Rockstar Roasted Latte

Ah, yes another version of coffee, done by energy drink companies. This time, I found the Rockstar Roasted Latte. As you may have noticed, Jeff reviewed the Rockstar Roasted Mocha and Rockstar Roasted Lite Vanilla. Rockstar debuted three Roasted drinks, consisting of coffee, cream, and a blend of energy. To me, it sounds like they want to show up the Java Monster; Jeff and I will be the judge of that. If you look at the can, you see a coffee-brown background with a lot of parallel lines going diagonally across the can. Rockstar has a different interpretation of their logo; this time, it's slapped on the can, as if they had not a care in the world where their logo should be. I like this can, it gives you a good feeling of coffee and latte. Sounds good.

As I open the can, I get a more bitter coffee smell, as if they didn't put as much creamer in it. That's okay, most are like that anyway. As it rushes into the cup, I get an extremely light color, almost like milk, with a dash of brown. This drink reminds me of the Nut Up. As soon as it hits my tongue, I get a rich, strong genuine coffee taste, followed by a nutty aftertaste. You could relate this drink to a black coffee when it hits your taste buds, but you then get an extremely sweet blend of cream. The aftertaste tastes similar to the Nut Up because it has a blend of nuts, but it's not as noticeable as the Nut Up. The aftertaste is also a bit gummy for most coffee energy drinks out there, but I wont let that bring this drink down. Obviously, there is no carbonation, so it is easy to chug and/or take big sips. If it were up to me, I would advise you not to because this is one drink meant to be savored, period. I am surprised Rockstar actually has this much power to make such an insane drink. This one easily outplayed most of the Java Monsters. Overall, you NEED to get this drink if you are a coffee lover. However, this is a stronger blend than your usual Java Monster, so be careful, beginners.

Now the ingredients: I first see brewed espresso coffee. All you coffee fans know what that is. It's basically a type of coffee, not anything real special. Next comes sucrose, or table sugar and whole milk. Unlike the Java Monsters, these guys use whole milk. Java Monster's contain reduced fat milk. Taurine comes in at number four, almost average for energy drinks. Per can, you get 220 calories, not bad of a coffee-like drink. You also get 34g of sugar, a lot for a Rockstar Roasted, but a little for an energy drink. Next, you get 2,000mg of taurine, about average as well as 300mg of ginkgo biloba leaf extract. Ginkgo biloba is a tree, found by the Japanese and spread to America. It is placed in many energy drinks on the market to improve focus, instead of jitteriness. I am totally blown away by what Rockstar had to offer with 15 ounces of intense coffee, I apologize for the bad remarks I have said about Rockstar. This is one drink you absolutely have to get your hands on, though you might find it a bit strong.

Taste: 9 - Wow, I'm truly impressed with Rockstar
Kick: 9 - The Ginkgo helps this drink maintain a steady kick
Overall: 9 - It was great, I needed a good energy drink, It's been awhile...

Reviewed by: Chan

Rockstar Roasted Light

I'm excited to have another coffee! That Rockstar Roasted Mocha was so good and this one I expect to be better. It's light, meaning it's got vanilla instead of chocolate. The can design is pretty neat, fitting in with the whole series of Rockstar Roasteds. Oh, and guess what! It's got 50% less fat and 50% fewer calories than the original Rockstar Roasted. Ah, so this is the low cal, low carb, low sugar, low everything Rockstar Roasted. And to the extreme! In the Supplement Facts on the back, it lists only 7g of sugar per serving. That's incredibly low compared to any other drink you find on the market. Maybe it's even got less sugar than a regular sweetened latte you get at Starbucks. What I really like about this, though, that makes it unique, even to its competitor, the Monster Javas, is the addition of Ginkgo Biloba and Milk Thistle. Some pretty non-standard ingredients that have some interesting properties. Ginkgo Biloba delivers great concentration, I learned when I found it in the Mocha. Milk Thistle has protective effects on the liver, I found out, and is also good for lowering cholesterol levels. By far, this is the healthiest energy drink I've ever come across.

I opened the can after my can-opening ceremony and found that, rightly so, the drink didn't smell as sweet as most drinks. It's a very subtle coffee scent and is quite mild. There's no carbonation, since it's a coffee, and the texture is smooth as silk with no extra fat left behind on your tongue. It possesses a moderately pleasing flavor, where the sweetness comes first, followed by a bitter coffee bean, and ending with warm vanilla. I like it; it's not overpowering and has genuine coffee bitterness. I could chug it, and I might, considering the flavor is light enough and there are no painful bubbles to hold you back. And I think I can safely say that this is definitely not as sugary and syrupy as those thick Starbucks Lattes. This one is pleasing and subtle and light, and I'm diggin' it.

I'm going to have to switch gears and see how well I can feel the kick. I definitely know that I felt more awake and aware as soon as I took a swig. I'm hoping for more of the same electric energy with the same amazing concentration to keep me going and in-tune. And after a little while, I get that and also that kind of energy like you're ready to run a marathon at any time. Not quite the jitters, but just lots and lots of energy. It seems I get loads more from this than any Monster, and I'm loving it. As for the ingredients, they seem to be far above-par just as the rest of the drink. There are 2780mg of the energy blend, which includes the standard amount of Taurine, Caffeine, Guarana, Inositol, L-Carnitine, and Panax Ginseng. And there are those two interesting ones, Ginkgo Biloba and Milk Thistle. I feel the Ginkgo Biloba; I know I'm concentrated; and I hope the Milk Thistle is helping me liver. Overall, this is a great light drink if you're up for coffee and some seriously intense energy.

Taste: 8.5 - Light and subtle, with that genuine coffee taste
Kick: 9 - That was amazing
Overall: 9 - Man, you gotta have this one

Reviewed by: Jeff

Rockstar Roasted Mocha

This is the Rockstar Roasted Mocha, Rockstar's answer to the Java Monster. I have had quite a few Java Monsters, and each I absolutely fell in love with. I pray that this competitor to the Javas can live to its expectations.

This is a pretty nice coffee, and of course, the color is a light, milky brown. The taste, I'll mention, differs from that of the Monster Java. The sweetness, chocolate, and milkyness hit you sooner than the coffee's bitterness. The taste of the coffee is actually stronger than that of the Javas, and it really resembles a frappichino from Starbucks. I could cope with this if I felt like more coffee flavor, but it hasn't become my go-to drink until it proves to me that it is somehow significantly better than the Javas.

As I get lower in the drink, I think I taste a slightly disgusting vitamin taste. I keep forgetting to shake the can! Either way, the energy supplements in there should still give me a boost.

...Thirty minutes later, I am totally hyped-up and focused. I am loving the high I get from this coffee. It's causing no ill effects; all I get is insane alertness and focus.

Now, for the ingredients. I expect caffiene, since this is a coffee. The energy blend is in the same dose, with 1000mg of taurine per serving, which there are two of in this drink. Also, Inositol, Guarana, Ginseng, Milk Thistle, and Ginkgo Biloba. Very cool ingredient list; I like the use of Ginkgo Biloba, a supplement for memory and concentration. I think I really do notice it, seeing as how I am so focused and concentrated. This might after all be my favorite iced coffee from now on.

Oh, and as for the picture, know that it was taken earlier, when I was jittery with another beverage. If I were to retake this picture, you might not be able to tell it apart from a professional's work.

Taste: 7 - Smooth and basic coffee flavor
Kick: 10 - The perfect kick with extreme concentration and no jittery-ness
Overall: 8.5 - I love the drink mostly for its effects, which is not something I do often

Reviewed by: Jeff