Alpine Start, a Colorado-based company and makers of a premium instant coffee brand, announced their latest launch of functional beverages, called “With Benefits,” via Kickstarter.
The brand was inspired by Mount Everest climbers Adrian Ballinger and Cory Richards. Alpine Start worked closely with athletes to develop and formulate the newest line of instant beverages that contain vitamins, adaptogens and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) to provide them with good-tasting drinks with the energy needed to accomplish and succeed at their challenges.
The beverage was created to provide clean and optimal energy. The new Immunity + Focus With Benefits line has two varieties that can be made instantly. The two flavors include caffeinated organic coffee or low-caffeine organic matcha green tea. The blends are both vegan, free of added sugars and deliver a healthy dose of adaptogenic mushrooms, MCTs and vitamins D and A.
“Cory and Adrian were looking for an edge during their expeditions, so we created a functional drink based on their needs,” said Matt Segal, professional climber and founder of Alpine Start, in a statement. “We added medicinal mushrooms, MCTs and vitamins A and D to make sure their bodies were ready for anything. It turned out so delicious that we all started drinking it, on or off the mountain.”
Medicinal mushrooms have more than 100 proposed functional benefits, including as an antioxidant, anticancer agent, antiallergic, immunomodulator, cardiovascular protector and more. The value of medicinal mushrooms grew in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Market Research Future, “the global medicinal mushroom market has witnessed constant demand during the last few years and is projected to reach 7,246,936 tons at a CAGR of 12.60 percent by 2023.” They are commonly used in cuisines in East Asia and their health properties are being investigated by the pharmaceutical industry.
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“The IMMUNITY + FOCUS formula was an indispensable part of my morning routine, both while training and during my expeditions to Everest and K2 in 2019,” Adrian Ballinger, professional mountaineer and owner of Alpenglow Expeditions, said in the same statement. “When we started our training, I asked Matt for something keto-friendly with MCTs to help me stay sharp, and they absolutely delivered.”
“I’ve been trying to drink less caffeine but still want a little support during big missions and days on the mountain,” explained Cory Richards, a National Geographic photographer and mountaineer. “The matcha blend gave me the perfect balance of energy and focus on my last expedition to Everest, and it’s still part of my routine today.”
Additionally, Alpine Start believes that we cannot have good coffee without a planet to drink it on; therefore, it’s our responsibility to protect wild places from climate change. Thus, they donate one percent of all sales to 1% for the Planet and are a Foundation Partner with Protect Our Winters (POW).
Moreover, they are working with other sustainability leaders, such as Clifbar, The North Face and others to help find ways to positively impact the planet. “One solution we’ve developed so far is our reusable and recyclable bulk jar, filled with 30 servings of our original blend instant coffee,” says the company’s website.
And according to Alpine Start, their beverages are nothing like what consumers associate as the taste of instant coffee. In fact, in a taste test conducted by the company, their instant coffee was preferred two to one over Starbucks Medium Roast.
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