Adelaide, Australia – How many cups of coffee does it take to get you going in the morning? If the answer is many, the invention of a turbo-powered superbrew that is so strong it comes with a health warning might put your habit into perspective.
A cafe in Adelaide, Australia, is serving the “Asskicker,” a concoction of four espresso shots, two different strengths of cold drip and milk that its inventor says contains 80 times the amount of caffeine of a standard shot.
The drink, designed to be sipped slowly over three to four hours, promises to keep coffee lovers buzzing for up to 18 hours.
While a normal espresso, as defined by the US Department of Agriculture, packs around 63 milligrams of caffeine, this drink has 5 grams, according to its creator. The US Food and Drug Administration and USDA note that 400 milligrams is the limit not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects.
Turbo coffee
Steve Benington, owner of Viscous Coffee, developed the drink for a local emergency room nurse who needed something to keep her going during unexpected night shifts.
“We had to tone it down a bit because it kept her up for a total of three days,” said Benington, adding that the nurse sipped it over two days.
The barista, who opened his cafe a year and a half ago after a career in the Australian Navy, said the turbo coffee has become very popular in recent weeks.
However, he actively discourages customers interested only in a gimmick, and advertises it with a warning for those with high blood pressure or heart conditions.
“I have a quite detailed talk with people before they actually purchase one. If I can talk someone out of it, they’re not ready for the drink,” said Benington.
Warning signs of coffee overdose include shakes and sweats, dilated pupils, stammering over your words, vertigo and nausea.
“If you keep going, those symptoms will get worse,” said the coffee-loving business owner. “If you stay within the guidelines, you’re fine.”
The Asskicker experience will set you back around $12 ($16 AUD) for a 16 ounce cup.