Australia’s Strongest Cup of Coffee Are you game for 80 shots of espresso?

[IceWizard]

Published on 8th September 2016
by PATRICK STRAFACE


Viscous Coffee has long had a reputation for the many varieties of coffee it serves at Christies Beach, 40 minutes south of Adelaide. But it’s owner Steve Benington’s latest concoction, The Asskicker, that’s put the cafe into global headlines this past week or so.

The iced coffee comes in three sizes.

The largest costs $16 and contains four shots of espresso; four 48-hour-brewed cold-drip ice cubes; 120 millilitres of 10-day-brewed cold-drip; and some steamed milk to hold it all together.

It’s topped off with four more cold-drip ice cubes. That adds up to about five grams of caffeine – 80 times what’s in a single shot of espresso.

By many accounts, that’s enough to kill an adult.

But well before that, most people would be crippled by severe headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety and loss of motor control.

There’s no recommended daily intake for caffeine, but according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand, doses upwards of 210 milligrams a day are enough to bring on ill effects.

The Asskicker contains 25 times more caffeine than that.

So is anyone actually drinking it?

Benington says it’s always been a niche product. He’s been selling two or three a week since it was developed 12 months ago. It’s intended to be drunk over a full day, not in a dangerously short sitting.

“The idea came about from a regular customer, a nurse from the local hospital who was called in for an emergency night shift and needed something to stay alert,” he says. “It took her two days to finish the drink, and it kept her up for three.”

Buyers can expect to go undergo a quick exam from Benington to ensure responsible drinking. Those with known heart or blood pressure issues are out.

“We vet our customers according to the health risks involved,” he says. “For a first timer, I try and talk them out of it, and if I’m able to, then they’re not ready for it.”

That seems like a pretty low hurdle for a drink that could cause hospitalisation. But even if The Asskicker is consumed responsibly, its very existence is likely to upset some industry people.

For the past decade or so specialty growers, roasters and baristas have worked hard to steer coffee’s reputation away from that of cheap stimulant, and focus more on taste.

The Asskicker is a giant, drug-enhanced leap in the opposite direction.



Viscous Coffee
27A Beach Road,
Christies Beach,
South Australia
0433 328 843

Hours:

Mon 7am–6pm
Wed to Fri 7am–6pm
Sat 8am–6pm
Sun 9am–5pm

[Pineapplepen]

Ok I would pitch over with a heart attack with that much caffeine. I wouldn't mind an excuse to visit Australia one day though.

[relaxme]

I strongly doubt it. A cup of , typical have around 60 to 80 mg. Not the stronger ones. Lets say 60 x 80 .That is 4.8 grams of caffeine That is around 10 times the limit dosage of caffeine per an average person. It will cause you tachycardia even if you have zero heart problems. If it really contain that much caffeine, sooner or later is going to cause a death.

But, I will love to see a lab test that actually prove that it contain all the caffeine.

[Linville]

Wow......OD time.

Would like to see Aussie land

[Spanky]

Zowie, sounds like a decent marketing effort for the bottom of the world until someone drops dead.  I've had a couple of expresso makers.  The ones I had just took a lot of cleanup for a small yield.  Now I just use the old fashioned, stove-top percolator with the glass bulb top that tells you how dark your coffee is getting.  Pick your coffee, watch the clear top, cook it down to goo if you want it that way.  I always poured my espresso into my coffee anyway.  When I bought espresso online they ha similar titles, "Death A Lurkin'" etc., ha.  I don't think it compared to Aussie stuff though.


Spanky