What is Bulletproof Coffee? Origins, Benefits, and Easy Recipe

Bulletproof coffee combines coffee, butter, and oil as a substitute for breakfast. In this article, we look at what bulletproof coffee is, where it came from, and how to make it. We also examine its potential health benefits and who might benefit from drinking it.

What is Bulletproof Coffee? 

Also known as butter coffee, bulletproof coffee, is a high-calorie drink intended to fuel your start to the day. Bulletproof Coffee is not your average latte – it’s a high-performance, energetic keto-friendly coffee drink that combines coffee, butter, and oil. This powerhouse beverage is a powerful part of ketogenic and intermittent fasting diets. It helps you feel satiated, focused, and alert. 

Where Bulletproof Coffee Began

Dave Asprey was a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur when his health started to take a turn for the worst. He was obese, weighing in at almost 300 pounds. His brain function was starting to suffer and he was also chronically tired. For years, he tried working out every day and restricting calories, but nothing helped. By the time he was 30, Dave’s doctors told him he was at strong risk for a heart attack or stroke – not at some unknown time in the future, but soon. In 2004, Dave got the idea for Bulletproof Coffee after a trek in Tibet. At 18,000 feet above sea level and -10 degrees Fahrenheit, his energy was quickly plummeting – until he went into a guest house and a local handed him a creamy cup of yak butter tea.  

The biohacker in him questioned why the tea made him feel so good. Since then, he embarked on years of research into the power behind the ingredients. Later, Dave substituted tea for mold-tested coffee, and yak butter for ghee or regular grass-fed butter. Brain Octane oil was the final missing ingredient. The right blend of these three ingredients – the right coffee, grass-fed butter, and the right MCT oils – finally gave Dave the same feeling he first experienced in that guest house high up in the Tibetan mountains. That is how Bulletproof Coffee was born. 

Bulletproof Coffee Benefits

While there has been plenty of research into coffee consumption in general, there have been few studies that specifically looks into the effects of bulletproof coffee. So, more research is necessary before we can make any firm conclusions. Bulletproof coffee is claimed to help feel satiated, focused and alert. Although there currently have been no specific studies relating to bulletproof coffee, several studies do show that drinking coffee in the morning may help you feel more alert and awake, as well as improving reaction time and short-term recall, thus improving performance – with effects potentially lasting a few hours. 

Research also suggests that normal caffeine intake has an effect on thermogenesis (our body’s process of producing heat) and increasing metabolic rate. Key components of bulletproof coffee includes fats from butter and MCT oil. Proponents claim that this will stabilize hunger, provide calories to fuel your morning, and suppress appetite. As well as being calorie-rich, butter supplies fat soluble vitamins, including Vitamins A, D, and K. It is also a source of gut-friendly butyrate and supplies conjugated fats, which research shows may help improve body fat composition. 

For people who are following a high-fat, low-carb diet, bulletproof coffee fits the ketogenic style of eating since it contains no carbs and the body converts the MCT oil to ketones. This effect is believed to be more effective in the absence of a meal. MCT oil is metabolized by the liver and is absorbed quickly by the body, thus supplying a ready source of energy. This makes it potentially beneficial for those who are looking to lose weight; however, more studies are necessary to validate these findings. 

Recent studies that examine high-fat, low-carb diets appear to suggest that on average, such diets don’t necessarily increase your total and LDL cholesterol levels. However, note that the effects on long-term health are still unknown and recommendations for daily fat intake remain the same. Based on current research, ketogenic diets may be linked with some improvements in cardiovascular factors, including HDL cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, and obesity; however, these effects are believed to be limited over time. 

How to Make Bulletproof Coffee: Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

Bulletproof coffee combines coffee (made from high quality beans) with unsalted butter and a medium chain triglyceride (MCT), which is usually derived from coconut oil. The ingredients are blended together, served warm and typically resembles a creamy latte. 

Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons ground coffee (made from high quality beans)
• 6-8 ounces of filtered water
• 1 teaspoon – 2 tablespoons MCT oil (which is usually derived from coconut oil)
• 1 – 2 tablespoons unsalted or grass-fed ghee butter 

Instructions:

1. Brew 1 cup (around 8 – 12 ounces) of coffee using filtered of water with 2 ½ heaping tablespoons of freshly ground coffee beans. Tip: For best results, start with whole beans and grind them just before brewing.
   
   
2. Add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons of MCT oil. Start with 1 teaspoon and work you way up to 1 – 2 tablespoons over several days.
   
   
3. Add 1 – 2 tablespoons of unsalted, grass-fed butter or ghee.
   
   
4. Mix in a blender for 20 to 30 seconds. The coffee mix should look creamy and foamy.

When Do You Drink Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee can be your new favorite breakfast. Many high-carb, heavily processed breakfast options such as pastries, toast, or cereals provide a quick boost of energy, but may disrupt blood sugar and leave you craving another sweet fix. Dave Asprey argues that bulletproof coffee provides you with the fuel to start your day, while offering a low-carb alternative to carb-laden breakfast options. 

Note that it may take your body a while to adapt to the extra fat. So, start slowly. Start with smaller amounts of butter and MCT oil. Then, build up to the full amounts included in the recipe. Ditch your sugar-heavy, carb-laden breakfast and start your day with fat for fuel. When you feel alert and sharp for hours, you’ll be glad you made the switch. 

Bulletproof Coffee Philippines

Wondering where you can buy bulletproof coffee in the Philippines? If you want to make it at home, you can easily find the necessary ingredients in most grocery stores. There are also ‘Bulletproof Coffee Bundles’ being sold online. 

The Bottom Line 

If you’re looking for a high-fat, low-carb alternative to your daily coffee which can still boost your energy and keep you alert and focused for hours, you should definitely give bulletproof coffee a try.