For 16 seasons on the TV show NCIS, Pauley Perrette‘s character, Abigail Beethoven “Abby” Sciuto, served as the Chief Forensic Scientist. Known for her witty humor and close relationships with other characters such as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo, Donald “Ducky” Mallard, and Timothy McGee, Abby often enjoyed sipping on Caf-Pow – a favorite beverage that she would regularly consume while working in her lab to analyze evidence for the NCIS team.
Abby and McGee, who had a past relationship and now work as colleagues and friends, often drank energy drinks called Caf-Pow at work. Gibbs isn’t fond of Caf-Pow, but he occasionally offers it to Abby. In the seventh season episode of NCIS titled “Faith,” it was suggested that Abby’s cups of Caf-Pow contained other substances, as stated by Perrette. Despite this, Caf-Pow is a significant drink for Abby and has played a role in several NCIS episodes.
Caf-Pow & Abby’s Obsession With It In NCIS Explained
Caf-Pow Was Abby’s Favorite Beverage To Help Her Work
Among all beverages, Abby had a particular fondness for Caf-Pow, which packed a strong caffeine punch that kept her energized throughout her demanding workdays at the lab. As a sharp, dependable, and informative forensic scientist, Abby was a trusted colleague who delivered the vital findings to crack intricate cases. In fact, Abby would often claim she couldn’t do without her trusty Caf-Pow drink. For example, in the NCIS season 3 episode “Jeopardy,” when Tony suggested she’d have to work without caffeine due to time constraints, resourceful Abby secretly brewed a backup Caf-Pow just to ensure it was always within arm’s reach on her workspace.
During the season 7 premiere episode of NCIS titled “Truth or Consequences,” Caf-Pow played an important role. This beverage helped NCIS locate the terrorists who had taken Special Agent Ziva David hostage, as the leader of her captors was fond of Caf-Pow from his days at Yale University. On the show, there were several types of Caf-Pow available. Initially, Abby’s usual drink, often depicted by a red cup with eyes that resembled bloodshot and filled with caffeine, was Caf-Pow. Later in the episode, Abby switched to No-Caf-Pow, a decaffeinated version of the drink, as she aimed to cut down on her sugar consumption for health reasons.
Pauley Perrette Had Another Beverage In Abby’s Caf-Pow Cup
There Was A Secret Drink In That Caf-Pow Cup
As portrayed by Pauley Perrette, Abby’s signature drink, Caf-Pow cup, was always filled with Hawaiian Punch when her character needed an energy boost at work. However, when Perrette decided to cut down on refined sugar intake, she switched to unsweetened cranberry juice instead. This substitution occurred during the periods when Abby started drinking No-Caf-Pow, which was used until the final episode of NCIS, “Two Steps Back,” in season 15. Despite giving up caffeine, No-Caf-Pow provided Abby with the necessary energy without a high sugar content.
| Caf-Pow Beverage Variety | Caf-Pow Beverage Description | Notable Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Caf-Pow | Red cup with bloodshot eyes in front and filled with caffeine. | Regular up until Abby changed to No-Caf-Pow. |
| No-Caf-Pow | Non-caffeine version of Caf-Pow. | Abby started drinking this after giving up caffeinated Caf-Pow up until the episode “Two Steps Back” in season 15. |
| Mini Caf-Pow | A smaller-sized Caf-Pow. | The episodes “Borderland” and “Lost and Found.” |
| Christmas Caf-Pow | Caf-Pow with nutmeg. | The episode “Silent Night.” |
| Valentine’s Day Caf-Pow | Caf-Pow with a heart on the straw that says “I love you.” | The episode “Friends and Lovers.” |
| Boysenberry Caf-Pow | Caf-Pow with boysenberry, which was discontinued in 2013. | The episode “Algun Dia.” |
In the sixth season’s holiday-themed episode titled “Silent Night” of NCIS, Abby expresses a strong dislike towards the Christmas variant of Caf-Pow that included nutmeg. Though Caf-Pow may first appear as just an energetic drink for a cherished character on NCIS, it serves as a representation of Abby’s lively personality and her close bonds with colleagues like Gibbs and McGee. Moreover, the beverage’s transformation from caffeine to no sugar, initiated by Perrette, mirrors her real-life decision to adjust Abby’s drink in alignment with her health concerns.
❤ Love ScreenRant’s prime-time updates? Click here to subscribe to our weekly Network TV newsletter! Tick “Network TV” in your settings to receive exclusive insights straight from stars and creators of your favorite shows.
SIGN UP NOW
Read More
- Lucky Offense Tier List & Reroll Guide
- Indonesian Horror Smash ‘Pabrik Gula’ Haunts Local Box Office With $7 Million Haul Ahead of U.S. Release
- Best Crosshair Codes for Fragpunk
- League of Legends: The Spirit Blossom 2025 Splash Arts Unearthed and Unplugged!
- Why Yellowstone and Virgin River Fans Can’t Miss Netflix’s Ransom Canyon This Week!
- How To Find And Solve Every Overflowing Palette Puzzle In Avinoleum Of WuWa
- SWORN Tier List – Best Weapons & Spells
- Unlock All Avinoleum Treasure Spots in Wuthering Waves!
- Unlock the Ultimate Barn Layout for Schedule 1: Maximize Your Empire!
- Does A Minecraft Movie have a post-credits scene? Find out if it’s worth staying longer at the cinema
2025-04-20 12:20