These should not take 30 minutes to dissolve. Mine definitely didn't (more like 5-7 minutes). I love the energy boost I get with these, because I don't like drinking more than one cup of coffee a day. I take this anytime I need a mental or physical boost in the afternoon or early evening as I'm a student. I actually don't find these expensive. When you think about it, most energy drinks cost about $3 each and are packed with ingredients I wouldn't want. I also love the convenience of having them in my purse and all I need to do is add them to a glass of water. I prefer to have a larger sized glass than normal, because I don't like things very sweet, but this is a personal preference. You can do whatever you like!