Two cans of Orange Toucan Lemon, Lime and Mango with a whole mango, lemons and limes

The Caffeine Conversation Changed This Summer

In July, the American Heart Association drew a clear line between coffee and energy drinks. Here is what the statement said, what else happened this summer, and why so many people are rethinking their afternoon can.

What the American Heart Association said

On July 21, 2026, the American Heart Association published a scientific statement in its journal Circulation titled “Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease.” The headline was not what most people expected.

Coffee came out fine. The statement puts the daily limit for most adults at up to 400 milligrams of caffeine, roughly three to five cups of black coffee. Drinking two to four cups a day was associated with lower risk of heart disease, heart failure and stroke.

Energy drinks did not. Energy shots carry roughly 40 to 69 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, three to four times the concentration of regular coffee, and the statement said energy products may raise the risk of cardiovascular problems. Very high doses of caffeine have been associated with abnormal heart rhythms even in people considered low risk, including healthy adults under 30.

In other words, the concern is not caffeine on its own. It is how much, how fast, and in what.

It was not an isolated summer

  • June: the Texas Attorney General opened an investigation into Celsius, which also owns Alani Nu, over how its high-caffeine drinks are marketed to young people.
  • July: the UK government confirmed that England will ban sales of high-caffeine energy drinks, meaning anything over 150 milligrams of caffeine per liter, to anyone under 16, starting in April 2027.

We want to be straight about what this does and does not mean. Energy drinks are not going anywhere, and plenty of adults drink them without a second thought. What changed is the conversation, and who is part of it. Parents, doctors and regulators are now asking the question a lot of people already ask themselves around 3pm: what am I actually reaching for?

Orange Toucan Lemon, Lime and Mango can with fruit slices and moringa leaves on a yellow background

A better question for your afternoon

If you are rethinking your afternoon can, it helps to be honest about what you want from it. Usually it is one of three things.

A lift. If caffeine is what you are after, the statement is a useful guide. Know how many milligrams are in the can, and count it against your whole day, not just the afternoon.

A break. A lot of the 3pm ritual is simply stepping away from the desk for five minutes. That part works with or without caffeine.

Something cold with flavor. Sometimes you just want a drink that tastes like something. This is the easiest one to swap.

Where we fit, and where we do not

We did not build Orange Toucan as an energy drink. It is a canned drink made with juice pressed from whole fruit, more than half the can, plus crushed moringa leaf, ginger and turmeric. There is no caffeine in it and no added sugar. It was never meant to be a stimulant.

People started drinking it in the afternoon slot anyway. Not as a jolt, but as the thing they reach for instead. That is their language, not ours:

“It has replaced my afternoon coffee, and I am not dragging by 3pm anymore.”

Verified buyer · Watermelon & Lime

“Love this product! The energy it gives is great. I can stop drinking energy drinks.”

Donishu M. · Discovery Pack

Experiences vary from person to person. Our job is to make a drink worth reaching for and to be honest about what is in the can.

Try it for yourself

Three flavors, and most people end up with a clear favorite. The Discovery Pack puts all three in one box of 12, and there is a six-can size if you would rather start smaller. US orders over $100 ship free.

Orange Toucan Discovery Pack with all three flavors

Sources

Customer reviews reflect individual experiences, which vary. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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