What Is Bulletproof Coffee and How to Make One?

Delicious, creamy, and different – bulletproof coffee, like wheatgrass shot or green juice, is not just any beverage but a lifestyle statement that makes it a morning ritual. This healthy favorite is not just any coffee you get at your local café; it’s made from a delicious blend of butter, coffee, and coconut oil, and the drink brings a little more “yum” to your morning diet. Moreover, the physical and mental benefits it provides are way above any caffeine drinks you have ever heard of, making it something worth considering. Here is everything you need to know about this energy drink and why it might be your secret recipe for a healthy lifestyle!

What Is Bulletproof Coffee?

Also known as keto coffee or butter coffee, bulletproof coffee is a popular energizing drink created from fresh coffee and high-quality fats. Created by an American entrepreneur, Dave Asprey, the coffee was designed to be the easy alternative to breakfast that provides your body with a dose of healthy nutrients and fats. This breakfast drink is complementary to several diets, including the low-carb, paleo, and ketogenic diets, as well as the One Meal a Day and intermittent fasting methods.

Bulletproof coffee has gained popularity because it is high in energy and helps one feel satiated and focused because of its creative mix of healthy fats and coffee.

Origin of Bulletproof Coffee

While Dave Asprey is popular for introducing the recipe to the western world, the concept of combining high-fat solids with caffeine has been around for ages. Asprey found this gem while trekking in the Himalayas, where the Tibetan hosts offered him yak butter tea to help him get through the high altitude of the mountains and the freezing climate.

However, he made a few variations to this original recipe when he brought it to the western world. He changed the yak milk to grass-fed butter, used coffee instead of tea, and added a little coconut oil.

While Asprey introduced the bulletproof coffee with his line of bulletproof products, the name became very popular because of fitness enthusiasts, food bloggers, and cafes worldwide. In some cases, bulletproof coffee is also known as butter coffee to avoid trademark infringement.

What Is MCT Oil & It Benefits?

MCT is a type of fat present in milk, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil, and it stands for medium-chain triglycerides or medium-chain fatty acids. MCT oil is odorless and colorless, making it the perfect addition to smoothies, drinks, and other recipes. It is popular for the added energy it provides, helping the consumer stay sharper. A few other benefits of MCT oils include:

• Provides clean and quick energy
• Suppresses hunger
• Enhances immune health
• Helps lose unwanted fat

Why to Drink Bulletproof Coffee?

Most heavily processed and high-carb breakfast options like toasts and cereals give the consumer a great energy boost, but this may later cause variations in blood sugar levels. According to Asprey, bulletproof coffee can provide you with enough energy to begin your day while ensuring you would not require a high-carb breakfast.

Is Drinking Bulletproof Coffee Healthy?

If you can generally consume caffeine every day, then there is no reason to think otherwise! The fat present in the drink can help slow down the way caffeine is processed in your body. However, if your body is susceptible to caffeine normally, adding fat might not change its effects.

Moreover, if you are not a fan of caffeine, you could always go for decaf recipes! If you are making bulletproof coffees from high-quality fats and coffee beans, it can turn out to be a wonderful addition to your diet. However, make sure you do not drink too much every day – one cup per day is the recommended amount.

Pros of Bulletproof Coffee

A few reasons why you need to consider adding bulletproof coffee to your daily diet are:

1. Energy

Drinking bulletproof coffee can provide the person with long-lasting and constant energy for many hours while reducing the chances of blood sugar crashes. The reason behind this is that the fat present in the coffee can slow down the digestion of caffeine, allowing the body to absorb it more slowly.

2. Weight loss

Bulletproof coffee contains MCT oil that can help induce ketosis. The coffee helps by remaining or entering in ketosis’ metabolic states. This can cause burning fat to be the primary energy source, commonly called “keto flu.” No other fats are as ketogenic as the MCT oil, making this the best option to quickly convert ketones, thus supporting intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets. Moreover, the coffee can help maintain ketosis and keep insulin levels low through ingredients like ghee, butter, or bulletproof coffee coconut oil.

3. Nutrients

Bulletproof coffee is popular for providing people a wide range of nutrients that include A, D, E, and K Vitamins along with Omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene, butyrate, and conjugated linoleic acid.

The butyrate in the coffee can help with better gut health since intestinal bacteria consume these. Ghee and butter in the coffee also play a huge role in supplying nutrients to the body, especially when these are grass-fed products.

4. Focus

One of the most popular benefits of bulletproof coffee is the focus it provides. It is not just the caffeine that helps provide mental clarity but also the MCT oil that enhances cognitive abilities. Many studies have found a strong connection between gut health and the brain, and since the brain requires ketones as its source of energy, bulletproof coffee can help your body enter ketosis way better.

5. Preventing Diseases

Studies suggest that coffee can help the body prevent certain types of diseases, such as Parkinson’s, type-2 diabetes, and liver disease. The grass-fed butter and ghee also provide conjugated linoleic acid to prevent diseases like cancer, arteriosclerosis, and insulin resistance. The MCTs present in the coffee also reduces inflammation and promotes gut health.

6. Satiety

Another reason why bulletproof coffee is considered a very healthy option is because it suppresses the person’s appetite in the morning, making them feel fuller for a longer period. Moreover, the coffee does contain a large amount of fat because of the presence of butter, and this naturally enhances satiety.

7. Presence of Caffeine

Caffeine from the coffee will not only help you keep awake, but it can also help the body by boosting metabolism and burning unwanted fats. When you merge the advantages of caffeine with healthy MCT oil and grass-fed ghee, you have created a potent energy concoction that will ensure you feel satiated for hours.

Cons of Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof coffee is a creamy, rich drink, but it has a few downsides worth looking into. These include:

1. Missing out on breakfast

One of the biggest disadvantages of bulletproof coffee is that you might constantly end up missing out on a nutritionally balanced and healthy breakfast. Though you are consuming a high-fat drink, and while the bulletproof coffee nutrition can keep you full for hours, you might still miss out on other important nutrients necessary for normal body functions.

2. Might exceed the maximum daily intake of fat

It is no secret that bulletproof coffee is rich in saturates, but when combined with the MCT oil, a cup of the coffee will contain more than the maximum daily intake of saturated fat. This may even increase depending on the amount of butter you add.

3. May increase stress

Caffeine is popular for giving the right amount of energy boost each day, and it does this by triggering the adrenal glands in the body responsible for stress response. However, when your coffee intake starts increasing, the adrenal glands may get worn out, impacting the endocrine system and resulting in hormonal imbalances. In some people, caffeine may increase the stress level even for normal daily activities by activating the stress response more often.

4. May increase cholesterol levels

Butter and the high amount of saturated fats in bulletproof coffee might increase the overall cholesterol levels in the body. In some people, when this is left unnoticed, it might increase their chances of heart disease. Therefore, people who think they might be vulnerable to cholesterol fluctuation can avoid the coffee altogether to avoid any complications.

Does Bulletproof Coffee Help in Weight Loss?

This completely depends on what you drink and eat for breakfast every day. Replacing daily sugary drinks with bulletproof coffee or not having breakfast except for this drink can help you lose weight. If skipping breakfast is what you normally do, then bulletproof coffee can be a great addition to your morning routine since it can provide a sense of fullness for a long time. This can also help to reduce your cravings for food or snacks later during the day, thereby reducing your weight. However, consuming a drink with a hundred percent dietary fat might not always be the best option for you. Drinking bulletproof coffee instead of low-fat latte or black tea, or coffee may actually increase the number of calories you consume.

Bulletproof Coffee Recipes Ideas

Now that you are convinced that bulletproof coffee is definitely worth a shot, here are a few homemade bulletproof coffee recipes you need to check out!

1. The Original Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

The first recipe you need to try is the original version of the bulletproof coffee, after which you can experiment based on your tastes.

Ingredients 

• High-quality coffee (1 cup, strong)
• MCT oil (1-2 tbsp)
• Grass-fed butter (1-2 tbsp, unsalted)

Instructions 

1. Take a blender and put all the ingredients inside it.
2. Mix it well and enjoy your drink!

2. The Original With Chaga Mushroom Powder

A healthy variation of the original bulletproof coffee is the one that contains a few teaspoons of the Chaga mushroom powder.

Ingredients 

• Grass-fed butter (2 tbsp, unsalted)
• Coconut or MCT oil (2 tbsp)
• High-quality coffee (1 cup, strong)
• Chaga mushroom powder (1-2 tsp)

Instructions 

1. Add all of the ingredients into a blender and mix them well.
2. Pour it into a cup and enjoy your drink!

3. Gingerbread Bulletproof Coffee

A little cinnamon spice to your healthy original bulletproof coffee recipe can give you the right amount of buzz every morning.

Ingredients 

• Gingerbread spice (1 tsp per 2 tbsp of coffee powder)
• MCT or coconut oil (1 tbsp)
• Grass-fed butter (1 tbsp, unsalted)

Instructions 

1. Add these ingredients in the right amounts into a blender and mix well.
2. If you want the sweet spice of the gingerbread to have the spotlight, reduce the amounts of MCT or coconut oil.

4. Pumpkin Spice Bulletproof

The pumpkin spice bulletproof coffee is a unique recipe that can also serve as a seasonal special.

Ingredients

• Grass-fed butter (2 tbsp, unsalted)
• MCT or coconut oil (2 tbsp)
• Coconut milk (1 cup, unsweetened)
• Organic pumpkin puree
• High-quality coffee (1 cup, strong)
• Salt (a pinch)
• Nutmeg (to taste)
• Cinnamon (to taste)

Instructions 

1. Add all the ingredients in a blender following the right amounts and blend well.
2. However, do remember to remove the layer of solids that are usually present in coconut milk.

5. Turbo Bulletproof Coffee Drops

Turbo bulletproof coffee drops are perfect for anyone who does not have enough time every morning and is constantly on the go.

Ingredients 

• Grass-fed butter (½ stick, unsalted)
• MCT or coconut oil (1 cup)
• Cinnamon (½ tsp)
• Sea salt (¼ tsp)

Instructions

1. Combine these ingredients and blend well in a blender.
2. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
3. When ready to consume, take a piece and put it into hot water.
4. Stir well and enjoy!

Bulletproof coffee can be a pretty exciting option but before you start adding it to your diet, make sure you check with your present health situations to avoid any disasters later.

FAQs

1. Can Everyone Drink Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee may be considered a healthy option for many if you do not have high cholesterol levels and if it accompanies a nutritional diet.

2. Is It Okay to Add Bulletproof Coffee to Our Daily Routine?

You can consume a cup of bulletproof coffee with breakfast every day. Though it is trendy among low-carb and paleo dieters, it is not advisable to add more than one cup of this coffee into your daily diet.

3. Is Bulletproof Coffee Vegan?

Not all bulletproof coffee recipes are vegan since these recipes would feature butter. If vegan options are something you would be interested in, you can always check out the vegan recipes to make bulletproof coffee. Instead of the traditional bulletproof coffee butter, these recipes feature vegan options like coconut oil, cacao butter, or coconut butter.

4. Is Bulletproof Coffee Recipe Keto Friendly?

Yes! A keto coffee would generally refer to any coffee recipe that contains healthy fats and no sugars. While black coffee is a great addition to a keto diet, bulletproof coffee becomes an even better option since these contain healthy fats.

Also Read:

Can Coffee Cause Acne?
Green Coffee for Weight Loss
Is Coffee Good or Bad for You?