You know, I was only planning on writing two of these “My Top Energy Brews”. But after a recommendation from my friend and senior editor Janey Locander, I’ve decided to create a series of my energy brews from energy bars across the quad cities. The cafe I have chosen to write about today is Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen, which is one of my favorite places to go to in the quad cities (if you want to know why, check out my other article “Three Reasons Why I Love Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen”). Students in Illinois and Iowa can get a hefty discount on Vibrant’s energy brews, so naturally I was addicted to going there. If you want to visit their Moline or Bettendorf location, here are my top three energy brews that I would recommend to you.
- Cherry Bomb
At first, I was a little unsure about this drink. Sometimes the cherry flavor can taste too artificial to be enjoyed or is so tart to the point that I can’t even finish my drink. However, after receiving endless recommendations from students on Augustana’s campus about how I have to try this drink, I decided to give it a shot. And I’m so glad I did, because this drink blew me away. The cherry flavor is perfect: not too tart, not too sweet, not too artificial-tasting. It’s the perfect balance while still packing an explosion of flavor. If you’re concerned about the cherry flavor being too sour, don’t be. Vibrant adds a few pumps of vanilla syrup to enhance the cherry flavor while giving a smooth sweetness to the drink. Whereas before I was unsure about cherry-flavored drinks, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Cherry Bomb to anyone now. I can see why students at Augustana can’t stop raving about it.
- Epic Strawberry
If you didn’t know already, my favorite fruit is strawberry. So when I was visiting Vibrant for the first time and wanted to try my first energy drink, I was immediately attracted to the Epic Strawberry. Ever since I first tried it, it’s been my go-to. This energy brew is the perfect balance of strawberries and cream. Sometimes, I don’t always enjoy this flavor because the creamy vanilla overpowers the strawberry and makes the drink too rich, or the strawberry is so tart to the point where I’m questioning if there even is cream in the drink. I didn’t have either of these problems with the Epic Strawberry, however, and as a result, I fell in love with the strawberries and cream flavor all over again. If you’re looking for a balanced drink that will add a little bit of sunshine to your day, pop on over to Vibrant and treat yourself to the Epic Strawberry.
- Pinky Swear
Okay, I have an obsession to make: I am obsessed with the color pink. It’s been my favorite color since I was young, and with each passing year I love it a little more. So when I first saw the description for Pinky Swear saying “If pink has a flavor, this is it…”, how could I resist. This iconic energy drink combines strawberry, peach, cherry, and raspberry into one wonderful brew of flavor. You get notes of each of the different syrups with every sip without one overpowering the other. Plus, the drink itself is a scorching hot pink, making it perfect for instagram story photos! If you’re an “On Wednesdays we wear pink” girlie, I cannot recommend Pinky Swear to you enough. Its flavor explosion is powerful enough to make you feel energized for the rest of your day and all of your “pink” cravings will be satisfied from this fantastic energy brew from Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen.
These are just three of the amazing energy drinks Vibrant has to offer. So, don’t waste any more time and head on down to the coffeehouse to try one today!