Fast Reply: Do Dunkin Refreshers Have Caffeine?
Sure, Dunkin Refreshers do certainly include caffeine.
It comes from inexperienced tea extract, not espresso. You may anticipate a small to have about 65 mg of caffeine, a medium to have round 95 mg, and a big to have as much as 130 mg. The quantity really varies a bit relying on the scale of cup you select, not the flavour.
However it’s not simply the caffeine that counts – the quantity of sugar additionally performs an enormous function in how that vitality spike performs out – after which crashes.
For those who’re maintaining a tally of caffeine ranges, pregnant, or simply usually delicate to stimulants, and also you’re attempting to keep away from that pesky mid-afternoon vitality crash, right here’s what you actually need to know.
What Goes Into Dunkin Refreshers?
So what’s in these Dunkin Refreshers? They’re mainly iced drinks with a fruity twist, made out of:
- Inexperienced tea extract (the supply of caffeine)
- Fruit flavourings – the sort you discover in syrups
- A good quantity of sugar
- Ice
- And you’ll select to have them made with both inexperienced tea, lemonade or coconutmilk (some variations do have these choices)
Necessary: Even if you happen to select lemonade or coconutmilk, your Dunkin Refresher will nonetheless have caffeine, for the reason that inexperienced tea extract is a part of the combination.
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What’s Inexperienced Tea Extract, and Why Do They Put It In Dunkin Refreshers?
Inexperienced tea extract is mainly a concentrated mixture of compounds that you just get from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant – it’s the identical one which’s used to make inexperienced and black tea.
As a substitute of brewing up a cup of tea, the producer extracts and concentrates all the good things – together with caffeine, in addition to some plant antioxidants and small quantities of amino acids.
So after they add extract to the drink it’s like getting a managed hit of caffeine – the sort that doesn’t change from daily.
Why Do They Use Inexperienced Tea Extract?
There are a number of good explanation why firms use extract as an alternative of simply brewing up the tea:
- So You Know Precisely How A lot Caffeine You’re Getting
Extract lets them get caffeine ranges good each time – irrespective of the place you purchase it or the place you go.
- It Doesn’t Change the Style
Inexperienced tea has a little bit of a grassy style that may overpower the fruit flavours – the extract removes that, so the fruit flavours get to shine.
- It’s Simpler to Retailer and Transport
The extract is lots simpler to get into syrups and concentrates, which makes it lots simpler to mass-produce.
Does Inexperienced Tea Extract Do the Similar Job as Brewed Tea?
Nope – not precisely.
- A regular cup of brewed inexperienced tea: that’s perhaps 25 to 45mg of caffeine
- Extract-based inexperienced tea drinks: these generally is a lot stronger
So a medium Dunkin Refresher would possibly appear to be it’s received extra caffeine than a traditional cup of tea.
Is Inexperienced Tea Extract Any More healthy Than Espresso?
It’s all concerning the context.
Inexperienced tea extract does include antioxidants referred to as catechins – however let’s not get too carried away. The reality is:
- Most sweetened inexperienced tea drinks don’t have an enormous quantity of catechins
- And if you happen to’re drowning your drink in sugar, it’s in all probability not doing you any actual favours
So whereas tea is the bottom, the drink begins to really feel lots like a sugary vitality drink – not a conventional inexperienced tea in any respect.
Are You Fearful About Inexperienced Tea Extract?
For those who’re a wholesome grownup with a traditional life-style, a average quantity of caffeine isn’t going to kill you (the FDA says as much as 400mg a day is okay).
Nonetheless, some folks have had liver points when taking excessive doses of concentrated inexperienced tea extract from dietary supplements. Don’t fear although, the quantities in industrial drinks are a complete lot decrease.
The difficulty with Refreshers isn’t a lot the extract – it’s the total caffeine and sugar content material.
How A lot Caffeine Is In Dunkin Refreshers?
In response to Dunkin’s vitamin information, the quantity of caffeine is extra depending on the scale of the drink than the precise flavour.
Caffeine by Measurement
| Measurement | Approximate Caffeine | Comparable To |
| Small (16 oz) | ~65 mg | 1 espresso shot |
| Medium (24 oz) | ~95 mg | 8 oz brewed espresso |
| Massive (32 oz) | ~125–130 mg | Average espresso |
For Context:
- 8 oz brewed espresso: ~95 mg
- 12 oz cola: ~35 mg
- 8 oz vitality drink: 70–100 mg
A giant Dunkin Refresher can include extra caffeine than some vitality drinks.
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Sugar & Energy by Measurement
Caffeine will get the eye—however sugar drives the crash.
| Measurement | Caffeine | Sugar | Energy |
| Small | ~65 mg | ~27 g | ~130–150 |
| Medium | ~95 mg | ~39 g | ~180–200 |
| Massive | ~125–130 mg | ~48 g | ~230–260 |
Values fluctuate barely by taste and base.
To place this in perspective:
- 39 g sugar = about 10 teaspoons
- A medium Refresher has comparable sugar to a can of soda
Why Dunkin Refreshers Pack a Caffeine Punch – Even When There’s No Espresso
The caffeine in Dunkin Refreshers comes from inexperienced tea extract, not from a cup of tea. To be extra particular, inexperienced tea extract is made out of the concentrated compounds present in Camellia sinensis. It’s this focus meaning you may get an honest kick of caffeine even in one thing as fruity as a lemonade Refresher.
The upshot is:
- Even lemonade variations nonetheless include caffeine
- Coconut milk variations nonetheless have a lift
- They gained’t style like espresso, however they’re nonetheless going to get your nervous system buzzing
How That Caffeine in Your Refresher Impacts Your Physique
What Occurs to Your Physique Over Time
- Inside 15-45 minutes: You begin to really feel extra alert
- 1-2 hours in: That caffeine kicks in correct
- 3-5 hours after consumption: It begins to put on off
- And finally: You would possibly even get a dip in vitality ranges
Some individuals are extra delicate than others and would possibly discover:
- Their coronary heart begins racing
- They get a bit anxious
- They fidget round
- Or disrupt their sleep (particularly if they’ve one too late within the day)
The Sugar + Caffeine Crash – What’s Actually Going On
Caffeine provides your nervous system a little bit of a wake-up name.
Sugar causes an enormous spike in blood glucose.
Collectively, they will trigger an actual rollercoaster impact:
- A speedy vitality enhance
- A giant surge in insulin
- After which 1-3 hours later: A crash, and fatigue or irritability to observe
Numerous folks blame the caffeine for the crash, however the blood sugar drop is commonly the actual perpetrator right here.
Caffeine Limits for Teenagers & Pregnant Ladies
The FDA Recommends
For wholesome adults, the FDA reckons as much as 400mg a day is okay.
If You’re Pregnant
The American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises conserving caffeine to round 200mg a day.
A big Dunkin Refresher packs in over half of that in a single serving.
For Teenagers
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that adolescents ought to restrict caffeine to not more than about 100mg a day.
Which suggests:
- A medium Refresher is getting near your restrict
- A big would possibly simply tip you over
Folks typically overlook that Refreshers don’t style like espresso – and so can underestimate simply how a lot of a stimulant they include.
How Dunkin Refreshers Evaluate to Starbucks Refreshers
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| Drink | Small Caffeine | Medium | Massive |
| Dunkin Refresher | ~65 mg | ~95 mg | ~125–130 mg |
| Starbucks Refresher | ~35–45 mg | ~45–70 mg | ~70–90 mg |
Starbucks makes use of inexperienced espresso extract as an alternative of inexperienced tea extract.
In most sizes, Dunkin Refreshers include extra caffeine.
Do Dunkin Refreshers Trigger an Vitality Crash?
Theres an excellent probability they will – particularly if :
- You drink them when your abdomen is empty
- You’re the form of one who will get a sugar rush adopted by a crash
- You go for the bigger measurement
- You’re sipping on one near bedtime
Tips on how to Scale back the Crash
- Strive going for a small measurement as an alternative of the most important one
- Pair it with some actual meals like eggs, nuts or yogurt to assist sluggish it down
- Drink some water alongside it to assist steadiness issues out
- Don’t depend on Refreshers as your most important vitality enhance – its simply not an excellent technique
If regular focus is what you’re after, black espresso or unsweetened tea is normally your greatest guess.
Who Ought to Be Cautious?
You would possibly need to be careful if you happen to’re :
- Pregnant or attempting to get pregnant
- A young person or youthful
- Received anxiousness points
- Received some issues together with your coronary heart rhythm
- Having bother sleeping
Folks typically underestimate the caffeine in Refreshers as a result of they don’t style robust, so watch out.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
- Do Dunkin Refreshers have extra caffeine than soda?
Yeah they do – even the small ones have nearly double the caffeine of a regular cola.
- Are you able to get a caffeine-free Dunkin Refresher?
No method – the inexperienced tea extract in all the usual variations has caffeine in it.
- How lengthy does the caffeine from a Refresher final?
Completely different folks will get completely different results, however usually its about 3 to six hours earlier than it begins to put on off.
- Are Dunkin Refreshers stronger than Starbucks Refreshers?
Typically yeah, Dunkin’s have a bit extra caffeine per measurement.
- Are Dunkin Refreshers secure throughout being pregnant?
Technically they will match inside the 200mg day by day restrict, however be careful if you happen to’re on a bigger measurement or you might have bother controlling your consuming.
- Are Dunkin Refreshers more healthy than soda?
Nutritionally they’re about the identical – numerous sugar and a bit extra caffeine.
- Do Dunkin Refreshers include synthetic sweeteners?
Not in the usual variations – they use sugar as an alternative.
- Do Dunkin Refreshers maintain you awake?
Yeah they will, particularly if you happen to’re consuming a big one within the afternoon or night.
- Does taste change the caffeine quantity?
No – its all concerning the measurement, not the flavour of your Refresher.
The Backside Line
Yeah, Dunkin Refreshers do include caffeine – a complete lot of it in actual fact. However for many folks the actual drawback is the sugar – not the caffeine.
They’re okay as an occasional deal with, however don’t depend on them as your day by day vitality enhance. That’s not an excellent plan in any respect.
In order for you regular vitality, good sleep, and fewer crashes, do this as an alternative : average caffeine timing, decrease sugar consumption and balanced meals with protein and fiber. That’ll do you a complete lot extra good than any refresher.
