# powdered or liquid caffeine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123 "2002-12-11T22:45:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/1 "2002-12-11T22:45:44Z")
Can just anyone buy pure caffeine,and if so where? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/2 "2002-12-11T22:51:48Z")
Yes. It’s called No-Doz. They sell it at Walgreens, Osco, Wal-Mart, Kroger… [http://shop.store.yahoo.com/healthchemist-au/219789.html](http://shop.store.yahoo.com/healthchemist-au/219789.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/3 "2002-12-11T22:56:31Z")
They also have caffeine water, caffeine gum, caffeine mints, caffeine soap, and caffeine tshirts at url=“[http://www.thinkgeek.com](http://www.thinkgeek.com)”]thinkgeek. ---
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/4 "2002-12-11T22:58:19Z")
Actually i was thinking more along the lines of a non-pill form. I mean where do soda companies get it from? I guess when you find jolt cola isn’t enough you have a problem 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/5 "2002-12-11T22:59:08Z")
Whoops, that is - [thinkgeek](http://www.thinkgeek.com) ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/6 "2002-12-12T00:25:28Z")
Soda companies get it from coffee companies. They use the caffeiene extracted from decaf beans. You can make your own crystal caffeine by crushing up No-Doz and dissolving it with methanol and then evaporating it out. However, that’s a stupid idea for consumption, as pure caffeine burns skin on contact and will definitely make your stomach bleed. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/7 "2002-12-12T14:45:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by red\_dragon60 \* > \*\*pure caffeine burns skin on contact and will definitely make your stomach bleed. \*\* That sounds pretty ridiculous. I mean, does it worship Allah and program open source software too? [This](http://www.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm) article on HowStuffWorks says that: > [@](#): > > When isolated in pure form, caffeine is a white crystalline powder that tastes very bitter. Seems like it would be pretty hard for them to taste it with all the burning and bleeding going on. ---
**Author:** ![Amfet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Amfet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amfet)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/8 "2002-12-12T15:03:12Z")
The [MSDS](http://www.capsl.udel.edu/~castelo/msds.html) If you are going to try and obtain the stuff straight (to consume) make sure the product you buy is food grade. Depending upon how it is produced/transported/stored it may not be suitable for use in foods (legally). A lot of companies produce the stuff but most are not in the business to sell 50g to an individual. So it may not be so easy to obtain. However if you work in the food or chemical industry or even academia it should be no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/9 "2002-12-12T15:05:59Z")
Hm. So many people trying to score some of the white stuff these days. Must be Finals. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/10 "2011-04-17T20:59:24Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/11 "2011-04-17T22:22:14Z")
never mind, misread the OP’s intent ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/12 "2011-04-18T02:19:33Z")
> [@effac3d](#): > > Actually i was thinking more along the lines of a non-pill form. It’s probably going to be harder to buy in powder form now that someone has [died of an overdose](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sleep/british-man-dies-caffeine-overdose/story?id=12033005). He only took two teaspoons, but that’s 32 doses, so it sounds like taking more than you intend is pretty easy. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/13 "2011-04-18T02:51:11Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > it sounds like taking more than you intend is pretty easy. Not that that could ever possibly happen with alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/14 "2011-04-18T03:29:33Z")
Bodybuilders and zombies buy the stuff by the kilo. > **[Caffeine (200mg)](https://nutrabio.com/products/caffeine-200mg)** > > Boost your athletic prowess with NutraBio CAFFEINE, ideal for energy, fat loss, and enhanced performance in aerobic and anaerobic activities. It’s freely available all over the Internet. > [@BigT](#): > > Reported. To whom—Homeland Security? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/15 "2011-04-18T03:39:10Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Bodybuilders and zombies buy the stuff by the kilo. > > [Caffeine (200mg) – NutraBio Brands](http://www.nutrabio.com/Products/caffeine.htm) > > It’s freely available all over the Internet. > > To whom—Homeland Security? There was a spam post which was wished into the cornfield. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/powdered-or-liquid-caffeine/142123/16 "2011-04-18T16:49:01Z")
It’s probably my puritanical upbringing, but in my opinion, if Jolt cola and strong coffee isn’t doing it for you any more and you’re looking for a substance that will kill you in fairly small amounts, I don’t think the solution is caffeine in a more concentrated form. 🙂