Whether standing in line for hot Starbucks drinks every morning, or chugging Red Bulls and Monsters at 3 a.m., Auburn students know how to get their caffeine fix.
But, what might shock the youth-geared energy drink industry, according to a Facebook survey, most prefer a cup of coffee.
Given a choice in where to get their burst of energy, 71.4 percent of students chose coffee, with only 11.9 percent preferring energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster.
Citing reasons such as taste, cost and health risks, many said they stay away from energy drinks entirely.
"Honestly, they taste gross," said Savanna Williams, sophomore in health administration and avid coffee drinker. "They make me all jittery and shaky too. Coffee doesn't do that."
According to CNBC, side effects of the large amount of caffeine found in energy drinks can include an increased blood pressure and distorted heart rhythm.
Still, some who responded to the survey said it's worth the risk to get an extra boost of energy.
Allison McKinley, senior in nutrition and dietetics, said she thinks people overreact to the dangers associated with energy drinks.
"If you drink them in moderation, then there shouldn't be a problem," McKinley said. "You have to be careful with caffeine."
In addition to caffeine, Red Bull also contains the ingredient taurine. Taurine, according to the Mayo Clinic website, is an amino acid found in many energy drinks that may help improve athletic performance. Little is known about its long-term effects on the body.
An 8-ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine. Starbucks' website says one serving of its Clover Brewed Coffee contains approximately 330 mg of caffeine.
Like Williams, McKinley drinks coffee, though she said she doesn't see a difference in the effect of caffeine found in either type of beverage.
"I drink coffee probably a couple times a week," McKinley said. "It's a taste thing. I like it in the morning. I don't want to taste an energy drink right when I wake up."
Coffee isn't without its own risks. Williams began drinking coffee her junior year of high school to keep energized through a busy and difficult schedule.
Now, she said, she feels like she has to drink it to feel normal.
"I started drinking it because I was always tired," Williams said. "Now if I don't, I get a headache. It still gives me the same effect of being awake, but if I don't have it in the morning, I'm dragging all day."
In the survey, 16.7 percent of students chose a third option: neither.
"I don't like the taste of either, and they're both kind of expensive," said Alison Wade, junior in interdisciplinary studies. "I guess it's just not my thing. Maybe I'm the odd-man out, but I like getting my energy the old-fashioned way: sleep."
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