{"id":605693247794,"title":"Crio Bru Review: Healthier Than Coffee?","created_at":"2023-06-17T16:13:10-04:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Crio Bru Review: Healthier Than Coffee?\",\n \"keywords\": \"crio bru, crio bru review, crio bru reviews, crio bru ingredients, crio bru brewed cacao, crio bru heavy metals, crio bru where to buy, where to buy crio bru, crio bru amazon\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team analyzes the ingredients in Crio Bru based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product line is really healthier than regular coffee. We share some of the research-backed benefits of cacao, and feature real customer reviews and demos.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/crio-bru-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"DJ Mazzoni\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": [\n \"M.S.\",\n \"R.D.\",\n \"C.D.N.\",\n \"C.S.C.S.\"\n ],\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/dj-mazzoni\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dj-mazzoni-rd-cdn-cscs-00a33038\/\",\n \"http:\/\/djmazzoni.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Medical Reviewer\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"exercise, drugs, pharmaceutical, health, workout, strength and conditioning, nutrition, dietetics, medicine, medical research, scientific research, scientific method, healthcare, patient care, wellness\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"State University of New York College Oswego\",\n \"D’Youville College\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Crio_Bru_Thumbnail.png?v=1687033057\",\n\"width\": \"3439\",\n\"height\": \"3439\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29474816\/\", \n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/java-burn-review\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24100674\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33722594\/\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21523414\/\",\n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/is-coffee-bad-for-you\",\n\"https:\/\/oag.ca.gov\/system\/files\/prop65\/notices\/2021-02681.pdf\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6628169\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"cacao\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"cardiovascular health\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"cognition\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Out Of The Doldrums\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"flavoring additives\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"Prop 65\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"cadmium\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-06-17\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ],\n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Crio_Bru_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1687032610\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eC\u003c\/span\u003erio Bru is a food brand with an interesting product line: ground cacao that’s brewed like coffee. This means that their drinks are caffeine-free, and the brand claims that their product “Brews Like Coffee” but has the “Benefits of Cacao.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut what’s the actual difference between coffee grounds and cacao? Is one really healthier than the other? Does cacao have any proven health benefits or is Crio Bru just making marketing claims? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Crio Bru?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we discuss the differences between coffee grounds and cacao based on medical studies to give our take on whether one is healthier than the other.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll feature real user reviews of Crio Bru and provide a cost comparison to document which retailer sells the brand for the best price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs Ground Cacao Really Healthier?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBefore analyzing the relative health benefits of coffee grounds and cacao, it’s important to explain to readers the difference between the two compounds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCoffee grounds are made from the seeds of berries from a flowering plant, and cacao beans are found in a fruit derived from the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTheobroma cacao\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e tree. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis means that coffee grounds and cacao are two different chemical compounds with different nutritional profiles and health effects.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBut is one healthier than the other, as suggested by Crio Bru?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrewed coffee\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is very well-studied in medical publications, and was shown in a 2018 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29474816\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eimprove cardiovascular health, reduce risk of diabetes, reduce risk of cancer and improve symptoms in asthmatic patients.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCoffee consumption may also be associated with weight loss as we documented in our review of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/java-burn-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eJava Burn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCacao has also been studied in a number of clinical trials.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCacao was shown to enhance cognition and improve mood in a 2013 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24100674\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33722594\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFood and Chemical Toxicology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ecacao may reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases, and may even exert beneficial effects on aging (suggesting an anti-aging effect).\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBased on the available research, we don’t believe it’s fair to suggest that coffee or cacao are healthier than the other. Both compounds have substantial health benefits according to medical studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGiven that coffee contains caffeine which can increase blood pressure, cacao may be a better option for individuals with high blood pressure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube video published by the “Out of the Doldrums” channel discusses some of the proven health benefits of cacao. We’ve timestamped the video to begin where the health benefits are discussed:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XNsGEoMnGQ4?start=267\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCrio Bru Ingredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCrio Bru sells flavored and unflavored versions of their products.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFrom a health perspective, we would recommend the unflavored versions. The ingredient list below is from Crio Bru’s “Nicaragua – Medium Roast” product:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Crio Bru unflavored ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Crio_Bru_Unflavored_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1687032647\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCacao is the only ingredient in this product, and it’s organically-derived which may provide additional health benefits. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrganic coffee was shown to have higher levels of bioactive compounds\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e in a 2011 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21523414\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e than conventional coffee. Cacao is a different food product than coffee, so this doesn’t necessarily prove the same effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients in the “Double Chocolate” flavor of Crio Bru are shown below:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" alt=\"Crio Bru flavored ingredients\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Crio_Bru_Flavored_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1687032662\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBeyond the cacao, there are two flavoring additives. While natural flavors are a healthier option than artificial flavors in our opinion, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ethere are still some toxicity concerns regarding natural flavoring additives\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e according to a medical review, as we documented in our article on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/is-coffee-bad-for-you\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eis coffee bad for you\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall, we cosider Crio Bru likely to have health benefits due to the overwhelming evidence of the health benefits of cacao consumption, but for consumers interested in purchasing from this brand, we recommend choosing one of the unflavored options.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Users Review Crio Bru\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA YouTube creator named “As the tea brews” has a Crio Bru review that includes an instructional on how to make it and a taste test:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/omLv2B8FQAg\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA TikTok creator named “Nerd Meets Food” reviewed Crio Bru in a video that’s under a minute long:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote style=\"max-width: 325px; min-width: 325px;\" data-video-id=\"7136544963336097067\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nerdmeetsfood\/video\/7136544963336097067\" class=\"tiktok-embed\"\u003e\n\u003csection\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@nerdmeetsfood?refer=embed\" title=\"@nerdmeetsfood\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e@nerdmeetsfood\u003c\/a\u003e Today I am trying the Crio Bru that is a cocoa you can brew like coffee. Here is my honest \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/review?refer=embed\" title=\"review\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#review\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/criobru?refer=embed\" title=\"criobru\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#criobru\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/nerdmeetsfood?refer=embed\" title=\"nerdmeetsfood\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#nerdmeetsfood\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/food?refer=embed\" title=\"food\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#food\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/decaffeinate?refer=embed\" title=\"decaffeinate\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#decaffeinate\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/coffeealternative?refer=embed\" title=\"coffeealternative\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e#coffeealternative\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7136544921992858411?refer=embed\" title=\"♬ original sound - Nerd Meets Food\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e♬ original sound - Nerd Meets Food\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cscript async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWas Crio Bru Sued?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn 2021, Crio Bru was served a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/oag.ca.gov\/system\/files\/prop65\/notices\/2021-02681.pdf\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003enotice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e about an intent to sue regarding heavy metal levels in their products which may have violated California’s Prop 65 laws.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe notice suggests that Crio Bru contains cadmium, and that no warning is provided to consumers that this product may expose them to cadmium, which is a heavy metal that has harmful effects to human health.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the time of publishing this article, we cannot find any information about whether this lawsuit took place, or what the results were. The notice does not include cadmium \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elevels\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, which would be the most important factor for consumers to consider.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMany food products and supplements contain heavy metals due to environmental contamination. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe relevant consideration is \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ewhat those levels are\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, because reducing heavy metal intake as much as possible should be the goal of any health-conscious consumer.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUntil actual contaminant levels are published either by Crio Bru or an independent third party, there’s not any actionable information here for consumers, in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Crio Bru for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCrio Bru is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for the flavored and unflavored versions at the time of publishing this article:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnflavored version\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $13.95 (plus shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/criobru.com\/collections\/all2\/products\/ghana-french-roast\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$15.95 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3qUe5VJ\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFlavored version\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $15.95 (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/criobru.com\/collections\/all2\/products\/new-limited-edition-caramel\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$17.95 (free shipping\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3CCwcSV\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhen factoring in shipping fees, Crio Bru is currently around 5-10% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal Customers Review Crio Bru\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCrio Bru Double Chocolate has been reviewed over 1,900 times on Amazon, with an average review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Michelle Kassell” who likes the taste:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I am halfway through this bag and worried about running out I love it so. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eI make it using my espresso machine and it turns out rich and flavorful. Sometimes I brew the cacao with half espresso grounds, a little 50\/50 blend of joy.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Doorboard” who claims the product doesn’t hold up to regular coffee:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“I followed the directions exactly the first time I made it. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eIt tasted like someone had served me hot water with some kind of weird cocoa dropped in. Very diluted and watery. The second time I made it, in an attempt to get a stronger flavor, I doubled the amount of grounds in the French press. Unfortunately, I got the same result. Watery, weak, warm beverage. It's quite gross, IMO. It's so disgusting to me that I won't even finish the rest of the bag.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Clean Coffee Picks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Coffee_Image.png?v=1668992812\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe black coffee we recommend is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/kjvV7V\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBulletproof Coffee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It’s ground for convenience, Rainforest Alliance Certified, contains no questionable additives (the only ingredient is ground coffee beans) and is affordable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe amount of coffee cups you can get from a 12 ounce bag depends on how strong you make your coffee, but at a total cost of $15.99 this coffee costs \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ewell under $1 per cup\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterested consumers can check out Bulletproof Coffee \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/kjvV7V\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat this link\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to the product page on Bulletproof’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCoffee\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis one of the few whole food ingredients associated with weight loss in clinical trials. A\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6628169\/\"\u003emeta-analysis\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epublished in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNutrients\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ejournal found that \u003cstrong\u003ecoffee intake was associated with reduced body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vitacup.pxf.io\/LXnDrY\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eVitaCup Organic Instant Coffee Sticks\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis \u003cstrong\u003eour top coffee product for weight loss\u003c\/strong\u003e, due to its convenience. No preparation or machinery is needed. The sticks can be mixed into hot or cold water (or other beverages) and consumed. The only ingredient is organic instant coffee; no questionable additives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterested consumers can check out VitaCup Organic Instant Coffee Sticks\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/vitacup.pxf.io\/LXnDrY\" rel=\"sponsored\"\u003eat this link\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the product page on the brand's official website, where they retail for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e$1 per serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat a subscription rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros and Cons of Crio Bru\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eHere are the pros and cons of Crio Bru in our opinion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePros:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnflavored versions have no additives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCacao may enhance cardiovascular and metabolic health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUses organically-derived cacao\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAffordable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMostly positive customer reviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMay be healthy option for consumers with caffeine sensitivities\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCons:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand was served legal notice over cadmium content\/disclosures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFlavored versions contain “natural flavoring” additives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUnclear whether brewed cacao is healthier than brewed coffee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand doesn’t appear to publish contaminant testing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCrio Bru is a unique nutrition brand and we believe it has the potential to provide health benefits that many Americans wouldn’t have experienced otherwise, given that cacao consumption isn’t particularly popular.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMedical research suggests that cacao consumption can reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and can enhance cognition. We haven’t come across any convincing medical evidence that cacao consumption is healthier than coffee consumption; both have unique health benefits.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCrio Bru was sent a notice of an intent to sue over the inclusion of cadmium (a heavy metal) in their products, but many food products and nutritional supplements contain cadmium due to environmental contamination, and without the actual level of cadmium contained, this information isn’t particularly useful to consumers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers planning to try Crio Bru, we recommend choosing one of the unflavored versions, because flavoring additives may have questionable health effects.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMost of the customer reviews we came across while researching this article were positive, and Amazon currently has the best prices on Crio Bru when factoring in shipping fees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-06-17T16:21:12-04:00","updated_at":"2023-09-17T12:47:51-04:00","summary_html":"We analyze the ingredients in Crio Bru based on medical studies to give our take on whether the product line is really healthier than regular coffee. We share some of the research-backed benefits of cacao, and feature real customer reviews and demos.","template_suffix":"","handle":"crio-bru-review","tags":"_related:nutrition"}

Crio Bru Review: Healthier Than Coffee?

Crio Bru Review: Healthier Than Coffee?


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Crio Bru is a food brand with an interesting product line: ground cacao that’s brewed like coffee. This means that their drinks are caffeine-free, and the brand claims that their product “Brews Like Coffee” but has the “Benefits of Cacao.”

But what’s the actual difference between coffee grounds and cacao? Is one really healthier than the other? Does cacao have any proven health benefits or is Crio Bru just making marketing claims? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Crio Bru?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we discuss the differences between coffee grounds and cacao based on medical studies to give our take on whether one is healthier than the other.

We’ll feature real user reviews of Crio Bru and provide a cost comparison to document which retailer sells the brand for the best price.

Is Ground Cacao Really Healthier?

Before analyzing the relative health benefits of coffee grounds and cacao, it’s important to explain to readers the difference between the two compounds.

Coffee grounds are made from the seeds of berries from a flowering plant, and cacao beans are found in a fruit derived from the Theobroma cacao tree. This means that coffee grounds and cacao are two different chemical compounds with different nutritional profiles and health effects.

But is one healthier than the other, as suggested by Crio Bru?

Brewed coffee is very well-studied in medical publications, and was shown in a 2018 medical review to improve cardiovascular health, reduce risk of diabetes, reduce risk of cancer and improve symptoms in asthmatic patients.

Coffee consumption may also be associated with weight loss as we documented in our review of Java Burn.

Cacao has also been studied in a number of clinical trials.

Cacao was shown to enhance cognition and improve mood in a 2013 medical review.

A medical review published in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal found that cacao may reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases, and may even exert beneficial effects on aging (suggesting an anti-aging effect).

Based on the available research, we don’t believe it’s fair to suggest that coffee or cacao are healthier than the other. Both compounds have substantial health benefits according to medical studies.

Given that coffee contains caffeine which can increase blood pressure, cacao may be a better option for individuals with high blood pressure.

A YouTube video published by the “Out of the Doldrums” channel discusses some of the proven health benefits of cacao. We’ve timestamped the video to begin where the health benefits are discussed:

Crio Bru Ingredient Analysis

Crio Bru sells flavored and unflavored versions of their products.

From a health perspective, we would recommend the unflavored versions. The ingredient list below is from Crio Bru’s “Nicaragua – Medium Roast” product:

Crio Bru unflavored ingredients

Cacao is the only ingredient in this product, and it’s organically-derived which may provide additional health benefits. 

Organic coffee was shown to have higher levels of bioactive compounds in a 2011 clinical trial than conventional coffee. Cacao is a different food product than coffee, so this doesn’t necessarily prove the same effects.

The ingredients in the “Double Chocolate” flavor of Crio Bru are shown below:

Crio Bru flavored ingredients

Beyond the cacao, there are two flavoring additives. While natural flavors are a healthier option than artificial flavors in our opinion, there are still some toxicity concerns regarding natural flavoring additives according to a medical review, as we documented in our article on is coffee bad for you.

Overall, we cosider Crio Bru likely to have health benefits due to the overwhelming evidence of the health benefits of cacao consumption, but for consumers interested in purchasing from this brand, we recommend choosing one of the unflavored options.

Real Users Review Crio Bru

A YouTube creator named “As the tea brews” has a Crio Bru review that includes an instructional on how to make it and a taste test:

A TikTok creator named “Nerd Meets Food” reviewed Crio Bru in a video that’s under a minute long:

@nerdmeetsfood Today I am trying the Crio Bru that is a cocoa you can brew like coffee. Here is my honest #review #criobru #nerdmeetsfood #food #decaffeinate #coffeealternative ♬ original sound - Nerd Meets Food

Was Crio Bru Sued?

In 2021, Crio Bru was served a notice about an intent to sue regarding heavy metal levels in their products which may have violated California’s Prop 65 laws.

The notice suggests that Crio Bru contains cadmium, and that no warning is provided to consumers that this product may expose them to cadmium, which is a heavy metal that has harmful effects to human health.

At the time of publishing this article, we cannot find any information about whether this lawsuit took place, or what the results were. The notice does not include cadmium levels, which would be the most important factor for consumers to consider.

Many food products and supplements contain heavy metals due to environmental contamination. The relevant consideration is what those levels are, because reducing heavy metal intake as much as possible should be the goal of any health-conscious consumer.

Until actual contaminant levels are published either by Crio Bru or an independent third party, there’s not any actionable information here for consumers, in our opinion.

Where to Buy Crio Bru for the Best Price

Crio Bru is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s a price breakdown for the flavored and unflavored versions at the time of publishing this article:

Unflavored version

Brand website: $13.95 (plus shipping, link)

Amazon: $15.95 (free shippinglink to official Amazon listing)

Flavored version

Brand website: $15.95 (link)

Amazon: $17.95 (free shippinglink to official Amazon listing)

When factoring in shipping fees, Crio Bru is currently around 5-10% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.

Real Customers Review Crio Bru

Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.

Crio Bru Double Chocolate has been reviewed over 1,900 times on Amazon, with an average review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Michelle Kassell” who likes the taste:

“I am halfway through this bag and worried about running out I love it so. I make it using my espresso machine and it turns out rich and flavorful. Sometimes I brew the cacao with half espresso grounds, a little 50/50 blend of joy.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Doorboard” who claims the product doesn’t hold up to regular coffee:

“I followed the directions exactly the first time I made it. It tasted like someone had served me hot water with some kind of weird cocoa dropped in. Very diluted and watery. The second time I made it, in an attempt to get a stronger flavor, I doubled the amount of grounds in the French press. Unfortunately, I got the same result. Watery, weak, warm beverage. It's quite gross, IMO. It's so disgusting to me that I won't even finish the rest of the bag.”

Our Clean Coffee Picks

The black coffee we recommend is Bulletproof Coffee. It’s ground for convenience, Rainforest Alliance Certified, contains no questionable additives (the only ingredient is ground coffee beans) and is affordable.

The amount of coffee cups you can get from a 12 ounce bag depends on how strong you make your coffee, but at a total cost of $15.99 this coffee costs well under $1 per cup.

Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Coffee at this link to the product page on Bulletproof’s website.

Coffee is one of the few whole food ingredients associated with weight loss in clinical trials. A meta-analysis published in the Nutrients journal found that coffee intake was associated with reduced body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

VitaCup Organic Instant Coffee Sticks is our top coffee product for weight loss, due to its convenience. No preparation or machinery is needed. The sticks can be mixed into hot or cold water (or other beverages) and consumed. The only ingredient is organic instant coffee; no questionable additives.

Interested consumers can check out VitaCup Organic Instant Coffee Sticks at this link to the product page on the brand's official website, where they retail for $1 per serving at a subscription rate.

Pros and Cons of Crio Bru

Here are the pros and cons of Crio Bru in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Unflavored versions have no additives
  • Cacao may enhance cardiovascular and metabolic health
  • Uses organically-derived cacao
  • Affordable
  • Mostly positive customer reviews
  • May be healthy option for consumers with caffeine sensitivities

Cons:

  • Brand was served legal notice over cadmium content/disclosures
  • Flavored versions contain “natural flavoring” additives
  • Unclear whether brewed cacao is healthier than brewed coffee
  • Brand doesn’t appear to publish contaminant testing
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Conclusion

Crio Bru is a unique nutrition brand and we believe it has the potential to provide health benefits that many Americans wouldn’t have experienced otherwise, given that cacao consumption isn’t particularly popular.

Medical research suggests that cacao consumption can reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and can enhance cognition. We haven’t come across any convincing medical evidence that cacao consumption is healthier than coffee consumption; both have unique health benefits.

Crio Bru was sent a notice of an intent to sue over the inclusion of cadmium (a heavy metal) in their products, but many food products and nutritional supplements contain cadmium due to environmental contamination, and without the actual level of cadmium contained, this information isn’t particularly useful to consumers.

For consumers planning to try Crio Bru, we recommend choosing one of the unflavored versions, because flavoring additives may have questionable health effects.

Most of the customer reviews we came across while researching this article were positive, and Amazon currently has the best prices on Crio Bru when factoring in shipping fees.




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