Skinny Brew Review: Does This Fat-Burning Coffee Work?
Drinking coffee for weight loss isn’t a new idea, but Skinny Brew claims its specific blend sets it apart from the pack. Marketed as a “fat-burning coffee blend” that fires up brain function and torches fat, plus a long list of other health benefits — but how much of that actually holds up? What genuinely […]
Drinking coffee for weight loss isn’t a new idea, but Skinny Brew claims its specific blend sets it apart from the pack. Marketed as a “fat-burning coffee blend” that fires up brain function and torches fat, plus a long list of other health benefits — but how much of that actually holds up? What genuinely distinguishes it from other weight-loss coffee blends on the market?
We researched the ingredients, available science, and potential side effects to give you our final verdict.
What Is Skinny Brew?
Skinny Brew is a coffee blend built around fat-burning ingredients — French roast coffee, a natural caffeine blend, nootropics, and green tea — positioned as an elevated alternative to standard coffee. Each serving (one 6-gram packet) contains 75mg of caffeine from the instant French roast coffee alone, with the broader formula aiming to combine fat burning, sharper brain function, and an energy boost in one cup.
- Nutrients — “Future research should test the longitudinal effectiveness of YM [yerba mate] and exercise for metabolic health outcomes.”
- Dental and Medical Problems — “Long-term oral administration of green coffee bean extract and Agiolax might lead to alveolar bone loss.”
- Phytotherapy Research — “Guarana seed powder supplementation prevented weight gain, insulin resistance, and adipokine dysregulation induced by Western diet compared with the control diet.”
Who Makes Skinny Brew?
Skinny Brew comes from It Works!, a Palmetto, Florida-based direct seller founded in 2001 by Mark and Cindy Pentecost, initially built around the It Works! Wrap through in-home and hotel demonstrations across Michigan, Virginia, and North Carolina. The company has since expanded into a full nutrition, lifestyle, and beauty product lineup, with Skinny Brew as one of its premium offerings and past celebrity collaborations, including with Dr. Paul Nassif. The company also markets Slimming Gummies, formulated with apple cider vinegar and the blood-orange ingredient MOROSIL.
How Can I Contact It Works Customer Service?
Phone: 1-786-706-1095 (Mon-Fri 6:30am-8pm CST, Sat-Sun 8:30am-5pm CST)
Fax: 888-711-3760
Mail: It Works! World Headquarters, 908 Riverside Dr., Palmetto, FL 34221
Also reachable via Live Chat, an “Ask our Product Coach” feature, and social media.
It Works! Global and the Better Business Bureau
It Works! holds a C+ BBB rating, with 155 complaints closed over the past three years and a 1.99 out of 5 customer rating across 218 reviews.
It Works Skinny Brew Claims
The company claims Skinny Brew activates thermogenesis and active fat burning, helps manage weight, energizes the body, intensifies metabolism, sharpens concentration, and delivers more than twice the caffeine of traditional coffee.
Skinny Brew Ingredients
The formula includes chromium picolinate, coffee powder, chicory root inulin, green tea leaf extract, green coffee bean extract, guarana seed extract, yerba mate leaf extract, L-theanine, Alpha GPC, Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract, bacopa monnieri, and rhodiola rosea extract.
Does Skinny Brew Actually Work?
Focusing on the “Skinny Blend” ingredients most tied to weight-loss marketing:
Chromium Picolinate (1000mcg): A genuinely essential trace mineral involved in carb, fat, and protein metabolism, according to the National Institutes of Health. That said, a study in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders found only “a relatively small effect of chromium picolinate than the placebo for reducing body weight.”
Coffee Powder (75mg caffeine): Research in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition confirms “caffeine intake might promote weight, BMI, and body fat reduction.”
Chicory Root Inulin: No direct weight-loss link found, though the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine notes it “can modulate…bowel movement,” which could contribute indirectly.
Green Tea Leaf Extract: The Canadian Pharmacists Journal notes it’s been extensively studied for weight loss, but “in most studies, the weight loss was not statistically significant.”
Green Coffee Bean Extract (150mg caffeine): A study in the British Journal of Nutrition found “GCE supplementation could reduce appetite level,” based on 400mg twice daily over roughly eight weeks — though broader confirmed human research remains limited.
Guarana Seed Extract: Research in PloS One found “lower doses of stimulants can work together to provide short-term stimulant effect,” though combining larger amounts may not add long-term benefit.
Yerba Mate Leaf Extract: Research in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found supplementation “decreased body fat mass, percent body fat, and WHR [waist-hip ratio]” — a genuinely encouraging result.
Skinny Brew Coffee and Weight Loss
Digging further into the connection: older research in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found “supplementation of 1000 mcg of chromium picolinate alone, and in combination with nutritional education, did not affect weight loss.” Green coffee bean extract fares somewhat better — a meta-analysis in Gastroenterology Research and Practice found “a significant difference in body weight in GCE than placebo.” And more broadly, The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded “caffeinated beverages might support weight loss maintenance.”
Skinny Brew Nutrition
Per serving: 10 calories, 2g carbohydrates, 1000mcg chromium.
Possible Skinny Brew Side Effects
Caffeine is the real elephant in the room here. The label lists coffee and green coffee bean as the caffeine sources at 225mg per serving, yet a product Q&A on the official site names five separate caffeine-contributing ingredients: coffee, green tea, green coffee bean, guarana, and yerba mate — which raises real questions about exactly how much total caffeine each serving delivers. Given that all five act as stimulants, common side effects can include shakes, jitters, nausea, headaches, irritability, and feeling edgy.
Product Warnings
The company advises anyone with a medical condition, taking medication, pregnant, or nursing to consult a healthcare professional before use, and cautions that caffeine-sensitive individuals may want to avoid the product entirely.
How to Use It Works Skinny Brew
Mix one packet with up to 8 ounces of hot or cold liquid — some users add sweeteners or nut milk for taste.
Cost and Where to Buy
Available on the official website or through a distributor: 15 servings ($55 loyal customer / $74 retail), 30 servings ($89 / $119), 60 servings ($128 / $171). Also available on Amazon at the same pricing.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Portable, convenient format
- 30-day return policy
- Ingredients with real science behind them
Cons:
- Not especially cost-effective
- Likely too much caffeine for sensitive individuals
Lawsuits
In April 2020, It Works! received a warning letter from the FTC over exaggerated income-earning claims in marketing materials and unsupported claims that the coffee could treat or cure COVID-19. The company appears to have complied, with no current posts making either claim.
Bottom Line on Skinny Brew
Skinny Brew ultimately amounts to a genuinely stimulant-heavy cup of coffee, and plenty of people will notice a real energy boost from the caffeine content. That said, for lasting weight-loss results, a broader, clinically supported lifestyle approach tends to deliver far more reliable outcomes than a caffeinated coffee blend alone.
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