - or just in the form of vitamin gummy bears. It is also often used in energy drinks and other energy-boosting products.

What are the differences between coffee and guarana? 

Coffee and guarana are both often taken as energy boosters. However, they have some important differences to consider:

Coffee is a beverage made from the beans of the coffee plant. It contains caffeine, a chemical compound known to boost energy and improve alertness. Coffee is drunk all over the world and is available in many different flavors.

In the case of guarana, however, the seeds of the plant are processed into powder and used in beverages and supplements. Guarana also contains caffeine, but in higher concentrations than coffee. It is often used as a natural energy and performance enhancer.

How does caffeine in coffee and guarana work?

An important difference between coffee and guarana is the way the caffeine works in the body. Caffeine in coffee works faster but also for a shorter time, while the caffeine in guarana works slower but longer. This means that coffee has a faster effect but also wears off faster, while guarana has a slower effect but lasts longer. The caffeine level of a coffee reaches its maximum in the blood after only 30-60 minutes.

In guarana, however, the guaranine (caffeine) is bound to the tannins, such as tannins. Once the tannins have been broken down by the body, the caffeine is released. Nevertheless, the caffeine takes effect relatively quickly, already within about 45 minutes. However, due to the slow release of caffeine, complete breakdown does not occur until 5-9 hours later.

Many Guarana users notice a better tolerance of the product and a better form of energy boost than with coffee. In addition, with coffee there can be a high consumption and a kind of habituation effect of the body. Caffeine is not addictive, but a large consumption of coffee can cause the vitalizing effect to diminish in the long run. This can lead to drinking even more coffee, which can eventually result in irritability, nervousness and sleep problems.

With guarana, on the other hand, there is no habituation effect, as long as the prescribed daily dose is adhered to and no larger quantities are taken in the long term.

How does guarana taste?

Another difference is the taste. Coffee has a stronger, tart taste, while guarana has a sweetish, almost fruity taste. Guarana is therefore often found in sweet products such as energy drinks & gummy bears.

Conclusion: difference between guarana and coffee

It is impossible to say which of the two is better. Overall, coffee and guarana are both popular energy boosters. However, they also have important differences in terms of their effects, taste and composition. It is important to be aware of how it affects the body and listen to your own body.