The Verb verdict.
Verb Energy Bars. The plant-based protein snack that’s here to caffeinate your life one chewy, expensive bite at a time.
If you’ve ever thought, “I want the energy of an espresso shot but I’m also a bit hungry” (In my brutally honest opinion, there is absolutely nothing in this world that will replace coffee) well, congratulations—Verb’s got you covered.
Sort of.
Verb Energy was founded by three college students in 2018—Matt Czarnecki, André Monteiro, and Bennett Byerley—who were fed up with spending their time and money on expensive coffees and lame granola bars that left them feeling jittery, unsatisfied, and heading straight for a major and inconvenient sugar crash.
Their goal? To create a snack that would supply a boost of energy without the downsides.
Verb Energy Bars are reasonably sized, plant-based protein bars loaded with 80mg of green tea caffeine (equivalent to one espresso shot) and 10g of plant protein.
They are gluten-free, non-GMO, and meant to fuel your day and satisfy the hunger inside of you that may be eating you alive right now.
(Not a single person I know is a pleasant person when they’re hangry, especially my four-year-old–but no, he will not be trying these.)
The truth? They really just taste a bit better than your ordinary protein bar.... So what’s with the hype if they don’t even have the highest caffeine content on the market?
Does Verb deliver?
Verb makes 13 different flavors…so I had to get the variety pack
(because commitment is terrifying and too much responsibility…who promoted me to an adult anyways?!)
The only variety pack available, a trio. 2 birthday cake, 3 chocolate chip peanut butter, and 3 oatmeal chocolate chip bars.
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter…mm. The more peanut/peanut butter products I try, the more fond of them I get. This flavor really set the bar (pun intended) pretty high.
It smelled like peanut butter candy with a hint of chocolate—absolutely delightful. The texture? A mix of chewy and crunchy, with actual peanuts providing a surprising and welcoming bite.
It was sweet, a bit dry (because it’s still a protein bar), but not offensively so. Overall, a solid win. Plus, my caffeine headache eased up a bit after eating it—
proof that my caffeine addiction is real..HA!
In my bite-sized honest opinion, these peanut butter chocolate chip bars really chip in and hit the mark.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
If this bar were a vibe, it would be the comforting warmth of a freshly baked oatmeal cookie with a hint of cinnamon spice.
I went in expecting a cozy, cookie-like experience, and for the most part, it delivered.
But there was a completely unexpected plot twist upon first bite…the bar had an unexpected whisper of something...pea-like?
Yes, peas.
Thankfully, that odd moment passed quickly, giving way to a sweet, nutty flavor that was both satisfying and oddly addictive.
The texture was a pleasing mix of crunch from the almond bits and crispies, balanced with just enough chewiness to keep it interesting. Sure, it leaned a little dry, but no more so than your average granola bar—and definitely better than most protein bars I’ve tried.
In my brutally honest opinion it was worth it for the flavor, but it isn’t particularly a favorite however, it’s a yes from me.
Birthday Cake
I wanted to love birthday cake so badly... I really did.
But let’s call it what it is: a vanilla protein bar in a birthday suit. The smell? Think vanilla frosting scented Play-Doh. Ugh. The taste? Artificial vanilla mixed with oats, a chewy texture, and some Krispie pieces that somehow didn’t crunch as expected.
This bar is NOT delivering whatsoever.
If you love birthday cake-flavored anything (I sure don’t…and frankly, neither did my friend), you might enjoy it. Me? I’ll stick to the actual birthday cake.
IMBHO- it’s a no from me, but it might just be your favorite, so I guess, don’t knock it until you try it…
Real talk though? These bars are freaking expensive. A box of 12 will set you back $29.96 on Verb’s website…what are they priced at on Amazon, you ask?
The price fluctuates wildly between $20 and $34.99 depending on the flavor. For a comparable product, Quantum Energy Squares offers an 8-pack for $20, and those come with 100mg of caffeine—more than Verb’s 80mg.
Verb Energy Bars come with their fair share of pros and cons. On the plus side, the green tea caffeine offers a subtle energy boost without the jitters or crashes, making it a great alternative to those “terrible-for-you” energy drinks.
With 10g of plant-based protein, these bars keep you fuller for longer than a sad bag of vending machine chips or a tiny pack of beef jerky.
They’re also incredibly convenient—just toss one in your bag, like I did around 2:30pm when I needed an extra boost while picking up my kid.
On the flip side, the price is pretty steep—have I mentioned these bars are expensive? And while two out of three flavors were hits, the birthday cake flavor was a definite miss. Not every bar is a winner.
In the end, Verb Energy Bars deliver on their promise of a caffeinated, protein-packed snack—but they do so at a cost.
If you’re looking for a healthier, more convenient energy boost without the sugar crashes or artificial junk, they’re definitely worth considering (perhaps I will try the Quantum energy squares next time…stay tuned).
Just be prepared to pay for that convenience and quality. While not every flavor will knock your socks off, the ones that do are worth the try—especially if you need that extra kick during the day.
So, are they worth it? If you’re willing to spend a bit more for a functional snack that keeps you full and energized, then yes.
I think overall, Verb Caffeinated Protein Bars are going to be a IMBHO-maybe.
The only thing that kept this from being a yes was the extremely hefty price.
P.S. If Verb wants to drop their prices, I might become their #1 fan. Just saying.
