Real Results, Real People
Jules C
Ultra marathon runner and running coach
"A little stick of dynamite! It helps me to smash my PB’s, powering me through the night sections on long ultra runs whilst always being easy on my stomach."
Bernie S
Marathon majors runner
“I love Maple Coffee because it’s tasty, clean and natural. It works well in my stomach while providing me with the energy I need for the race ahead”
Hear from our customers
KEY FEATURES
• Maple syrup and coffee are a natural combination built to fight fatigue and taste great.
• Each gel contains 27g of fast-acting carbs in a 1:1 ratio from fructose and glucose.
• The added coffee provides 45mg of caffeine - a similar amount found in a cup of coffee - and a delicious taste.
• Contains naturally occurring micronutrients and electrolytes, with added sea salt for sodium.
• The hook-style opening is designed to be easy to open with wet/sweaty hands.
• Has a non alcoholic coffee martini taste.
• The texture is slightly thicker than water, making it easy to swallow on the run.
NUTRITION
• Carbohydrates: 75g per 100g / 27g per 36g serving
• Caffeine: 125mg per 100g / 45mg per 36g serving
• Sodium: 305mg per 100g / 110mg per 36g serving
• Energy: 1282kJ (301kcal) per 100g / 4616kJ (108kcal) per 36g serving
• Other Nutrients: Includes key electrolytes like Potassium, Calcium, Manganese, and Iron
DIRECTIONS
• Easy to use. Rip the top off and drink.
• Fuelling guidelines: Aim for 1 maple coffee an hour (27g carbs + 45mg caffeine) when tired. Particularly effective when used in the second half of your training/event.
• IMPORTANT: Keep hydrated and dispose of packaging responsibly.
INGREDIENTS
• Grade A Canadian Maple Syrup (96%), Coffee Extract with Caffeine (3%) and Sea Salt (0.9%).
• IMPORTANT: Store in a cool dry place. Not recommended for children.
SCIENCE
The number and quality of research into the caffeine on runners’ performance is growing. We have summarised them in the following blog article:
Key Findings on Maple Coffee for Runners
• Document: How Can Caffeine Boost Running Performance?
• Link: https://proteinrebel.com/blogs/blog/how-can-caffeine-boost-running-performance?_pos=3&_sid=dd6ffa6e2&_ss=r
Key Finding: Maple Coffee combines carbohydrates from real maple syrup with a moderate dose of caffeine from coffee to support endurance running. Carbohydrates help maintain energy levels during long runs, while caffeine reduces perceived effort and improves focus as fatigue builds. Used during prolonged exercise, this combination helps runners maintain pace, sustain performance late in races, and fuel effectively without overstimulation.
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If you would like to research the science behind natural caffeine the following research papers are good places to start:
1. Carbohydrates Are Essential for Endurance Performance
• Document: Carbohydrate intake during exercise and performance
• Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900704001169?
• Key Finding: Carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise maintains blood glucose availability, delays fatigue, and supports sustained performance, particularly during exercise lasting longer than 90 minutes.
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2. Low-Dose Caffeine Enhances Endurance Without Overstimulation
• Document: Exercise and sport performance with low doses of caffeine
• Link: Exercise and Sport Performance with Low Doses of Caffeine | Sports Medicine | Springer Nature Link
• Key Finding: Low doses of caffeine (approximately 30–50 mg) improve endurance performance and reduce fatigue without the negative side effects associated with higher caffeine intakes.
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3. Caffeine Improves Endurance Performance (Meta-Analysis)
• Document: Effect of acute caffeine on endurance performance
• Link: The Effect of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta–Analysis | Sports Medicine | Springer Nature Link
• Key Finding: This meta-analysis shows that caffeine ingestion consistently improves endurance performance across a wide range of endurance exercise protocols.
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4. Caffeine Reduces Perceived Effort During Exercise
• Document: Effects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion
• Link: Effects of caffeine ingestion on rating of perceived exertion during and after exercise: a meta-analysis - PubMed
• Key Finding: Caffeine ingestion significantly lowers perceived exertion during exercise, allowing athletes to maintain pace at a lower subjective effort.
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5. Carbohydrate and Caffeine Together Improve Endurance Performance
• Document: Substrate metabolism and exercise performance with caffeine and carbohydrate intake
• Link: Substrate metabolism and exercise performance with caffeine and carbohydrate intake - PubMed
• Key Finding: The combined ingestion of carbohydrate and caffeine during endurance exercise improves performance more than carbohydrate alone.
Runners ask us
Runners’ questions
“I’m nervous about caffeine gels. Will they upset my stomach?”
The horror stories come from synthetic caffeine at high doses in gels already hard on the gut. Maple Coffee uses natural coffee extract with 45mg per gel — equivalent to a cup of coffee. We use the same clean maple syrup base as Maple Ignite and so runners are unlikely to experience stomach problems. Reviewers who mention being nervous beforehand consistently report no GI issues.
“I was a little apprehensive about using caffeine gels after hearing horror stories. The gels were delicious — I didn’t get the usual dip at the 7k mark but felt strong right to the end. I’m hooked.”
— Loox review, 5★“Gut-friendly energy made with real maple syrup and coffee. Great taste with the assurance of natural products that will boost performance and not upset digestion.”
— Loox review, 5★“I don’t drink coffee. Will I still like the taste?”
Most likely yes. The coffee flavour is subtle, balanced by the maple sweetness rather than overpowering. Several non-coffee drinkers describe it as pleasant. One reviewer compared it to Tia Maria. Another described it as a non-alcoholic coffee martini. If you like maple syrup and can handle a mild coffee note, you’ll be fine.
“Not a coffee drinker but mixed with the maple syrup, these gels are super tasty and have that extra caffeine kick. Ideal for when you’re starting to flag.”
— Loox review, 5★“They are delicious! Remind me of sipping Tia Maria.”
— Loox review, 5★“When exactly should I use the coffee gel versus the plain Maple Ignite?”
The most common approach: Maple Ignite for the first half, Maple Coffee from halfway onwards when mental and physical fatigue sets in. Caffeine peaks around 45–60 minutes after ingestion so take your first coffee gel 40 minutes before you need the boost, not when you’re already fading. For ultras, many save them for the latter stages and night sections.
“I held these back for the latter stages of the 100 mile race and glad I did. Certainly better on my stomach compared to the usual gels.”
— Loox review, 5★“The coffee towards the end was a great boost! Used the coffee maple and the non-coffee ones for my longest run Saturday — absolutely brilliant!”
— Loox review, 5★“Is 45mg of caffeine actually enough to make a noticeable difference?”
Yes — research consistently shows that anything from 1–6mg caffeine per kg of body weight improves running performance, with 1–2mg/kg more appropriate for runs over 3 hours. 45mg falls within that effective range for most runners. It’s enough to notice on a long run without the jitteriness or crash from higher synthetic doses.
“Can definitely feel the caffeine kick in. Use these in conjunction with the Maple syrup version. Easy on the stomach and I don’t find it overly sweet.”
— Loox review, 5★“One Maple Coffee before leaving the house and one mid-run has massively improved my energy, pace and comfort. No side effects — just have to limit myself as they taste too nice.”
— Loox review, 5★“Can I use these for morning training runs or will the caffeine affect my sleep tonight?”
For morning runs, ideal. For afternoon sessions finishing before 3–4pm, most runners have no sleep issues. For evening runs, switch to Maple Ignite — no caffeine, same fuel, same two natural ingredients. The 45mg dose metabolises in roughly 5–6 hours, so a gel taken at 5pm has largely cleared by 10–11pm for most people.
“Love the Coffee gel. Can definitely feel the caffeine kick in. Use these in conjunction with the Maple syrup version — easy on the stomach and keeps me going when I need it most.”
— Loox review, 5★