U.S. service members consumed nearly one million gallons of coffee and two million energy drinks during the roughly six-week Operation Epic Fury, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday.
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine shared the striking logistics tally at a Pentagon news briefing in Washington as he updated reporters on the military campaign against Iran. “Along the way, we consumed more than 6 million meals, and by my estimate, more than 950,000 gallons of coffee, 2 million energy drinks and a lot of nicotine,” Caine said. “But I’m not saying that we have a problem.”
The operation ran for about 38 days and involved more than 50,000 American troops deployed across U.S. Central Command, U.S. European Command and stateside support locations. It concluded with a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran that took effect hours before the briefing.
Six weeks into Operation Epic Fury, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, offered a candid look at the sheer scale of U.S. military activity—and the massive amount of caffeine fueling it. https://t.co/snvpwcGquC
— LiveNOW from FOX (@livenowfox) April 13, 2026
Caine’s remarks came after he detailed the number of targets struck during the campaign, which focused on Iranian missile sites, air defenses and other military infrastructure. The coffee total alone works out to roughly 7.6 million 16-ounce cups, or about 25,000 gallons per day across the high-tempo operation.
The light-hearted aside highlighted the enormous logistical demands of sustaining forces in sustained combat. Officials have described the effort as one of the largest rapid mobilizations in recent years, requiring massive supplies of food, fuel and stimulants to keep troops operating around the clock.
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Air Force Gen. Dan Caine shared the striking logistics tally at a Pentagon news briefing in Washington
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine shared the striking logistics tally at a Pentagon news briefing in Washington
