It’s the collab we never expected, yet a very tasty one.
Just a couple of weeks ago, West Bay, a coffee and smoothie stand in West Seattle, announced two new West Seattle High School special drinks. They released the Wildcat Redbull, otherwise known as the Lotus, as well as the West Side Lemonade.
The Lotus and the West Side Lemonade are undeniably popular amongst students here at West Seattle, with a spur of solid blue and yellow beverages crowding the halls. But why? In this article, I will be doing a deep dive into what students like about West Bay and the special WSHS drinks. And in addition to that, I will also touch on the caffeine levels inside the drinks, and how that might affect students.
Lotus: First up, the Lotus/Wildcat Redbull, or in other words, the “blue one”. This drink contains blue razz, white peach, and coconut milk. “I would rate it a solid 8/10”, says West Seattle High School student, Kate Russell. “It was really good, I liked it, and it gave me energy.”
West Side Lemonade: “It was really good,” said student, Eden Gamboa. This citrusy drink can only be known as the West Side Lemonade. This drink is a lemonade with mango, pineapple, and guava syrup. “It was so refreshing and summery,” says Eden.
West Bay: “I go twice a week,” says student Kaila Ignacio. With the implementation of a 30-minute lunch period, West Bay’s easy drive up, close location, and amazing drinks have made it a West Seattle High School lunch favorite.
Online reviews agree, saying, “Highly recommend”, “Amazing coffee!!!”, “West Bay is one of the best coffee stands in West Seattle,” and, “I’m obsessed with their Red bull punch.” Kaila Ignacio says that one reason she likes West Bay is, “how creative they are with the drinks.” When addressed about her West Bay order, Kaila responded, “I like a red bull with mango, strawberry, coconut, and orange juice. Other days I like matcha, and it depends if I want milk or not.”
Affects of Energy Drinks and Coffee: However, it’s important to note that both energy drinks and coffee aren’t healthy choices. From a study done by the CDC, “In 2011, 1,499 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years went to the emergency room for an energy drink related emergency.” This is because energy drinks can have some serious side effects if frequently consumed. They cause dehydration, heart complications, anxiety, and insomnia. Coffee is linked to similar health problems, including nervousness, nausea, cardiovascular symptoms, and sleep impairment, according to the National Library of Medicine.
However, despite the statistics I’ve just displayed, I’m not suggesting boycotting caffeine or West Bay altogether. Although, I do suggest watching and limiting intakes on caffeine, which has been proven by studies to better sleep, and reduce the risk of health issues and unhealthy behaviors. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “The current recommendation for adolescents aged 12-18 is less than 100mg of caffeine per day.” To put that in perspective, energy drinks on average contain 100-200mg of caffeine.
Go to West Bay: This is your sign to go to West Bay and ignore all those health concerns! Well, not ignore them, but an energy drink every once in awhile can’t hurt. And while you’re at it, order the Lotus and West Side Lemonade to support our school!
West Bay is located at 2255 Harbor Ave SW, 98116. They are open from 6am-5pm weekdays, 7am-5pm Saturdays, and 8am-4pm Sundays. And you can skip the line by ordering ahead with the Uber Eats app or calling at (206) 673-7665. Go to West Bay!
