Steep

Steep is a Canadian energy drink brand founded by Kevin Schmidt and centered on a simple premise: clean, effective caffeine without the chemical overload common in conventional energy drinks. The flagship product is a carbonated yerba mate energy drink available in an Original Ginger Citrus flavor, designed to deliver 150mg of natural caffeine with only 5 calories and zero sugar per serving. Unlike many competitors in the functional beverage space, Steep deliberately avoids artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, and erythritol, positioning itself as a cleaner alternative for health-conscious consumers who still want a meaningful energy boost.

The brand's origin story is rooted in the founder's personal frustration with existing options in the energy and yerba mate category. Traditional yerba mate products were seen as either too grassy in flavor or loaded with sugar, while conventional energy drinks felt overly synthetic. Steep was developed to bridge that gap — offering the sustained, crash-free energy profile associated with yerba mate in a carbonated, palatable format that appeals to active lifestyle consumers. The drink is marketed toward individuals engaged in outdoor pursuits such as snowboarding, rock climbing, and hiking, as well as professionals seeking sustained mental clarity throughout the workday.

Steep's formulation philosophy prioritizes ingredient transparency, using natural caffeine derived from yerba mate rather than synthetic caffeine or stimulant blends. The brand emphasizes a smooth energy curve — described as easing the consumer into motion without the sharp spike and subsequent crash associated with high-sugar or heavily caffeinated products. This positions Steep within the growing functional beverage segment that caters to consumers moving away from legacy energy drink brands.

Currently sold direct-to-consumer through its website, Steep offers its Original Ginger Citrus variety in 12oz cans, available in 12-pack configurations. The brand operates out of Canada and prices its products in USD, suggesting cross-border market reach. As a founder-led, emerging beverage brand, Steep represents the kind of differentiated, ingredient-conscious product increasingly sought by specialty retailers, health food distributors, and DTC-focused beverage buyers across North America.