Bulletproof Coffee: Surefire Health Hit or Miss?

Long gone are the days when fat was public enemy number one – at least, for now. With the growing popularity of low-carb diets like keto, the premise that fat is the villain is slowly losing traction. Due to a heightened willingness to give healthy fats a chance, trendy foods and drinks like Bulletproof coffee are starting to emerge.  

Curious what Bulletproof coffee is? It's time to investigate and see if it's worth all the hype. And if you're interested in trying it, be sure to give our own Bulletproof coffee recipe a go!

What is Bulletproof coffee?  

So, what is Bulletproof coffee, and why does its sport such a full-on name? That’s because it isn’t your average coffee. This cup of joe is super creamy because it’s whipped up with a blend of butter and MCT oil. Yes, you read that correctly – black coffee and butter.   

The thought of that combination may not sound particularly appealing at first, but believe it or not, it can taste pretty delicious when prepared correctly. But why on earth would someone mix coffee and butter? Fans of Bulletproof coffee claim that it:

• Improves focus

• Reduces hunger

• Provides energy minus the jitters

Bulletproof coffee was created by Silicon Valley entrepreneur and famed bio-hacker Dave Asprey, who credits this concoction in helping him to lose 100 pounds, as well as improving his energy levels and aiding his sleep. According to Asprey, he developed a taste for butter coffee when he traveled to Tibet and tried yak butter tea. After some experimentation in the US, he developed Bulletproof coffee as part of the Bulletproof diet, which like the ketogenic diet, is high in fat and low in carbs.  

Asprey also claims that the Bulletproof diet is responsible for raising his IQ at least 20 points, but so far he hasn't been unable to support such claims. Miracle elixir or not, it may be worth a shot if you’re already following a low carb diet like keto.

Bulletproof coffee and weight loss

Could drinking this coffee adaptation really assist weight loss? After being demonized for so many years, it’s hard to get past the idea that drinking butter is good for weight loss. Bulletproof coffee enthusiasts believe it is, but it’s important to consider some other factors.

If you’re on the ketogenic diet, then drinking Bulletproof coffee may be useful maintaining a state of ketosis – after all, it’s a high-fat beverage, low in carbs and full of caffeine which may rev up your metabolism. However, adding Bulletproof coffee to a “normal” diet may add too many calories to your daily intake and even cause you to gain weight if not careful.

It's also worth noting that in addition to being quite calorie-dense, Bulletproof coffee is high in saturated fat. While it’s fine to enjoy in moderation depending on your current calorie intake and diet, we don't recommend drinking it every day.

How to make Bulletproof coffee

If you own a blender, making Bulletproof coffee is a piece of cake. The ingredients are easy enough to find, with Bulletproof coffee recipes often including butter/ghee, coffee and your choice of MCT oil or coconut oil. We advise to opt for the best ingredients you can, and keep it organic whenever possible.

When choosing butter, we suggest grass-fed – whatever you do, avoid a "like-butter" style spread, as the majority of the time it can contain trans fats and isn't pure butter. In this case, get full-fat, real butter sold as a block. Alternatively, you could use ghee, a high-quality form of clarified butter that's common in Middle Eastern and South Asian cooking.  

Another key ingredient in Bulletproof coffee is MCT oil, short for medium chain triglycerides. Look out for pure MCT oil that’s free of additives or flavoring – it should be completley odorless, and as always, ensure it’s from a reputable source.

Now, let's get to how to make Bulletproof coffee at home! Whip out your blender and simply follow our Bulletproof coffee recipe below. It shouldn't take longer than a couple of minutes.

Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

3 min279 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups of hot brewed coffee
• 2 Tbsp grass-fed butter or ghee
• 1 Tbsp MCT oil or coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Method

1. Brew a pot of coffee – filter or espresso coffee is fine.
2. Add the coffee, butter/ghee, MCT/Coconut oil in a blender and blend until fully combined and smooth.
3. Pour into a mug or cup and enjoy immediately - Bon appetit!