Ingredient guide · cognitive

Caffeine Anhydrous

Clean energy, focus & thermogenesis

The clinically studied dose

200mg per day Clinical

Source: ISSN Position Stand: Caffeine (Guest 2021) — 3–6 mg/kg (~200 mg for a 70 kg adult) improves performance and alertness.

What it is

The world's most-used stimulant, and one of the few proven performance enhancers.

What the research supports

How it works

Blocks adenosine, the molecule that builds up and makes you feel tired.

Human evidence

Reliably improves endurance by 2–4% plus strength, power, sprint and jump performance; 9 mg/kg is no better and brings more side effects.

Position stand (evidence review) · n=dozens of trials · 3–6 mg/kg, ~60 min pre — Guest et al., 2021 — ISSN Position Stand

Bottom line: One of the most proven ergogenic aids in existence — a dependable 2–4% performance boost at 3–6 mg/kg. The main catch is tolerance: habitual heavy users get a blunted effect.

Side effects & safety

Jitters, anxiety, raised heart rate, and insomnia if taken late. Tolerance and dependence build with daily use — cycle it. Target ~3–6 mg/kg bodyweight.

What users report COMMUNITY · ANECDOTAL

Strongly positive
Recurring themes from the top r/Supplements threads · read them yourself →
✓ Reported benefits
near-universalThe rare supplement nobody calls placebo — it reliably 'works'
⚠ Reported downsides
commonJitters, anxiety, and an energy crash at higher doses
recurringWrecks sleep taken late even when you don't feel wired
🤨 The skeptic take
recurringThe main debate is tolerance — whether to cycle or deload to keep it effective

Anecdotes, not evidence, and not medical advice. Frequency labels are our read of forum sentiment, not a formal survey. Individual responses vary widely.

What it should cost

Per serving
Typical branded single-ingredient product$0.15
Bulk powder at the clinical dose (500 caps 100mg, $19.97)$0.08

Buying bulk powder instead of a branded bottle saves about 47% per serving.

Bulk price: $19.97/500 caps → Alt source: $8.99/250ct

Graded products that contain it

Pre-Kaged — BGorilla Mode — A+Total War — BBULK Pre-Workout — APulse — ABucked Up — CWrecked — A+C4 Original — F

Related ingredients

Alpha-GPCLion's Mane MushroomL-TheanineRhodiola RoseaBacopa MonnieriPhosphatidylserine

Educational only — not medical advice. Grades and clinical doses are computed from public labels against sourced research (citations on the main site); prices last verified 2026-07-21. Expensive Powder has no sponsors; bulk links may earn an affiliate commission, which never affects a grade. Talk to a clinician before starting any supplement.