Published on 25 Oct 2026

Energy drink in powder or can form: price per serving, sugar and caffeine

Comparison between powdered and canned energy drinks: caffeine, sugar, carbonation, price per drink and waste, with the pros and cons of each format.

Energy drink in powder or can form? Both give you caffeine, but they differ significantly in price per drink, sugar, carbonation, and waste. If you're thinking about switching to powder (or simply want to know if it's worth it), here's a point-by-point comparison, with its advantages and also its drawbacks.

What is an energy drink in powder form?

It's the same concept as a canned energy drink, but without the water. It comes in a tub or in individual sachets, and you prepare it by mixing one serving (one scoop) with cold water in a shaker or bottle. At Z Drinks Energy, one scoop is 5 g and is mixed with 500 ml of water.

It is also known as an energy drink in powder or an energy drink in a sachet, when it comes in single-dose packaging.

Caffeine: which one contains more?

It depends on the product, so you have to look at the milligrams per serving. As a reference, according to the OCU comparison, a large 473 ml can of a classic energy drink contains 32 mg of caffeine per 100 ml, about 151 mg in total. Z Drinks Energy contains 200 mg per serving.

The advantage of powder here is that the dose is always the same per scoop, and it's easy to know how much caffeine you're getting in a day.

Sugar and calories

Classic cans contain a lot of sugar: that same 473 ml can has 55 g of sugar and 230 kcal, according to the OCU. There are sugar-free cans, of course, and most energy drinks in powder form are also sugar-free. Z Drinks Energy has 0 g of sugar and about 5 kcal per serving, depending on the flavor.

Price per drink

This is where powder clearly wins. Since you're not paying for the water, the packaging of each drink, or its transport, the cost per serving drops significantly. A tub of Z Drinks Energy contains 70 servings and costs €0.57 per drink. Do the math with what you pay for each can and multiply it by how many you drink per month.

Carbonation

Cans are carbonated. Energy drinks in powder form are not. If carbonation feels heavy to you, if you drink while working out, or if you simply prefer to drink quickly without feeling bloated, powder is more convenient.

Waste and space

One can per drink means 70 cans for 70 drinks. A tub of powder contains 70 drinks in a single container that takes up the same space as a couple of cans. Less waste, less weight when shopping, and less space in the fridge.

The drawbacks of powder (which it also has)

You have to prepare it. You need water and something to mix it with. With a shaker, it takes a few seconds, but it's not open and drink.
It's not cold right away, unless you use water from the fridge or ice.
When out of the house you have to carry the powder. That's what individual sachets or a shaker with a container are for.

Comparison: energy drink in powder form versus a can

	Classic can	Z Drinks Energy (powder)
Caffeine	About 151 mg in 473 ml	200 mg per serving
Sugar	55 g (sugar-free versions also available)	0 g
Calories	230 kcal (sugar version)	About 5 kcal
Carbonation	Yes	No
Price per drink	The price of each can	€0.57
Packaging	One per drink	One for 70 drinks
Preparation	None	About a few seconds with a shaker

Classic can data: OCU comparison (473 ml can).

How to prepare an energy drink in powder form

Add ice to the shaker (optional, but better).
Add 500 ml of cold water.
Add one scoop or one sachet.
Close and shake for a few seconds until dissolved.

If you like it more intense, use slightly less water; if you want it milder, a little more. To make it convenient, use a shaker like the Polarix, which is insulated, or any from the shaker collection.

Where do I start?

The easiest way is to try before buying a whole tub. You can order individual samples of the flavors that appeal to you and, when you have your favorite, switch to the tub. All flavors are in the Energy collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is the energy drink in powder form as effective as the one in a can?

What matters is the caffeine per serving, not the format. One serving of Z Drinks Energy contains 200 mg of caffeine, more than many cans.

Does it dissolve well or leave lumps?

With cold water and a few seconds of shaking in a shaker, it dissolves completely. If you mix it with a spoon, it's harder, which is why we recommend a shaker.