Would you ever think about consuming coffee with butter? What if I told you that there is a coffee drink known as “butter coffee”, would you believe me? Believe it or not… there is! In this article, I will be going over this concoction called “Bulletproof Coffee” and how to make bulletproof coffee! So brew yourself a cup of coffee, get comfy and read on!
What is Bulletproof Coffee?
Bulletproof coffee, also called “Butter Coffee” or “Keto Coffee” is a highly-caloric coffee drink that can be a great substitute for your breakfast. The coffee drink consists of:
- Strong Coffee
- Unsalted Butter (Grass-fed) or Ghee
- MCT/Coconut oil (MCT stands for Medium Chain Triglyceride)
Bulletproof coffee was introduced by “Dave Asprey” who is the founder of the Bulletproof Diet. Bulletproof coffee is a very popular choice among people who follow a low carb and ketogenic diets.
What makes Bulletproof Coffee so healthy?
To answer this question, let’s break down this hearty keto coffee and go over each component, Starting with the base:
Coffee
Aside from tasting delicious and giving us that nice booster in the morning, coffee is packed with a handful of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Chlorogenic acid a health-promoting antioxidant in coffee improves concentration and stamina and also diminishes the risks of various diseases.
The caffeine content in coffee is also known to increase fat burning by about 29%, so coffee alone is already a perfect drink to shed those extra pounds! If you’d like to learn more about the perks of this bean with our article on the benefits of coffee.
Unsalted Butter (Grass-fed)
You might immediately think that there is no way that butter can be healthy for you, but the truth is that Grass-fed butter has its health benefits. Though grass-fed butter has higher fatty acids than conventional butter it packs 26% more omega-3 fatty acids (1). These fatty acids are known to lower blood pressure, reduce the chances of heart attacks, strokes and slow down the formation of plaque in the arteries. (2)
Some other benefits of Grass-fed Butter are (3):
- Great source of Vitamin A and E
- Vitamin K2
- Omega-3
- Has CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
Ghee
Also known as “Clarified butter”, has been a staple in Ayurvedic therapies and Indian cuisine for centuries. Ghee is made by heating regular butter on a pan and separating the liquid fats from the milk solids. The milk solids are usually discarded leaving you with a clear fatty butter that can be stored without refrigeration for about 12 months, and with the proper care, some can even age it for years!
Aside from it being extremely fatty, ghee has its health benefits. It contains a fatty acid known as butyrate which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that is known to help the digestive system.
Some other benefits of Ghee are (4):
- Contains Vitamins A, D, E and K.
- Encourages Hair growth.
- Great skin moisturizer
- Also contains CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
MCT (Medium Chain Triglyceride) / Coconut Oil
MCT oil has become an extremely popular choice for many active individuals over the last few years, delivering a handful of health benefits that not only promote weight loss but also give you a great source of energy and improve your overall cognitive function. So just imagine the possibilities when paired up with coffee.
MCT oil contains beneficial fatty acids which consist of a chain length that has 6-12 carbon atoms, these acids are C8 – Caprylic Acid, C6 – Caproic Acid, C10 – Capric Acid. Since MCT oil has a shorter chain length it doesn’t require bile for it to be broken down, and it can be instantly used for energy.
While Coconut Oil contains MCT oil and is considered a great substitute, they are not exactly the same. Coconut Oil in comparison to pure MCT oil has lower quantities of C6 – Caproic Acid, about 6% of C8 – Caprylic Acid, 10% of C10 – Capric Acid and roughly 60% of C12 – Lauric Acid.
MCT oil promotes the feeling of fullness, which can have an impact on you eating less throughout the day due to the lower rise in glucose and triglycerides. This is why MCT is a perfect addition to a keto diet since it helps produce ketones and gets you into ketosis.
What is Ketosis? – Ketosis is a state that occurs when the human body runs out of carbohydrates and turns to fatty acids for energy. During this state, it resorts to the production of ketones which is a chemical produced by your liver to break fatty acids and cells for energy.
Some other benefits of MCT are (5):
- Reduces hunger.
- Promotes gut health.
- Improves cognitive function.
- Helps manage Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism and Epilepsy
- Fights bacterial growth and yeast
- Reduces many risks for Heart disease
- Helps manage blood sugar levels
- Promotes longevity.
The Benefits of Bulletproof Coffee
So now that you are aware of the benefits of each component that makes up Bulletproof Coffee, here is an overview of how this butter coffee can be beneficial to your lifestyle:
Can keep you satiated
The addition of unsalted butter and MCT/coconut oil to your coffee makes for a great breakfast substitute, keeping you satiated for longer without having to consume a hefty carb breakfast. This is extremely beneficial if you’re into intermitting fasting or practising a diet like keto.
Supports weight loss
If paired up with a diet plan like Keto, Bulletproof coffee can help you shed those extra pounds much faster. As mentioned above, MCT oil can promote a feeling of fullness with the lower rise of glucose and triglycerides, and the Conjugated Linoleic Acid in grass-fed butter can reduce your cravings for food while increasing the fat burning process and break down of fats.
Supports Brain Function
The caffeine in coffee stimulates your central nervous system, improving your mental alertness, concentration and memory performance. Now when paired up with MCT oil it becomes the ultimate fuel for your brain. It has been found that MCT oil increases the brain’s energy by about 8 to 9% (6) Not to forget MCT oil helps with a wide range of neurological disorders like Dementia, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s Alzheimer’s, Strokes and TBI (Traumatic brain injury)
Reduces Type-2 Diabetes
Bulletproof coffee can also minimize the chances of diabetes as it helps your metabolism and body fight against diabetes by reducing weight with the benefits of MCT oil. (7)(8)
The Downsides of Bulletproof Coffee
While keto coffee can be a great meal replacement, and assist with weight loss and help you maintain ketosis while providing your body with a handful of other benefits, incorporating this highly-caloric drink as an addition to your regular meals can drastically increase your weight.
Each butter coffee can be estimated at just under 500 calories, with a substantial amount of saturated fats. Now, if you’re not on a diet then this can be an issue. So it’s important that you keep an eye on your intake of keto coffee. As the saying goes, everything is good in moderation!
How to make Bulletproof Coffee?
So after reading all those benefits, how excited are you to try this Butter coffee? Don’t worry you will love it! The standard classic recipe for bulletproof coffee only consist of 3 things:
- High-quality coffee beans
- Unsalted Grass-fed butter or Ghee
- MCT Oil (you can use Coconut Oil, but it technically won’t be “Bulletproof coffee” anymore)
Settle for Quality
With all the health benefits that Bulletproof coffee brings, it’s only advisable that you get the best ingredients for this coffee drink. Make sure you use high-quality coffee beans, so skip out on the cheap bottom shelf beans at your local supermarket, and invest in some organic coffee beans.
When it comes to your butter or Ghee, make sure you are using ONLY grass-fed butter or high-quality Ghee and that the butter is UNSALTED. You wouldn’t want to be mixing regular butter to make your bulletproof coffee, you will miss out on all nutrients that grass-fed butter offers!
Last but not least, MCT Oil. For the ultimate Bulletproof coffee experience, you want to use MCT Oil that is high in Caprylic Acid (C8). If you plan on using coconut oil that is also fine, but then technically you won’t be making “Bulletproof Coffee” but “Coconut Oil Coffee” instead.
Recommended MCT Oils
Brain Octane
This one is a bit pricey, but it’s the original MCT oil by Dave Asprey the inventor of The Bulletproof Coffee.
Blend it!
You will need to blend these three ingredients extremely well, keep in mind you are mixing oils with water, so stirring it with a spoon or trying to shake it in a protein shaker won’t do the job. I highly recommend investing in a glass blender that comes with a portable to-go container, so you can take your bulletproof coffee on the go. The smaller blenders are extremely easy to clean compared to the large hefty ones! So try to aim for something that isn’t too big, If you’re looking to buy a new blender.
The Original Bulletproof Coffee Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 Brewed Cup of Quality Coffee
- 1 TSP – 2 TBSP of Brain Octane MCT Oil
- 1-2 TBSP of Unsalted Grass-Fed Butter or 1-2 TSP of Ghee
- Brew your coffee with your preferred coffee brewing system, I highly recommend using a pour-over system like a Chemex or an Aeropress for best results. I personally like to use a French press coffee maker, it’s a bit tricky because you can end up with sediment in your cup if you don’t use the right coffee grind size. I like to make my coffee batch extremely strong.
- Pre-heat the blender with some boiled water for a few seconds and dump your water.
- Drop your butter and MCT oil into the blender.
- Now add pour your coffee into the blender.
- Blend it for 20 to 30 seconds. Make sure that it’s properly blended and you can see a creamy texture.
- Now take a sip and experience heaven!
Conclusion
So there you have it! Bulletproof coffee… a.k.a Keto coffee… a.k.a. Butter coffee… whatever you want to call it! I hope you enjoyed this guide got a bit more insight into the world of this brain powering coffee drink. If you decided to give it a go, I would love to hear all about your journey!
Frequently Asked Questions
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