The Science Behind 150mg: Why We Use Natural Caffeine in CHARGE
At Muscle Memory Performance, we made a deliberate choice. CHARGE contains 150mg of natural caffeine sourced from green coffee bean and green tea leaf extract — a blend formerly known as TerraCaf, now rebranded as Nuracaf by Xenith Research.
Most commercial pre-workouts use synthetic caffeine anhydrous — a lab-produced, isolated form of caffeine that hits fast and can be overstimulating. Brands stack 300mg or more per serving because it creates an intense, immediate feeling that consumers mistake for effectiveness — and because synthetic caffeine is significantly cheaper to source than natural alternatives.
But synthetic caffeine in high doses comes at a cost. It causes jitters, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, and energy crashes a few hours later. Over time, it disrupts sleep and puts long-term stress on the nervous system.
Your body wasn't designed to receive massive doses of caffeine from synthetic isolates. It was designed to receive caffeine the way nature delivers it — slowly, alongside other natural compounds that balance its effects.
The natural caffeine in CHARGE is sourced from two of the most studied plants in human history:
Green Coffee Bean (Coffea robusta)
Green coffee beans are unroasted. Unroasted coffee beans contain something roasted beans lose during the roasting process: high concentrations of chlorogenic acid (CGA) — one of the most powerful naturally occurring antioxidants known to science.
Research published in PubMed shows that chlorogenic acid:
— Supports healthy blood sugar response
— Aids in fat metabolism and energy regulation
— Acts as a powerful antioxidant against oxidative stress
— Supports cardiovascular and liver health
This means when you take CHARGE, you're not just getting caffeine. You're getting caffeine delivered alongside compounds that actively protect and support your body.
Read the full clinical study on green coffee bean and chlorogenic acid →
Green Tea Leaf Extract (Camellia sinensis)
Green tea extract contains a powerful combination of Caffeine for cognitive and physical performance — L-Theanine (an amino acid that promotes calm focus and counteracts caffeine jitters) — EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) — a catechin antioxidant linked to fat oxidation and recovery.
A 2025 randomized, double-blind crossover trial published in Nutrients found that green tea extract supplementation significantly:
— Increased time-to-exhaustion during endurance exercise
— Reduced respiratory exchange ratio (RER), indicating enhanced fat oxidation
— Lowered rating of perceived exertion (RPE) compared to placebo
— Supported recovery and reduced muscle soreness
Read the full clinical study on green tea extract and exercise performance →
Why 150mg Is the Right Dose
150mg of natural caffeine is the sweet spot for high performance. It provides clean, sustained energy without the jitters, pairs beautifully with L-Theanine for smooth, focused performance, and allows the other functional ingredients to do their work. It avoids the crash, the dependency, and the long-term nervous system strain.
This is the dose research consistently identifies as optimal for athletic performance.
Sources:
— Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Green Coffee Bean Extract (PubMed) — Synergistic Effects of Green Tea Extract on Endurance Performance (PMC)
