Caffeine Anhydrous
Also known as: caffeine, synthetic caffeine
Purified, dehydrated caffeine — the standard stimulant in pre-workouts, energy, and focus products. It reliably improves alertness, perceived effort, and endurance performance. Because the dose per serving is small, it fits easily into any format, but total caffeine per serving must be managed carefully.
Research summary
Adenosine receptor antagonist; increases catecholamine release and reduces perceived exertion.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of compound.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | 100–200 mg | 400 mg | — |
No formal UL. FDA cites 400 mg/day as generally not associated with negative effects in healthy adults; the app treats 400 mg per serving as an error and 200 mg as a warning.
3–6 mg/kg body weight is the performance dosing range in the literature; 100–200 mg per serving covers most consumers. Half-life is roughly 5 hours, so avoid in sleep-adjacent products. Tolerance builds with daily use.
Standardization: ≥98.5% caffeine
Source material: synthetic
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Bitter; powders need masking above ~150 mg per serving.
Formulation notes
Pair with L-theanine to reduce jitters. Count caffeine from guarana, green tea, yerba mate, and coffee fruit toward the total.
- Stimulant
- Contains caffeine
- Not for pregnancy
Sources
Related ingredients
MCT Oil
Fatty acidMCT oil is a clear, flavorless oil made by fractionating coconut or palm kernel oil to isolate the medium-chain fatty acids caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acid as triglycerides.
Typical: 5–15 g
Guarana Extract
BotanicalGuarana is the seed of Paullinia cupana, an Amazonian vine whose seeds contain more caffeine by weight than coffee beans, along with theobromine and tannins.
Typical: 100–400 mg
MCT Oil Powder
Fatty acidMCT oil powder is MCT oil spray-dried onto a carbohydrate carrier, most often acacia gum or maltodextrin, to produce a free-flowing powder that disperses in water.
Typical: 5–10 g
Yerba Mate Extract
BotanicalYerba mate is the leaf of Ilex paraguariensis, brewed as a tea across South America.
Typical: 500–1,500 mg
Green Tea Extract (50% EGCG)
BotanicalA leaf extract of Camellia sinensis concentrated for catechins, especially EGCG, with a small amount of naturally occurring caffeine.
Typical: 300–500 mg