Starbucks' Energy Drinks Hit Stores Tomorrow

We knew something was up when we saw a cryptic full-page ad in USA Today, claiming "the future of coffee doesn't taste like coffee at all." Now, Starbucks has unleashed the answer: energy drinks. The new line of Refreshers energy drinks will hit stores tomorrow in the U.S. and Canada.

The Starbucks energy drinks came on the market three years ago, reports the Huffington Post, and will now be offered in VIA form, to-go cans, or in a handmade (made by a barista) drink. The flavors for VIA and barista drinks come in Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus, but the to-go cans come in Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Pomegranate, and Orange Melon.

So Starbucks is clearly looking to get into energy drink market, an industry that grew nearly 16 percent in dollar sales in 2011. And what makes their drinks so unique is that the caffeine comes from green coffee, said Julie Felss Masino, Starbucks' vice president of global beverage to HuffPo.

Now, don't expect the same surge of caffeine that you would get from a Red Bull, or even a brewed cup of Starbucks coffee: A grande handmade Refresher drink only has 45 to 55 milligrams of caffeine, compared to a grande brewed coffee's 250 milligrams. Still, we think it has the legs to take off for Starbucks.