Phocus Review - 13 Things You Need to Know

Phocus – the lightly carbonated, lightly caffeinated drink that’s supposed to give you clean energy without the crash. The combination of caffeine from tea and l-theanine are behind this claim, but our researchers wanted to know more. 

They dug through everything they could find on Phocus from the history of the company to ingredients and side effects to lawsuits. Check out the bottom line on this energy drink alternative.

Phocus can be purchased through their Official Site.

What is Phocus?

Phocus Naturally Energizing Sparkling Water is sparkling water that is lightly infused with carbonation that is designed to quench thirst, provide energy, and hydrate the body. It is a caffeinated beverage that is an alternative to other types of caffeinated beverages but does not have any calories or sugar. 

Phocus Sparkling Water is designed and promoted as allowing people to become more “phocused” with 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugar, and 0 sweeteners.

Phocus water is available in an array of flavors, including Mixed Berry, Cucumber, Cola, Grapefruit, Yuzu and Lime, Natural, Cherry Cola, Root Beer, Peach, Crisp Apple, Blood Orange, and Mint. A Phocus drink can be purchased as a single can or in a variety pack.

Before delving into more information about Phocus Water, let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of caffeine and water, two of the main ingredients in a Phocus Energy Drink.

• British Nutrition Foundation: Research shows that moderate caffeine consumption can lead to improved physical endurance, better cognitive function, increased alertness, better mood, and less fatigue.
• Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: “… the combination of acute caffeine intake and aerobic exercise performed at moderate intensity in the afternoon provides the optimal scenario for people seeking to increase fat-burning during physical exercise.”
• Behavioural Brain Research: Caffeine can enhance alertness, increase wakefulness, and provide better performance when it comes to concentration and focus.

Phocus Competitors

Who Makes Phocus Caffeinated Sparkling Water?

The drink was created by John Mittel and Tom O’Grady as an alternative to caffeinated options that they deem not to be as healthy. Mittel had grown tired of sugary energy drinks that he used to keep long hours while attending medical school when he got the idea to develop Phocus Sparkling Water. 

He started the Clear Cut Phocus with O’Grady, who was his mentor, while attending the University of Louisville. The company is based in Louisville, Kentucky, with Mittel as the President of the company and O’Grady as the CEO.

 Phocus Customer Service

The customer service department for Clear Cut Phocus can be reached through an online form on the Phocus website at https://www.drinkphocus.com/pages/contact.

Phocus BBB File

There are no Phocus Reviews on the Better Business Bureau. The company is listed with an A+ rating but not accredited.

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Phocus Sparkling Water Claims

Phocus is a line of sparkling caffeinated waters that claims to enhance focus and provide energy while being a healthy alternative to coffee or energy drinks. It is promoted as being free of calories, sugar, artificial or natural sweeteners, and sodium. 

The 100% natural caffeine from tea brings the energy, while L-theanine (also from tea) takes the edge off and enhances focus, along with providing a variety of health benefits. Its slogan is, “Thoughtfully Caffeinated Sparkling Water” designed to offer a better caffeine experience to drinkers of the product than coffee or energy drinks provide. 

It is billed as a non-GMO, kosher, vegan, and carb-free drink that provides healthy, clean energy and better focus through the use of I-theanine in each Phocus drink.

Phocus Sparkling Water Ingredients

• 75 mg caffeine from tea
• L-Theanine
• Purified sparkling water
• Citric Acid
• Natural Flavor
• Zero Percent Juice

Does Phocus Sparkling Water Work? Phocus Sparkling Water Benefits

Phocus was created as a healthier option over sugar-filled sodas and energy drinks while allowing people to consume water but still receive caffeine. Phocus was designed to provide drinkers with the same boost of energy as an eight-ounce cup of coffee. 

While there is no documented proof that Phocus Sparkling Water fulfills these claims, some of the ingredients seem to point in that direction. Read on for more information on some of the main ingredients in Phocus drinks.

Tea Caffeine

Natural caffeine derived from tea gives you the same boost as an eight-ounce cup of coffee in a refreshing, thirst-quenching form. According to an article published in, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, green, black, or oolong (semifermented), tea are created from the Camellia sinensis plant and offer an array of benefits. 

Tea caffeine can aid in lengthening a person’s attention span and improve focus and energy. The drawbacks to caffeine are the fact that it can interrupt the sleep cycle and cause health problems, such as restlessness, tremors, and increased heartbeat.

L-Theanine

L-theanine, the sometimes referred to as the secret hero of tea because it seems to balance out the brain-boosting powers of caffeine. It is used in Phocus to help people stay alert and focused from the caffeine but without the jitters that can be caused by caffeine.

In an article shared by, Biological Psychology the amino acid I-theanine found in tea does balance out the adverse side effects of caffeine and helps people to not become jittery, tired from the after-effects of caffeine.

Citric Acid

Citric acid is found naturally in a variety of citrus fruits, including lemons, oranges, limes, and even some berries. It is used in a variety of products, from cleaning supplies to foods and nutritional supplements. It has many benefits, including helping in nutrient absorption.

Phocus and Weight Loss

Phocus does not make claims that the product can cause weight loss but some of the ingredients in Phocus drinks, including caffeine, are used as an ingredient in a variety of weight loss products so Phocus may help with weight loss.

With that said, what does the research into caffeine and weight loss have to say?

• Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition: “… the current meta-analysis demonstrated that caffeine intake might promote weight, BMI and body fat reduction.”
• European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “… consumption of caffeinated beverages might support weight loss maintenance.”
• Journal of Nutrition: “Women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have been found to have lower total body and abdominal fat than those who drink less.”

Phocus Side Effects

Too much caffeine not only causes difficulty sleeping but can also cause them to have side effects, including jitters, shakes, upset stomach and, eventually, a crash. However, because each Phocus drink contains only 75mg of caffeine, there’s less chance of side effects if consumed in moderation. 

How to Use Phocus

Simply drink a can or two per day of Phocus for an increase in mental alertness and energy.

Cost and Where to Buy

Phocus costs about $15.49 per 12-pack. It is available in a variety of stores and supermarkets, including Walmart, Amazon and Publix, or you can order from the official website.

Phocus Lawsuits and Legal Action

A lawsuit was filed by Kareem Nisbett in September of 2021 accusing Clear/Cut Phocus of not being digitally accessible. Digital accessibility pertains to the Americans with Disabilities Act providing legal support for people living with disability and their right to be able to access websites as those without disabilities do. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Provides 75mg of natural tea-based caffeine. 
• L-theanine is added to balance the effects of caffeine. 
• Available at well-known retailers.
• Cost is comparable to other similar drinks on the market.
• Research shows weight loss is connected with caffeine consumption. 

Cons

• Not enough caffeine to significantly impact metabolism or weight loss. 
• Lower caffeine level than the majority of energy drinks.

What Users Are Saying

“If I never drank caffeine and just needed a tiny little boost, I would buy this drink. But for someone who has at least one cup of coffee or energy drink per day, this just doesn’t cut it at all.”

“I am a huge fan of Phocus!!! This drink has become one of my favorite things, and I have recommended it to a lot of people.”

“A one-star rating is being generous here. I love Zevia Energy’s Kola flavor but have found that the stevia in it is exacerbating my allergies, so thought I’d give this a try. It was a miss on all levels — the carbonation is almost imperceptible, as is the cola taste. It’s like water with a hint of flavor in it — strangely, almost floral tasting. I couldn’t get through it. What a waste.”

Bottom Line on Phocus Results

The bottom line is that Phocus seems like a healthier option than large cups of soda, coffee, or energy drinks since it does have some health benefits. When it comes to weight loss, there are tons of studies supporting the use of caffeine to lose weight. However, we’re not sure 75mg of caffeine will be sufficient if the user is simply replacing coffee with Phocus.

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