US
In the US, some e-cigarettes are merged with espresso shots in the form of caffeine inhalers. The new devices, such as Eagle Energy Vapor, promise to deliver a burst of caffeine on the go to those who cannot spare the time to slowly sip a cup of coffee. It is part of an emerging category that seeks to make it easier for time-harried consumers to get their caffeine fix.
Much like a Red Bull drink, the active ingredients are guarana (the caffeine-rich Amazonian plant), taurine, and ginseng. The device operates on a similar principle to e-cigarettes, which contain a heating element to transform the active chemicals into a vapor. The disposable inhaler, which costs US$8.99, lasts for about 500 puffs. Although each inhaler contains only two milligrams of caffeine, compared with about 150 milligrams in an average cup of coffee, the company says 10 to 20 puffs constitute a standard serving.
This is not the first such product on the market: a British company called Energy Shisha introduced the Caffeine Vape Stix to the US market last year. Another company, Rush Energy, markets a disposable caffeine inhaler called the Vapor Stick that the company website says packs the punch of 15 energy drinks but without the sugar or calories.