Cacao vs. Coffee: The Smarter Energy Boost

Many of us turn to coffee as our go-to energy source, but have you ever considered what it’s actually doing to your body? While coffee offers a quick jolt of alertness, it often comes with an inevitable crash, disrupted sleep, and long-term reliance on caffeine. Cacao, on the other hand, provides a gentler, more sustained energy boost—without the downsides of coffee. Here’s why ceremonial cacao might be the smarter choice for your daily pick-me-up.

Why Does Coffee Make You Crash?

Every day, our bodies produce energy by converting glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). As our cells break down ATP, adenosine is released, binding to receptors in the brain to slow down neuronal activity and make us feel tired.

Caffeine works by blocking these adenosine receptors. But here’s the catch: caffeine doesn’t actually give you energy—it just pauses the process that makes you feel tired. Meanwhile, your body continues accumulating adenosine in the background. Once caffeine wears off (usually after 6 hours), this adenosine rushes in all at once, leading to the familiar mid-afternoon crash. This “adenosine rebound” is why so many coffee drinkers feel exhausted around 3 pm.

And it doesn’t stop there—caffeine can take up to 36 hours to fully clear from your system, meaning that even your morning cup interferes with your night’s sleep. Over time, poor sleep leads to even greater dependence on caffeine, creating a cycle of fatigue that’s hard to break.

Does Cacao Have Caffeine?

Unlike coffee, the alertness and improved mood we feel from cacao primarily come from theobromine, not caffeine. While cacao does contain some caffeine, its theobromine content plays a much bigger role in its energising effects. Here’s how the different Soma Cacao varieties compare to common caffeinated drinks:

Soma Cacao serving size based on 25g per cup of cacao.

All Soma Cacao varieties contain a modest amount of caffeine—far less than a typical espresso or flat white. The Peruvian variety has the highest caffeine content among the Soma Cacao options, but still sits well below that of a standard coffee. The Solomon Islands cacao, in contrast, contains the least caffeine yet has one of the highest theobromine levels, which suggests that it provides a smoother energy boost without the stimulating effects of caffeine.

While the caffeine content of Peruvian and Mexican cacao is similar to a cup of black tea, it’s significantly lower than that of a strong Australian coffee. The difference, however, is in how it affects your body.

The combination of theobromine and caffeine in cacao offers a more sustained energy lift, as theobromine works gradually to enhance blood flow and mood rather than overstimulating the nervous system like caffeine does.

Theobromine: A Smoother, More Sustained Energy

Theobromine is a weaker adenosine receptor antagonist than caffeine, meaning it doesn’t block tiredness as aggressively. Instead, it provides a steady, balanced uplift without the crash or withdrawal symptoms associated with coffee. Unlike caffeine, which stimulates the adrenals and central nervous system (both of which can fatigue over time), theobromine primarily affects the cardiovascular system. It’s a natural vasodilator, meaning it promotes healthy blood circulation—a function shared with many antidepressants.

This makes ceremonial cacao not just an energiser, but a mood booster. Combined with cacao’s flavonoids, magnesium, iron, and tryptophan (which aids in melatonin production), it supports both mental clarity and restful sleep—two things coffee tends to disrupt.

Breaking the Coffee Cycle

If coffee works for you, that’s great! But if you find yourself constantly battling the afternoon slump, poor sleep, or caffeine dependence, it might be time to rethink your energy source. Cacao offers a gentler, more sustainable alternative, supporting natural energy production rather than overriding your body’s signals.

The real secret to feeling energised isn’t in a cup—it’s in a balanced lifestyle. Eat well, move often, sleep deeply, and surround yourself with people and activities that bring you joy. And if you’re looking for a smoother, crash-free alternative to coffee, a warm cacao drink made with Soma Cacao might just be the answer.

With a sprinkle of maca for B-Vitamins and magnesium,

Rose, Alistair, and the team at Soma Cacao