I love my coffee. Truth be told, I’m a bit of a coffee snob. So when a friend told me about Bulletproof Coffee a few months back, I was intrigued. While I’d seen signs for it in a few specialty cafés, I assumed it meant really strong, seat-of-your-pants coffee. As it turns out, this is an entirely different animal.

Here’s a brief excerpt from the Bulletproof Blog:

stomp on hunger and cravings
banish brain fog
increase focus and performance
lose weight
build muscle

I have to admit I was extremely skeptical. We’re talking about a cup of coffee, not a miracle! I decided I had to give it a whirl in the name of wellness (yeah, right! I just wanted all this to happen to me).

The Upside

Bulletproof coffee is said to have been inspired by a trip the founder, Dave Asprey, took to Tibet, where he drank traditional tea with yak butter. This is an age-old recipe among herding populations in harsh environments, popular for maintaining stamina. This made sense to me. If a recipe comes down through millennia, it’s because it works. So far, so good.

After two weeks of drinking the peculiar combination of Bulletproof coffee, Brain Octane Oil (derived from coconut oil), and grass fed butter, I can attest that I was feeling pretty fantastic. It really does stomp on hunger, banish brain fog, and increase focus. The butter, which initially threw me for a loop, makes for a creamy, ahem, buttery cup. When I switched out for a different coffee from time to time, I felt the difference.

The Downside

Bulletproof remains controversial on a few levels.

1. It’s not remotely vegan friendly, since butter (or ghee, its more exotic cousin) is essential to the mix.
2. The claims that it helps to lose weight and build muscle are tied to a broader philosophy that includes - surprise, surprise - nutrition and daily exercise.
3. The suggestion that a cup of Bulletproof coffee can replace breakfast is just plain wrong.
4. The company sells its own proprietary blend of coffee beans, which are single estate and apparently stripped of ‘mold toxins’. A quick search into other small producers reveals this is hardly unique to Bulletproof.

The Verdict

Still, there’s just something about this coffee. I had sustained energy through the day, not the peaks and valleys one normally expects with coffee. And, much to my delight, it truly did give me a laser-like focus. In a world where we generally don’t get enough brain-boosting healthy fats in our diet, it may not be such a bad idea to throw a double dose into your morning routine.

Our landscape is full of products purporting to make you stronger, faster, more beautiful, energetic, or vibrant. Surprisingly, a few do deliver, and Bulletproof Coffee may be one that’s actually worth your time. There are worse beverages than the one-two punch of antioxidants from quality coffee beans and a shot of good-for-you fats.

As with all things, moderation is key; although Bulletproof claims you can drink this concoction all day long, I recommend one cup in the morning. You know what they say about too much of a good thing :)

Bulletproof Recipe

A quick note on ingredients:

I hedged my bets and used Bulletproof beans. They’re expensive, but roughly on par with other small roasters. The Brain Octane Oil is essential to the mix, and you have to order it through the company in any case (I don’t recommend switching out for Coconut Oil, as it makes for an oily coffee - yuck!). The duo are easy to order through Amazon or via Bulletproof.

Blend together,

1-2 cups freshly brewed coffee
1-2 teaspoons Brain Octane Oil
1-2 tablespoons grass fed, unsalted butter
1-2 tablespoons of the alternative milk of your choice (optional)Mix well and enjoy this mysterious but altogether powerful cuppa wellness!

Mix well and enjoy this mysterious but altogether powerful cuppa wellness!