As Iowa State students begin the second half of the fall semester, the scent of coffee and the crack of energy drink tabs fill campus hallways.
Brayden Meints, a junior in anthropology, said caffeine helps him stay focused on academics and other daily tasks.
“It just helps me focus a little bit more,” Meints said. “My brain feels clearer.”
Meints is not the only student who drinks caffeine to help with academics. According to Kristi Patel, the associate retail director for ISU Dining, caffeine sales at campus retail stores increase as the semester advances.
“We typically see a sales increase across all retail units as the semester progresses, with prep week being the highest,” Patel said.
ISU retail locations sold 1,577 cans of their top-selling energy drink, Celsius, during one week in the fall 2024 semester. Sales jumped to 2,613 cans during prep week.
Tyler Thompson, a freshman in agronomy, said he drinks Celsius to stay motivated.
“It’s a good motivator if I’m tired,” Thompson said. “After doing homework or after classes, I might feel a little down, and I need something to pick me up.”
Thompson said he drinks one or two cans of Celsius per day, occasionally having more.
“I had a lot one day,” Thompson said. “It was a tough day. Most of the time, I get water or something else.”
Reid Wilson, a freshman in horticulture, drinks caffeine to overcome tiredness and physical labor.
“It helps get my day going when I have to wake up at four in the morning to do chores on the farm,” Wilson said. “I usually drink black coffee, but I like cold brews too.”
Tyler Manninen, a sophomore in construction engineering, said his favorite energy drink is the white Zero Ultra Monster because it is more affordable than other energy drinks.
“It has less caffeine than a Celsius,” Manninen said. “It’s the cheapest option at Target. I get a 24-pack for around $20.”
For Lucas Stoen, a freshman in agronomy, caffeine is not a part of his routine.
“I don’t really like caffeinated drinks,” Stoen said. “I like to get a good night’s rest and some water in the morning.”
Stoen said that caffeine does not energize him and makes him feel worse.
“It does the job at the beginning, then I just feel groggy,” Stoen said. “After I drink it, I just suffer through it.”
For students who enjoy coffee but not caffeine, ISU Dining offers alternative options.
“There’s a lot of options,” Patel said. “We offer decaffeinated espresso beans. Not everyone speaks to the energy portfolio, so we have different products that might appeal to them.”
Patel said that the amount of caffeine in coffee served on campus is similar to that in other retail chains.
“The amount of caffeine in our drinks is comparable to Starbucks,” Patel said. “Some people may want an extra shot, but most people are going for a standard drink. We’ve never really been asked for ten shots.”
Paige Ermer, the associate director of residential dining, said that in previous years, a non-caffeinated fountain drink was the number one option in campus dining halls.
“For several years, it was always lemonade,” Ermer said. “Last year, we put Dr Pepper in the fountains, so that’s our new number one, followed by lemonade and pink lemonade. People have options.”
A new addition to ISU Dining is Lotus, a plant-based energy drink that is mixed with fruit-flavored syrup and sparkling water.
Patel said that the feedback for Lotus has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We sell 500 Lotus drinks a week, and I’m pretty happy with those numbers,” Patel said.
On a typical day for Meints, he drinks two or three cups of black coffee and one Red Bull.
Meints said that on rare occasions, he will drink an entire pot of coffee in one day.
“There are days where I go crazy with the caffeine,” Meints said. “I just really like the taste of coffee.”
