Overall wellness requires a holistic approach, incorporating whole foods and regular physical activity. Bulletproof Coffee can be a valuable addition to a balanced diet, offering a delicious blend of coffee and quality fats to help sustain you throughout the day.
What is Bulletproof Coffee?
Bulletproof Coffee is more than just a caffeine boost; it's a delectable blend of high-quality coffee and carefully selected fats, offering a unique beverage experience. Unlike traditional morning pick-me-ups and energy drinks, the combination of ingredients in Bulletproof Coffee provides sustained energy throughout the day without the dreaded energy crashes. The combination of the rich flavors of coffee with high-quality fats helps increase satiety and supports focus.
Dave Asprey, an entrepreneur and health advocate, created the Bulletproof Coffee recipe, drawing inspiration from a transformative experience with yak butter tea in Tibet. This unique blend has captivated coffee and nutrition lovers alike.
This satisfying beverage is a favorite among various dietary devotees, including paleo and ketogenic diets.
Ingredients of Bulletproof Coffee
Let’s examine the three high-quality ingredients that make up Bulletproof Coffee: coffee, MCT oil, and ghee. Each ingredient brings its own unique qualities.
Read also: What to Eat on the Bulletproof Diet
- Coffee: When consumed in moderation, coffee has been associated with various health benefits. It contains antioxidants that may help promote overall health. Not all coffee is created equal. Small amounts of mold can grow on coffee beans when stored improperly. Certified Clean Coffee Beans give you the mental edge and energy you need to thrive. Since it’s hard to tell exactly how your beans are grown, stored, and processed (even if they’re organic), we decided to grow and process our own coffee. Bulletproof Beans are held to stringent quality standards with special sourcing and processing methods that minimize mold and other toxin contamination. Bulletproof Beans are super high-quality Arabica beans, which have a smooth, bold flavor. Bioflavonoids in coffee can actually make you smarter by intensifying neuronal firing in the brain. This means your brain cells will communicate faster so thoughts come more quickly and you’ll have better recall.
- MCT Oil: MCT oil, derived from coconut oil, contains medium-chain triglycerides that can rapidly metabolize in the body, providing a quick and accessible source of energy. C8 MCT oil turns into ketones in your body within minutes. Brain Octane is a staple of the Bulletproof Diet and a key ingredient in Bulletproof Coffee. It’s important because it raises fat-burning, brain-fueling molecules in your body called ketones. Brain Octane is a purified form of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) derived from 100% pure coconut oil. Different types of fats have different jobs. And because of Brain Octane’s molecular structure, it helps you to curb your hunger, lose fat, and kick your brain into a higher gear more than generic MCT oil. It’s more than 4 times as effective as plain coconut oil at raising your ketone levels, aka helping your body to run off of fat instead of sugar. Brain Octane suppresses ghrelin, the hormone responsible for making you feel hungry. It also enhances CCK, the hormone that makes you feel full. Brain Octane turns into ketones in minutes. Those ketones provide your brain with almost immediate access to energy. You’ll feel your brain turn on and brain fog disappear in favor of crisp, quick thought. Bulletproof Coffee with Brain Octane makes an excellent fuel for your workout. Fueling with sugar and other simple carbs can lower your testosterone, which cuts into muscle building, among other things (think: sex drive and energy). Brain Octane gives you clean energy without sapping your testosterone and other sex hormones.
- Ghee: Ghee, or clarified butter, contains essential nutrients that can support your wellbeing. Vitamin A found in ghee is a fat-soluble nutrient that can support skin and eye health. Grass-fed ghee also contains butyric acid as well as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Lastly, grass-fed ghee contains omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fats that our bodies cannot produce and that provide overall wellness support. Grass-fed butter is higher in essential nutrients. Your body craves good fats for hormone balance and brain health. Butter is good for your brain and your digestion. Grass-fed butter is high in butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that can both prevent and decrease inflammation. Kerrygold Irish butter is a natural butter that comes from grass-fed cows that doesn't have any artificial additives, only 100% natural ingredients. Two-thirds of the land in Ireland is used for agriculture and 80% of it is used for farmland that is used to grow green grass. Ireland also has a significant amount of rainfall that allows the soil to naturally irrigate and is free from water stress. With the amount of farmland that Ireland has to offer, cows have plenty of green grass to roam and absorb the great amount of nutrients found in the grass. Ireland has a national sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme. Every 18 months every Irish farm is independently audited. By doing this, it ensures that the farms stay at the cutting edge of sustainability practices, which in return produced the best butter.
The Science Behind the Benefits
Turns out there is some powerful science behind the benefits of coffee, butter, and Brain Octane Oil. Bulletproof Coffee allows you to get all the energy-boosting benefits of caffeine, but without the typical crash and jitters. When you drink a cup of it, you’re full for hours and those distracting food cravings vanish.
- A Sharper Brain: Bioflavonoids in coffee can actually make you smarter by intensifying neuronal firing in the brain. This means your brain cells will communicate faster so thoughts come more quickly and you’ll have better recall.
- Healthy Fat: Healthy fat will sustain your energy for hours, balance hormones, and boost cognitive function. The saturated fat in grass-fed butter slows the absorption of caffeine, which gives you even energy for several hours instead of a caffeine spike and crash.
- Mental Clarity: Brain Octane rapidly converts to ketones, a type of molecule that your brain uses more efficiently than carbs or sugar.
Bulletproof Coffee Recipe
Making Bulletproof Coffee at home is easy with our simple recipe.
Ingredients:
- Brew 1 cup (8-12 ounces) of coffee using filtered water with 2 ½ heaping tablespoons of freshly ground Bulletproof Coffee Beans.
- Add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons of Brain Octane Oil.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter or 1-2 teaspoons of Grass-Fed Ghee (for those who can’t tolerate dairy).
- Optional add-ins: pinch pink salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions:
Blend 20-30 seconds until it looks like a creamy latte. Enjoy!
Tips:
- If at first it is a little too rich, try using less butter initially then build up to the amount you like.
- For simplicity’s sake, stick to your preferred coffee brewing method and aim for a strong, flavorful brew.
- Listen to Your Body: Make a mental note (or write down a note-to-self) how your body responds so you can track how you feel as you make Bulletproof Coffee part of your daily routine.
- Hydrate: Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day whenever you consume caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, or energy drinks.
- Eat Real Food: Eat when you’re hungry!
Variations
We are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our diverse community. While the classic Bulletproof Coffee recipe is loved by many of our fans and followers, we understand it may not be the most convenient option for everyone.
- Decaf Bulletproof Coffee: It’s easy to swap in decaf coffee so you can enjoy this beverage day and night.
- Bulletproof Matcha Latte: If you prefer tea over coffee, check out our recipe for making matcha Bulletproof.
- Keto Hot Chocolate: If you’re craving caffeine in chocolate form, our recipe for keto-friendly hot chocolate with coconut milk is the perfect wintertime alternative to butter coffee.
- Prebiotic Bulletproof Coffee with Collagen Protein: Make your daily coffee work harder for you.
- Bulletproof Rooibos Tea Latte: If your go-to café order is more London Fog than Latte, this recipe is for you.
- Bulletproof Turmeric Latte: Want to be Bulletproof in the evening?
- Plant-Based Bulletproof Coffee: If you follow a plant-based diet, yes, you can still enjoy the benefits of quality fats in your coffee cup.
- Try a Creamer: Power up your day with the convenience of Bulletproof Original Creamer.
- Bulletproof On-The-Go: For a faster and hassle-free Bulletproof Coffee, try our keto coffee creamer packets.
- Protein Coffee: Want to give your coffee a boost of collagen protein? We have you covered with our collagen peptide powders.
- Instamix creamer: Toss a packet of Instamix creamer in your coffee - no blender required.
Potential Benefits of Bulletproof Coffee
The internet is rife with anecdotal evidence claiming that drinking butter coffee boosts energy, increases focus, and promotes weight loss. Replacing (or adding to) your breakfast with a cup of butter coffee can support energy levels and keep you satisfied throughout the morning.
Read also: The Truth About the Bulletproof Diet
Here are some science-backed health benefits related to the individual ingredients typically used to make butter coffee:
- Coffee: Packed with health-promoting antioxidants like chlorogenic acid, coffee may increase energy, enhance concentration, promote fat burning, and even reduce the risk of certain diseases. A sharper brain: Bioflavonoids in coffee can actually make you smarter by intensifying neuronal firing in the brain. This means your brain cells will communicate faster so thoughts come more quickly and you’ll have better recall.
- Grass-fed butter: Grass-fed butter contains higher amounts of powerful antioxidants, including beta carotene, as well as higher amounts of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, than regular butter. Grass-fed butter is high in butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that can both prevent and decrease inflammation.
- Coconut oil or MCT oil: Coconut oil is a healthy fat that may increase heart-protective HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce inflammation. MCT oil has been shown to promote weight loss and improve cholesterol in some studies. MCT oil in Bulletproof coffee has been shown to improve digestive health in two main ways: it 1) prevents increased intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut syndrome, and 2) improves your gut microbiome.
Benefits for those on Ketogenic Diets
One advantage of butter coffee applies to those following the ketogenic diet. Drinking a high fat beverage like butter coffee may help people on a keto diet reach and maintain ketosis. In fact, research shows that taking MCT oil may help induce nutritional ketosis and reduce symptoms related to transitioning to the ketogenic diet, also known as the “keto flu”.
This may be because MCT oil is more “ketogenic” than other fats, meaning it’s more easily turned into molecules called ketones, which the body uses for energy when in ketosis.
Coconut oil and butter are also beneficial for those on ketogenic diets because consuming high fat foods is necessary to reach and maintain ketosis.
Combining these fats with coffee makes for a filling, energizing, keto-friendly drink that may help ketogenic dieters.
Read also: Potential Downsides of Keto Coffee
Promotes Feelings of Fullness
Adding butter, MCT oil, or coconut oil to your coffee will make it more filling due to the extra calories and ability of fats to make you feel more full.
Bulletproof coffee gives you more energy
When butter is added to your bulletproof coffee this causes it to digest more slowly making the stimulant effects of coffee to last longer so that you stay energized throughout the day and won’t have the caffeine crash effects that could come from drinking plain coffee.
Bulletproof coffee may improve your gut health
The MCT oil in Bulletproof coffee has been shown to improve digestive health in two main ways: it 1) prevents increased intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut syndrome, and 2) improves your gut microbiome. If your gut lining becomes too “leaky” or permeable, it can allow food particles and bacteria from your stomach to escape into your bloodstream. These leakages cause inflammation throughout the body and may contribute to the development of certain diseases, such as type 1 diabetes. MCT oil also supports your digestive health by helping your gut maintain a healthy balance of bacteria.
Potential Downsides
While Bulletproof Coffee may offer potential benefits, it’s not a magic solution on its own.
One of the main downsides of drinking a bulletproof coffee instead of breakfast is that you're missing out on the opportunity to eat a nutrient-dense meal. Instead, you're consuming a drink that's high in fat, but lacks valuable nutrients.
The fats included in bulletproof coffee are predominantly high in saturates - for example, just 1 tbsp of unsalted butter supplies 12.3g fat, more than half of which is saturates. When combined with the recommended MCT oil, one cup of bulletproof coffee will supply more than your maximum daily reference intake for saturated fat (20g) and approximately 242-354kcal per cup (depending on the amount of butter added).
It’s well known that caffeine gives us a boost, and it does this by acting as a trigger on our adrenal glands, the organs which manage our stress response. High intakes of caffeine over an extended period of time may tire the adrenal glands, which will impact our endocrine system and subsequent hormonal balance. Also, some people find that consuming caffeine triggers a stress response, and may increase the body’s reaction to perceived stress during normal daily activities, such as in a work environment. Some animal studies have also suggested that the effect of caffeine on our adrenals may be particularly relevant at certain life stages, such as during puberty.
Bulletproof coffee could have anywhere from 200-400 calories, so keep that in mind if you drink this in addition to eating breakfast. It could lead to weight gain, so consider using it as a replacement for breakfast or have it as a midmorning snack.
Is Bulletproof Coffee Right for You?
While Bulletproof Coffee can be a delicious addition to a well-balanced diet, it’s important to recognize that it may not be suitable for everyone. The addition of fats may not be ideal for individuals with specific health concerns, such as high cholesterol.
If you're considering incorporating bulletproof coffee into your diet, it's worth checking that your blood fats (including cholesterol) are not elevated. The current advice for those with cholesterol problems is to avoid high levels of saturated fats, including butter, in your diet.
Pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding are advised to minimise their consumption of caffeine and to eat regular balanced meals, so bulletproof coffee is unlikely to be appropriate.
For some people, who are sensitive to the effects of caffeine, regular consumption, in any form, may increase anxiety, headaches and cause sleep disturbance.
Speak to your GP if you're concerned that your dietary choices may have an impact on your risk of illness including heart disease.
How to Incorporate Bulletproof Coffee into Your Routine
The best way to figure out if Bulletproof Coffee works for you is to consistently incorporate it into your daily routine.
- Gather Your Ingredients: Check out the ingredient list in our recipe above. You will need high-quality coffee beans, grass-fed ghee or butter and MCT oil.
- Make Your First Bulletproof Coffee: Follow our recipe above.
- Listen to Your Body: Make a mental note (or write down a note-to-self) how your body responds so you can track how you feel as you make Bulletproof Coffee part of your daily routine.
- Hydrate: Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day whenever you consume caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, or energy drinks.
- Eat Real Food: Eat when you’re hungry!
Is Bulletproof Coffee a Meal Replacement?
Bulletproof Coffee is breakfast - but without the insulin spike and crash that fruit, smoothies, cereal, or bread products cause. Bulletproof Coffee in the morning is best paired with the nutrition principles outlined in the Bulletproof Diet.
Bulletproof Coffee contains targeted types of fat that keep you feeling full and alert for hours. When your brain is running on fat instead of sugar, you have more focus and won’t experience the drops in energy that come with a high-carb diet.
The Origin of Bulletproof Coffee
Dave Asprey was a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur when his health really started to take a hit. He was obese, weighing in at almost 300 pounds. For years, he tried restricting calories and working out every day. Nothing helped.
Dave got the idea for Bulletproof Coffee after a trek in Tibet in 2004. The butter-infused drink is a necessity for the people in Tibet, who live and work in such rugged, high-altitude terrain. The drink instantly rejuvenated Dave. The biohacker in him wondered why the tea made him feel so good, and he embarked on years of research into why the yak butter turned his brain on. Eventually, Dave substituted tea for mold-free coffee, and yak butter for regular old grass-fed cow’s butter. Brain Octane Oil was the final missing piece. Together, those three ingredients gave Dave the abundant energy and effortless mental clarity he felt in that hut in Tibet.
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