Starbucks Refreshers: Why I'm A Fan Of This Fresh Take On Coffee

I'm not much for energy drinks (as I've said before, green tea is generally my go-to caffeine source), so I was slightly skeptical about testing out the new line of Starbucks "green coffee" drinks called Starbucks Refreshers.

Maybe you've seen the advertisements around and had the same initial reaction I did: sparkling fruity beverages? from Starbucks, home of the robust Pumpkin Spice Latte? Really?

Well, let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. Very much so.

I tested out the three flavors that Starbucks is offering in cans: Raspberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Lemonade (my favorite) and Orange Melon (there are a few different in-store and Via "ready to mix" flavors). The Starbucks company was spot-on calling these "refreshers." I drank them in the morning when the idea of hot tea seemed too heavy and likely to make me want to snuggle back into bed. The sparkling flavor is sweet but subtle, which makes them great for afternoon pick-me-ups as well. And the caffeine boost is a gentle one, nothing like the jittery high often associated with canned beverages these days (not to mention only 60 calories each).

You may be wondering, as I was, what exactly is "green coffee"? From the Starbucks website: "Green coffee beans are unroasted—resulting in a mild, fresh flavor while still retaining naturally occurring caffeine." As I learned, it's the roasting process that gives coffee its distinct flavor. Leave a bean unroasted, and you get the caffeine perks without the rich, roasted flavor of traditional coffee.

It's not easy to get out of bed in the morning, particularly for a night-owl, chronic-snooze-button-user like myself. I found that the lure of a slighty sweet and citrusy Strawberry Lemonade Refresher waiting for me in my fridge was enough to rouse me in the morning at the first sound of my alarm, or at least, after just a couple of quick snoozes.

Each beverage is a sparkling, delicious boost of natural energy from Green Coffee Extract you can enjoy anytime. With real fruit juice, B vitamins, ginseng, antioxidants from vitamin C and only 60 calories per can, it's a pick-me-up you can feel good about.

This is a sponsored post, produced in collaboration with Bliss and Starbucks. I received a Starbucks Refreshers sample to review. The opinions shared in this post are my own.