Real Food Bar
Espresso Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A coffee‑first, not‑too‑sweet bar built on pea protein and crunchy pea crisps, with a short, largely pantry‑style ingredient list (cashew butter, unsweetened chocolate, coffee, a quiet blend of veggies) and no stevia or sugar alcohols.
When to choose Real Food Bar Espresso Chip
Coffee enthusiasts who want a vegan, gluten‑free, dairy‑ and soy‑free bar that’s satisfying but not dessert‑sweet—perfect for a mid‑afternoon pick‑me‑up, a light breakfast on the go, or compact trail fuel.
What's in the Real Food Bar bar?
Real Food Bar’s Espresso Chip leans hard into real coffee and unsweetened chocolate for that latte-meets-cocoa bite, and it builds its strength on pea protein—not whey. You’ll also spot some stealthy plants (kale, sweet potato, cauliflower) tucked into the mix, plus cashew butter for creaminess and a bit of coconut to help it hold together.
The macros land in a balanced, snackable place: protein around average for the category, carbs on the higher side because of fiber and a touch of agave, and fats from nuts, coconut, and cocoa butter for staying power.
In short, it’s a plant-forward bar with a mild caffeine nudge and an ingredient list that reads more like a pantry than a chemistry set—though there is some modern food tech (hello, tapioca fiber) at work.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
1515MIDThe 15g of protein come primarily from pea protein and crunchy pea‑protein crisps (puffed with a little rice starch). Pea protein is a refined powder made from yellow peas—dairy‑free yet high quality—so you get a complete, well‑digested amino acid profile without whey. Expect a firmer, plant‑based chew and solid satiety from this blend.
Fat
109MIDTen grams of fat are mostly from cashew butter’s naturally unsaturated fats, with some saturated fat from coconut oil and the cocoa butter in the chocolate. It’s a balanced mix that skews slightly toward saturated because of the coconut, but the nut base keeps things more heart‑friendly overall. Together with fiber, this fat helps the bar feel satisfying rather than fleeting.
Carbs
2420MIDThe 24g of carbs are a blend of soluble tapioca fiber (a processed resistant dextrin that binds the bar and contributes fiber), agave syrup for sweetness, and digestible starch from the crisps’ rice starch, with small contributions from sweet potato and coconut flour. That combo generally means steadier energy than a sugar‑heavy candy bar, though the agave and rice starch keep it from being ultra‑low glycemic. If your gut is sensitive, know that fermentable fibers can cause bloating for some at higher intakes.
Sugar
74MIDYou’ll get 7g of sugar, largely from agave syrup, with minor amounts from the vegetable powders and nuts. There are no sugar alcohols or intense artificial sweeteners here—the sweetness relies on a refined plant syrup balanced by coffee and dark chocolate’s bitterness. If you’re mindful of fructose, remember agave is fructose‑heavy even when the total sugar grams look moderate.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, this bar sits near the category average. Calories are shared across macros: the cashew‑and‑coconut fats and the crisps’ starches provide most of the energy, with protein accounting for a meaningful chunk. It eats like a substantial snack or light breakfast, not a full meal.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron is the standout at about 15% Daily Value, likely thanks to pea protein and cocoa, with small assists from cashews and kale. Potassium and calcium show up in modest amounts, and there’s no vitamin fortification—think of the veggie blend as a bonus rather than a multivitamin replacement.
Additives
Additives are minimal. Sunflower lecithin (in tiny amounts) keeps the texture smooth, while soluble tapioca fiber is a modern, highly processed binder that doubles as fiber. The rest leans whole‑food—cashew butter, unsweetened chocolate, coffee, and dried veggies—so overall it sits between a kitchen‑crafted bar and a lab‑lean formulation.
Ingredient List
Yellow pea seeds
Cashew kernels
Cassava root starch
Agave plant sap
Cacao beans
Dried, ground coconut meat
Coffea arabica or robusta beans
Coconuts
Rice grain endosperm
Leafy Brassica vegetable
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“N/A”
“N/A”
“N/A”
Main Praise
Fans rally around two things: flavor and philosophy. The espresso‑meets‑dark‑chocolate profile is robust without being sugary, and several reviewers highlight how unusually restrained the sweetness is for a protein bar—more café, less candy.
The texture earns nods too: a dense, chewy base punctuated by pea‑protein crisps that keep each bite interesting and help it feel substantial. With 15g of plant protein and 210 calories, many people report real staying power, using it as a satisfying snack or a small breakfast.
The ingredient list reads familiar—cashew butter, coffee, unsweetened chocolate, coconut flour—without stevia or sugar alcohols, which is a draw for folks who dislike aftertastes.
And the brand’s mission around sustainability and customer care shows up in reviews; one buyer even noted the founder personally helped them find a flavor they loved—hard not to root for that.
Main Criticism
Taste is polarizing, especially if you expect mocha‑dessert levels of sweetness. A minority of reviewers found the bar "inedible," while others said the espresso flavor was simply too strong for their palate.
Texture can be a divider: what one person calls satisfyingly dense, another calls heavy. If your stomach is touchy with certain fibers, know that soluble tapioca fiber—a processed binder that also contributes fiber—can bloat some people at higher intakes.
Lastly, the bar contains cashews and coconut, so it’s a pass for those allergies, and the real coffee brings a mild caffeine nudge that may not suit late‑night snacking.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the "delicious, satisfying coffee bar" camp or the "hard pass" crowd? Probably both.
This is an Americano, not a Frappuccino: 7g of sugar from agave, bitterness from real coffee and unsweetened chocolate, and a chewy‑crisp structure that reads functional more than fluffy. If your mental model of a protein bar is a candy bar in gym clothes, you’ll likely be disappointed.
But if you want a less‑sweet, plant‑based bar that prioritizes straightforward ingredients and solid macros (15g protein, 10g fat, 24g carbs at 210 calories), this lane delivers. The fiber choice is practical—it binds the bar and boosts fiber—but it won’t be every gut’s best friend; that’s less a flaw and more a know‑thy‑stomach moment.
The brand’s sustainability ethos and real‑food slant are compelling, but taste is personal; the espresso profile is confident enough that it won’t blend into the background. In short: if you like coffee, you’re the target; if you don’t, this bar won’t talk you into it.
What's the bottom line?
Real Food Bar Espresso Chip is a coffee‑forward, plant‑powered bar designed for people who prefer their snacks grown‑up and not overly sweet. With 15g of pea‑based protein, 210 calories, and no stevia or sugar alcohols, it leans on cashew butter, fiber, and real coffee and chocolate to do the heavy lifting. It’s vegan, gluten‑free, dairy‑ and soy‑free, and it tastes like an actual espresso‑dark chocolate pairing—not a dessert dressed up as health food.
It won’t win over everyone. The flavor is intentionally bold, the texture intentionally dense, and the fiber choice won’t agree with every gut. But for coffee lovers who want a steadier, more satisfying snack and care about a simpler ingredient list, this is an easy yes.
Think of it as a chewable latte with benefits. Listicle pick (condensed): A coffee lover’s plant‑protein bar—15g protein, 7g sugar, real coffee and dark chocolate, no stevia or sugar alcohols. Dense, chewy, and genuinely not too sweet.