We’ve all been there: it’s 3:00 p.m. and your focus is shot. You find yourself eyeing the vending machine for a neon-colored energy drink loaded with sugar, or heading out for another $6 coffee drink, even though you know your stomach might hate you for it later. The mid-afternoon slump is real, and most fixes come with baggage.
A new product that’s now available at Costco may be the answer. The warehouse giant just rolled out a new product from AWAKE Chocolate that promises to be the solution to the afternoon drag.
What Is Awake Caffeinated Chocolate?
Awake Caffeinate Chocolate is exactly what it sounds like: bite-sized squares of rich chocolate that double as an energy booster. Each piece packs 50 mg of caffeine (about a half a cup of coffee) and comes individually wrapped so you can stash a few in your bag, desk drawer or gym locker. For the first time, Costco is carrying the brand in a 32-count Dark Chocolate Variety Pack featuring two flavors: Salted Caramel and Salted Almond. At $12.99, it’s a solid value considering every bite is made with FairTrade chocolate, gluten-free, Non-GMO verified, contains no artificial colors or flavors, and clocks in at only 60-70 calories.
Who Can Use Awake Caffeinated Chocolate?
It’s a product built for anyone who grinds: parents, teachers, college students, late-shift workers, and health professionals. Or anyone who just needs a pick-me-up but without pounding coffee.
What I Thought of Awake Caffeinated Chocolate
Curious whether transforming chocolate into an energy bite actually worked and if it affected the taste of one my favorite sweet treats—dark chocolate—I sampled the bites available at Costco. The chocolate was rich, smooth and indulgent. It had a similar richness and mouthfeel of other high-end dark chocolate brands. There was enough bitterness to know the percentage of cacao is over 50%, which is a perfect balance to the sweeter notes of caramel or salted almond. Nothing in my tasting experience gave any indication of “function,” it was all flavor, and tasted like high quality chocolate.
The functional aspect doesn’t take long to realize, however. Within as little as 10-15 minutes I definitely noticed the caffeine’s effect. I was more alert, focused, and felt less tired. I already finished my morning cup of coffee a few hours prior, so was a little concerned about the jitters, but they never came. Compared to a second cup of coffee the overall effect was similar even though the bites had half as much caffeine as another cup would have contained. Awake has done their research and hit the sweet spot with 50 mg of caffeine, offering the right amount of pick-me-up without overdoing it. For me, Awake Caffeinated Chocolates worked exactly as promised: a pocket-sized bit of delicious indulgence with a noticeable recharge of energy.
Why It Works
Awake refers to itself as “the first functional chocolate brand,” and that’s not just a clever tag line. By taking something that people already crave and making it work harder, the company is leaning into what consumers want on multiple levels. Each bite has built-in portion control, familiar flavors, and just enough caffeine to feel like a steady lift instead of a jolt. It’s easy to stash a few in your bag or desk drawer for those late-afternoon slumps when concentration and energy take a nosedive. It’s a boost without the stomach burn of more coffee or the sugar overload of an energy drink (Awake’s Dark Chocolate Bites contain just 6-grams of sugar, about 1/4 of what many popular energy drinks contain).
Beyond the Buzz
Awake isn’t just selling chocolate with caffeine—it’s building a lifestyle around it. Through its “Own the Night” program, the brand celebrates real-world heroes who keep things running long after sundown. From nurses and first responders to parents pulling late shifts, the company has donated hundreds of thousands of bites to night-shift workers and offers discounts to educators, healthcare professionals and military members. It’s a move that shows Awake goes beyond functional snacking, rooting the brand in community, recognition and purpose.
The Final Bite
If you’re fighting the afternoon slump, Costco’s caffeinated chocolate bites might be the best new weapon in your arsenal. They’re portable, affordable, and satisfying—and they just might be the only chocolate you needn’t feel guilty about stashing in your gym bag.
