Coffee is too entrenched to ever go away; dozens of stores per city mile and a human love for social spaces will see to that. But more can definitely be done about the other ways we get our caffeine: milky vehicles for coffee-flavored powder, dropped unceremoniously from vending machines; hopped up energy drinks dyed the color of gasoline to signify power; white, flavorless pills of last resort.

Essentially an asthma inhaler for the chronically sleep-deprived, Aeroshots deliver a hit of caffeine and Vit B straight through the respiratory system. If that sounds a little hardcore, then the fluorescent-green unit design won't surprise — though shaped like a stick of lip balm, it doesn't come completely free of the category's mandatory connotations.

Each one contains 100mg of caffeine, or about as much as a large coffee, and there are no electronics involved. The ability to consume that 100mg in smaller doses over a period of time is what makes the Aeroshot so interesting, and its over-the-top "energy" positioning so frustrating. Imagine if caffeine had an image makeover, to be marketed as more of a gentle tool (and gentle on the stomach too, without the acidic arabica delivery) for fine-grained cognitive and physical optimization.

The company behind them cleverly calls itself Breathable Foods, and has also created an inhalable chocolate product (zero calories!), and another with green tea, among others in its Le Whif line.

Buy: Aeroshots.com