Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite

Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite

MuscleTech Performance Series4.2 (23,499 ratings)
Format:Capsule Quantity: 100 Rapid-Release Thermo Cap(s) · 50 servings
Goals
$9.99 $0.19 per serving

Product analysis

57 out of 100

Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite may support short-term alertness and exercise performance, mainly through caffeine. Caffeine combined with yohimbe raises concerns about anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure.

AI assessment of the formula, label and price. How scoring works

Nutrient Quality22

Several ingredient types are not clearly identified, which limits comparison of their quality. The type of theanine is not stated, so its L-theanine identity cannot be confirmed.

Ingredient Transparency60

All ingredient amounts are listed, making serving sizes easier to compare. Several forms and the green coffee composition are not disclosed, leaving important ingredient details unclear.

Value For Money82

Caffeine and theanine provide the clearest signs of reasonable value. Value for the remaining ingredients is uncertain, so these strengths do not establish the value of the entire formula.

Customer Satisfaction78

Customers are generally positive across a large number of ratings. Those ratings describe satisfaction and do not establish effectiveness or safety.

Product Focus66

The clearest fit is short-term alertness and exercise support from caffeine. Broader weight and cognitive goals have more limited support, and the stimulant combination can undermine comfortable focus.

Format
Capsule
Container
100 Rapid-Release Thermo Cap(s)
Per serving
$0.19
Customer rating
4.2 · 23,499 ratings
Report analysis

Goals

Productivity Boost
Impact
High effect
C+ Ingredient FitB+ PathwaysB EvidenceB Formulation Logic
Theanine · 100 mgCaffeine · 270 mg
Study evidence
Caffeine Supportive 108 studies
Theanine Supportive 5 studies
Weight Loss
Impact
Moderate effect
C+ Ingredient FitD PathwaysC- EvidenceB+ Formulation Logic
Caffeine · 270 mg
Study evidence
Caffeine Disputed 14 studies
Theanine Not classified

No linked studies yet.

Fitness
Impact
High effect
C Ingredient FitC PathwaysB EvidenceA+ Formulation Logic
Caffeine · 270 mg
Study evidence
Caffeine Supportive 255 studies
Metabolism Support
Impact
Moderate effect
C Ingredient FitD+ PathwaysC+ EvidenceB+ Formulation Logic
Caffeine · 270 mg
Study evidence
Caffeine Disputed 40 studies
Mental Focus
Impact
High effect
C+ Ingredient FitB+ PathwaysB EvidenceA Formulation Logic
Theanine · 100 mgCaffeine · 270 mg
Study evidence
Caffeine Supportive 128 studies
Theanine Supportive 19 studies
Cognitive Support
Impact
High effect
C Ingredient FitD+ PathwaysB+ EvidenceA- Formulation Logic
Theanine · 100 mg
Study evidence
Theanine Supportive 25 studies

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per servingScore
Caffeine Anhydrous
270 mg 65
Green coffee extract (C. canephora robusta, Chlorogenic Acid)
200 mg
Coleus extract
100 mg
L-Theanine
100 mg 88
Cocoa extract (Theobroma cacao)
100 mg
Yohimbe extract
56.3 mg
Adults 18–50
Report overview
Theanine · 100 mg OverallScore88
B+ Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityA+ Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyB+ Value
Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite provides 100 mg of L-Theanine per serving, with a moderate cost for the amount of theanine. The amount is associated with supporting relaxation and focus. The amount and form are clear, but no added purity claim is specified.
How this ingredient is rated

Active Ingredient Quality & Bioavailability80

The ingredient is L-Theanine, the form associated with calming and focus. No branded source or added purity claim is specified in the available details.
Isomer Specificity (L-Theanine)
L-Theanine is the form associated with calming and focus.
Branded Forms & Purity Standards
No branded source or added purity claim is specified in the available details.

Dose, Safety & Label Transparency100

Each serving provides 100 mg, an amount associated with supporting relaxation and focus. The amount is individually disclosed.
Theanine Dosage Efficacy
Each serving provides 100 mg, an amount associated with supporting relaxation and focus.
Label Transparency & Blends
The L-Theanine amount is individually disclosed.

Value80

The cost is moderate for the amount of theanine provided.
Price per 100mg L-Theanine
The cost is moderate for the amount of theanine provided.
Caffeine · 270 mg OverallScore65
D- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityB- Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyA+ Value
A serving provides 270 mg of caffeine at a low cost per serving. That is a strong amount per serving. The caffeine source details are unclear. A potent additional stimulant is present alongside a high caffeine amount; its individual dose is unclear.
How this ingredient is rated

Active Ingredient Quality & Bioavailability40

The caffeine source details are unclear.
Advanced Bioavailability and Release Profiles
The caffeine source details are unclear.

Dose, Safety & Label Transparency72

The caffeine amount is 270 mg per serving. That is a strong amount per serving. A potent additional stimulant is present alongside a high caffeine amount; its individual dose is unclear.
Caffeine Dose Transparency
The caffeine amount is stated as 270 mg per serving.
Dosage Efficacy and Safety Margin
The caffeine amount is 270 mg per serving. That is a strong amount per serving.
Secondary Stimulant Disclosure and Risk
A potent additional stimulant is present alongside a high caffeine amount; its individual dose is unclear.

Value100

The cost per serving is low.
Price Per Serving vs. Collection Median
The cost per serving is low.
Report alternatives

Sources

Published studies used for the product analysis and the top-ranked studies for each ingredient and goal.

  1. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
    Hidese S; Ogawa S; Ota M; Ishida I; Yasukawa Z; Ozeki M; Kunugi H · Nutrients · 2020
    Randomized trial30 participantsBrain Health Cognitive Support forTheanine
  2. A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Efficacy of a Single Dose of AlphaWave® L-Theanine on Stress in a Healthy Adult Population.
    Evans M; McDonald AC; Xiong L; Crowley DC; Guthrie N · Neurology and therapy · 2021
    Randomized trialBrain Health forTheanine
  3. Effects of Tea (Camellia sinensis) or its Bioactive Compounds l-Theanine or l-Theanine plus Caffeine on Cognition, Sleep, and Mood in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
    Payne ER; Aceves-Martins M; Dubost J; Greyling A; de Roos B · Nutrition reviews · 2025
    Meta-analysis50 studies pooledBrain Health Cognitive Support Mental Focus forTheanine
  4. Assessing the effects of caffeine and theanine on the maintenance of vigilance during a sustained attention task.
    Foxe JJ; Morie KP; Laud PJ; Rowson MJ; de Bruin EA; Kelly SP · Neuropharmacology · 2012
    Randomized trial27 participantsBrain Health Cognitive Support forTheanine
  5. Effects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.
    Baba Y; Inagaki S; Nakagawa S; Kaneko T; Kobayashi M; Takihara T · Journal of medicinal food · 2021
    Randomized trialBrain Health Mental Focus Productivity Boost forTheanine
  6. Dose-response effect of L-theanine on psychomotor speed, sustained attention, and inhibitory control: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
    Dassanayake TL; Wijesundara D; Kahathuduwa CN; Weerasinghe VS · Nutritional neuroscience · 2023
    Randomized trial32 participantsCognitive Support forTheanine
  7. Acute effects of theanine, caffeine and theanine-caffeine combination on attention.
    Kahathuduwa CN; Dassanayake TL; Amarakoon AMT; Weerasinghe VS · Nutritional neuroscience · 2018
    Clinical trial20 participantsCognitive Support Mental Focus forTheanine
  8. Cognitive and mood improvements of caffeine in habitual consumers and habitual non-consumers of caffeine.
    Haskell CF; Kennedy DO; Wesnes KA; Scholey AB · Psychopharmacology · 2005
    Randomized trial48 participantsEnergy forCaffeine
  9. Caffeine-containing energy drink improves physical performance of elite rugby players during a simulated match.
    Del Coso J; Ramírez JA; Muñoz G; Portillo J; Gonzalez-Millán C; Muñoz V; Barbero-Álvarez JC; Muñoz-Guerra J · Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme · 2016
    Randomized trial26 participantsEnergy forCaffeine
  10. Differential cognitive effects of energy drink ingredients: caffeine, taurine, and glucose.
    Giles GE; Mahoney CR; Brunyé TT; Gardony AL; Taylor HA; Kanarek RB · Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior · 2013
    Randomized trial48 participantsEnergy forCaffeine
  11. Does Single or Combined Caffeine and Taurine Supplementation Improve Athletic and Cognitive Performance without Affecting Fatigue Level in Elite Boxers? A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.
    Ozan M; Buzdagli Y; Eyipinar CD; Baygutalp NK; Yüce N; Oget F; Kan E; Baygutalp F · Nutrients · 2022
    Randomized trial20 participantsEnergy forCaffeine
  12. Trait Energy and Fatigue Modify the Effects of Caffeine on Mood, Cognitive and Fine-Motor Task Performance: A Post-Hoc Study.
    Fuller DT; Smith ML; Boolani A · Nutrients · 2021
    Randomized trialEnergy forCaffeine
  13. Effect of caffeine ingestion on cycling performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Wu J; Xu K; Yin M; Ding X; Wang T; Zhang Q; Wu X; Xiao N · Frontiers in nutrition · 2026
    Meta-analysis226 participants20 studies pooledFitness forCaffeine
  14. Effects of Caffeine Intake on Endurance Running Performance and Time to Exhaustion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
    Wang Z; Qiu B; Gao J; Del Coso J · Nutrients · 2023
    Meta-analysis254 participants21 studies pooledFitness forCaffeine
  15. Acute Effects of Caffeine Supplementation on Movement Velocity in Resistance Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
    Raya-González J; Rendo-Urteaga T; Domínguez R; Castillo D; Rodríguez-Fernández A; Grgic J · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2021
    Meta-analysis12 studies pooledFitness forCaffeine
  16. Sex Differences in the Ergogenic Response of Acute Caffeine Intake on Muscular Strength, Power and Endurance Performance in Resistance-Trained Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
    Montalvo-Alonso JJ; Ferragut C; Del Val-Manzano M; Valadés D; Roberts J; Pérez-López A · Nutrients · 2024
    Randomized trial76 participantsFitness forCaffeine
  17. Can I Have My Coffee and Drink It? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Determine Whether Habitual Caffeine Consumption Affects the Ergogenic Effect of Caffeine.
    Carvalho A; Marticorena FM; Grecco BH; Barreto G; Saunders B · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2022
    Meta-analysis60 studies pooledFitness forCaffeine
  18. Effects of modafinil and caffeine on night-time vigilance of air force crewmembers: A randomized controlled trial.
    Wingelaar-Jagt YQ; Bottenheft C; Riedel WJ; Ramaekers JG · Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2023
    Randomized trial32 participantsMental Focus forCaffeine
  19. Acute effects of caffeine on attention: a comparison of non-consumers and withdrawn consumers.
    Smith AP; Christopher G; Sutherland D · Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2013
    Randomized trial70 participantsMental Focus forCaffeine
  20. Performance and alertness effects of caffeine, dextroamphetamine, and modafinil during sleep deprivation.
    Wesensten NJ; Killgore WD; Balkin TJ · Journal of sleep research · 2006
    Randomized trial48 participantsMental Focus forCaffeine