Coffee is a globally cherished beverage, with an estimated consumption of over 400 billion cups annually. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient coffee forests of Ethiopia, where a goat herder named Kaldi supposedly discovered its stimulating effects. Today, coffee is not only a morning ritual but also a source of numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic diseases and improved mental alertness.
Ghee Bulletproof Coffee has recently gained huge popularity as a fat-rich drink that positions itself as a better alternative to a high-carbohydrate breakfast. Due to its potential ability to help reduce weight, this coffee is highly preferred by people on a keto diet or people following intermittent fasting. Ghee Bulletproof Coffee has indeed garnered attention for good reasons. This fat-rich drink, blending high-quality coffee with nutrient-dense ghee, offers a multitude of health benefits that make it a worthwhile addition to a balanced diet, particularly for those following a ketogenic lifestyle.
Coffee lovers and health enthusiasts around the globe are shaking up their morning routines with a simple yet powerful twist: cow ghee in coffee. Inspired by the viral trend of bulletproof coffee, this ancient Ayurvedic hack is gaining traction as a delicious wellness ritual.
What is Ghee Coffee?
Bulletproof coffee, also known as butter coffee or keto coffee, is coffee with an added dollop of butter and oil. Plenty of people sing the praises of this coffee concoction, which is popular among intermittent fasters and followers of the low-carb, high-fat keto diet. Some fans even turn to it as a breakfast replacement.
Bulletproof coffee-popularized by Dave Asprey-combines high-quality coffee with MCT oil and butter to create a creamy, energy-boosting morning drink . But what if you swapped the butter for traditional cow ghee? This brings the practice into the realm of Ayurveda, where ghee-especially from grass-fed or A2 cows-is revered for its digestive and nourishing properties.
Read also: Benefits of Ghee for Weight Loss
Ghee coffee, a variation of the popular Bulletproof coffee, incorporates ghee-clarified butter-instead of traditional butter and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. This fusion blends the energizing effects of coffee with the nutritional benefits of ghee, creating a beverage that appeals to those seeking a healthier alternative to carb-heavy breakfasts.
The Ayurvedic Perspective on Ghee
Ayurveda regards ghee (snehana) as central to digestion and wellness. It is believed to lubricate tissues, support agni (digestive fire), and nourish the mind and body. Cow ghee, particularly from A2 milk, is traditionally considered purer and more balancing than ghee from other sources.
Cow ghee is a type of clarified butter made from cow’s milk. Traditional preparation involves simmering butter until milk solids settle and leaves behind a rich, golden fat. This process removes moisture and makes ghee shelf-stable. It’s known for its rich, nutty flavor and long shelf life. Nutritionally, cow ghee offers healthy fats, and it’s packed with vitamins A, D, E, and K.
For thousands of years, cow ghee has played a big role in Ayurveda. It’s believed to balance body energies or doshas - the fundamental forces affecting wellness. Ayurvedic traditions see ghee as a way to nourish tissues, boost immunity, and improve digestion. Think of it as a natural tonic that promotes mental clarity and physical strength.
Benefits of Ghee Coffee
Ghee Bulletproof Coffee is enriched with the nutrients of both coffee and ghee. Combining caffeine with the healthy fats in ghee results in a synergistic effect. Adding ghee to coffee can provide several benefits, such as instant energy, weight loss, enhanced satiety, and even weight management, strengthening the health and the sensory experience of your morning brew. Ghee Bulletproof Coffee has the ability to boost metabolism, enhance cognitive function, and support weight management through sustained energy release and increased satiety, underscoring its appeal.
Read also: Keto Guide: Ghee
Sustained Energy
Caffeine, a stimulant found in coffee, increases adrenaline levels, enhancing physical performance and motivation for exercise. The caffeine in coffee is well-known for its ability to improve mental alertness, focus, and concentration.
MCT oil can increase your energy levels, which may make it a powerful partner to the caffeine in coffee. Typically, your body stores dietary fats in its adipose tissue, the fat around and inside of your muscles. But MCT travels directly to your liver, where it’s processed into powerful energy particles called ketone bodies.“Because medium-chain triglycerides are digested much quicker than other types of fats, they may lead to quicker bursts of energy,” Kopp notes.
Butter and ghee also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fats that may slow down how quickly your body metabolizes caffeine. Butter coffee drinkers say this helps your body hold onto energy longer and avoid the crash that comes when the stimulant wears off.
Enhanced Cognitive Function
Antioxidants in coffee have been linked to improved brain function and a lower risk of cognitive decline. Coffee is rich in antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid and polyphenols. These compounds help neutralise free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and protecting brain cells from damage.
Ghee is said to improve clarity and energy.
Read also: Protein Coffee Smoothie Recipe
Weight Management and Satiety
Ghee Bulletproof Coffee can also help increase fat burning. Ghee naturally contains up to 25% of ‘medium chain triglycerides’ (MCT). When consumed, MCTs can quickly be transported to the liver and converted into ketones, which can serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain and muscles.
The healthy fats in ghee can help promote a feeling of fullness and reduce hunger cravings. When you consume ghee, the fats in ghee trigger the release of cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone that acts as a hunger suppressant. The most recognised function of this hormone is to improve digestion by slowing down the emptying of food from the stomach. Moreover, the caffeine in Ghee Bulletproof Coffee can also act as an appetite suppressant, helping to reduce hunger and calorie intake.
The overall increase in dietary fat can support leptin signalling. Leptin is a hormone produced by adipose (fat) tissue that helps regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger and promoting feelings of satiety. Consuming healthy fats in Ghee Bulletproof Coffee can support leptin signalling. Eating fats can also help suppress the release of ghrelin, the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger.
MCT oil is thought to promote the release of hormones that tell your brain that your stomach is full, which can reduce your appetite and lead you to eat less (which may lead to weight loss).“Medium-chain triglycerides may increase your satiety more than the long-chain triglycerides found in polyunsaturated fats like nuts, seeds and some other oils,” Kopp explains. “And the butter in the coffee is very slowly digested, potentially causing you to feel fuller longer.”
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Ghee contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which has anti-inflammatory properties. Ghee also contains butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties as well.
Grass-fed butter and ghee are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to help battle inflammation and reduce joint pain.
Studies show medium-chain fats like butyrate help protect gut lining and reduce digestive inflammation.
How to Make Ghee Coffee
To make and drink ghee coffee, start by brewing a cup of your favourite coffee using any method you prefer, such as drip, French press, or espresso. Once the coffee is ready, add one tablespoon of high-quality ghee, preferably A2 desi cow ghee, to the hot coffee. Drink the ghee coffee immediately for the best taste and benefits.
Brew a truly fresh cup of coffee. When making a ghee coffee, the freshness of the coffee beans you are using is critical. Just like fruits or vegetables, the quality of the beans you are brewing changes the nutritional benefits you get out of your daily cup. Standard coffee packaging is generally not ideal for long-term storage, so we recommend investing in storage canisters with an airtight seal if you’re going to be making ghee coffee regularly! For the absolutely best flavor, we suggest brewing your coffee via the pour over method. New to the pour over world?
Pour your coffee into a blender. We suggest pouring only the amount of coffee you want to drink at that moment into the blender. Add 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Bean Ghee and blend until foamy. Pour into a coffee mug and enjoy!
For authentic ghee coffee, the quality of your ghee matters. Enter Two Brothers Organic Farms A2 Desi Cow Ghee, handmade from organic, grass-fed A2 milk using the traditional Bilona method. It’s unrefined, nutrient-rich, aromatic, and perfect for daily use.
Considerations and Potential Downsides
While ghee coffee offers several potential benefits, it's important to consider the following:
Calorie and Saturated Fat Content
Depending on how you prepare it, one cup of bulletproof coffee can range from 230 to 500 calories. Those numbers creep higher if you add protein powder, as some drinkers do.
Butter, ghee and MCT oil are also high in saturated fats. Consuming too much saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and may cause your LDL cholesterol (sometimes called “bad” cholesterol) levels to spike.“Bulletproof coffee is very high in calories and saturated fats, so this drink isn’t necessarily safe to be consuming every day,” Kopp states. While healthy fats and oils do have a place in our daily diets, she says you’re better off getting monosaturated and polyunsaturated fat through olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, fatty fish and plant oils.
Nutrient Imbalance
“Butter, oil and coffee, even when combined together, do not meet the standards of a well-balanced breakfast,” Kopp warns. “It’s important to have more nutrients, like protein and fiber, to help keep you fuller longer and to avoid any energy crashes.”
It can delay hunger, but it lacks protein and fiber. Use moderation.
Who Should Exercise Caution
Skip this drink if you have:
- Diabetes: When you stay full longer, you may be inclined not to eat at regular intervals, which isn’t necessarily a good thing when you have diabetes. “It’s not the safest route for people with diabetes, who need to be consuming a consistent amount of carbohydrates throughout the day,” Kopp explains. (Also of note: If you have diabetes, it’s very important to talk with your doctor before going keto.)
- Gastrointestinal issues: “MCTs may actually be beneficial for people with GI issues who are experiencing weight loss, since they’re a shorter chain length and are digested and absorbed much more efficiently,” Kopp says. But some people who try butter coffee report experiencing unpleasant side effects like bloating, diarrhea and an upset stomach after drinking it.
- Heart problems: People with high cholesterol and other heart issues are often advised to scale back on butter, due to its high amounts of saturated fat. Bulletproof coffee is definitely not part of a low-cholesterol diet.
Potential for Dietary Endotoxemia
Acute consumption of high-fat foods has been shown to promote dietary endotoxemia; the release of bacterial lipopolysaccharide from the gut into the blood, which is linked to proinflammatory responses through activating toll like receptor (TLR) 4 on circulating monocytes.
A study aimed to determine whether consuming this high-fat coffee beverage would impact cellular inflammation assessed by increases in the number of circulating monocytes and monocyte surface TLR4 expression. This study is a single-blind (researcher), randomized crossover design wherein participants consume either a freshly prepared coffee (1 pod with 12oz water; ∼1 kcal), or high-fat bulletproof coffee (1 pod with 12 oz water containing 1 tbsp MCT oil and 1 tbsp ghee; 27 g fat; ∼250 kcal) separated by ∼7 days. Participants provided blood samples in the fasted state and at 60- and 180-minutes following beverage consumption. Six healthy adults (n = 5 females) aged 25 ± 8 years who consume coffee regularly have completed both conditions. Preliminary statistical analysis using a linear mixed model has shown no significant time x condition interaction (P = 0.184) or main effect of time (P = 0.211) for the concentration of circulating monocytes. Preliminary data suggests that consuming a single high-fat bulletproof coffee does not appear to increase circulating monocyte concentrations or monocyte TLR4 expression.
Ghee Coffee vs. Bulletproof Coffee
Not exactly. Bulletproof uses butter or MCT oil, while ghee coffee uses clarified butter (ghee).
Some say you shouldn't add milk to ghee coffee because the ghee acts as a creamer when blended with freshly brewed coffee. However, others suggest adding full-fat coconut milk, coconut cream, or almond milk to ghee coffee.