When people talk about new tobacco substitutes, the conversation revolves around e-cigarettes.
But for people who use dipping tobacco instead of cigarettes, there's a weird new substitute available: small pouches of ground coffee, made by a company called Grinds, that you just stick directly into your mouth. Powder Bag
Grinds brand coffee pouches, with the contents of an opened pouch shown. (Snubie.com)
The idea is that the caffeine gets absorbed through the blood vessels on the surface of your gums, just like nicotine would if you used tobacco. The benefit is substituting a relatively harmless drug (caffeine) for a worse one (nicotine), while still getting a burst of energy and a nice buzz.
The company says that each pouch has as much caffeine as about a quarter of a cup of coffee. (And in case you're wondering, caffeine can indeed be absorbed through your gums, as well as your skin.)
The product is clearly aimed at regular users of dipping tobacco who are looking to quit: it comes in a tin and pouches that closely resemble chew, and the website features tons of testimonials from baseball players (the group that stereotypically uses the most dipping tobacco). At least among pro athletes, it appears to be catching on: football writer Peter King recently noticed several players on the San Diego Chargers using it.
But maybe it could even take off among non-dippers. Sure, you might be turned off by the idea of packing coffee straight into your mouth. But to a coffee lover, there's something strangely appealing about the purity (and convenience) of it.
If only they made a plain old coffee flavor instead of this peppermint, mocha, and cinnamon roll business.
You’ve read 1 article in the last month
Here at Vox, we believe in helping everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help to shape it. Our mission is to create clear, accessible journalism to empower understanding and action.
If you share our vision, please consider supporting our work by becoming a Vox Member. Your support ensures Vox a stable, independent source of funding to underpin our journalism. If you are not ready to become a Member, even small contributions are meaningful in supporting a sustainable model for journalism.
Thank you for being part of our community.
We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also contribute via
Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day.
Coffee Bag Price © 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved