Bulletproof coffee is a beverage that has gained popularity in recent years, the concept behind bulletproof coffee is to provide a concentrated dose of energy and mental clarity.
What's in it?
Coffee: Bulletproof coffee starts with high-quality coffee beans, preferably brewed with a French press or any other method that preserves the coffee's natural oils and flavours. (At Brewed we use an Americano coffee (large cup of hot water with a double espresso on top) The caffeine in coffee provides an energy boost and can enhance mental alertness.
Grass-fed unsalted butter: Adding a tablespoon or more of grass-fed unsalted butter to the brewed coffee. Grass-fed butter is preferred because it is higher in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E, and K compared to conventional butter. The butter contributes to the creamy texture of the beverage and adds a rich flavour. We're fortunate here in NZ as we're well known for our dairy industry, estimated over 95% of our dairy herds are pasture-fed.
Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil: MCT oil is a type of fat derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil, we always use coconut derived oil as palm oil is linked to deforestation - Orangutans are pretty cool primates and we'd like to keep them around. It contains medium-chain fatty acids, which are rapidly metabolized by the body and converted into energy. MCT oil is believed to provide a quick energy source and promote mental clarity. It's typically added to bulletproof coffee in quantities ranging from one to two tablespoons.
The Recipe:
1x Americano coffee/french press/plunger
10ml MCT oil
1x Tablespoon of butter/cacao butter or coconut cream (DF)
All into the blender to emulsify the fats/oils. Presto!
NB* Be careful though the hot water can make the lid pop, so use a tea towel and hold down the lid when you first turn the blender on, or if you have a blender with a variable speed, start slow, and then turn it up until you see the colour of the liquid change to a lighter tone, but not too long as you're introducing lots of air into the coffee that will cool it down quickly.
Because our bodies take longer to break down fats, and because we emulsified the coffee, some of the caffeine gets caught in the lipids of the fat resulting in a slower release of the caffeine, essentially smoothing out the bell curve/spike of the caffeine.
For me, I know if I have a Bulletproof coffee in the morning, I won't think about having a coffee until 4pm or 5pm at which point I won't be having another one...well in most cases, sometimes coffee is just delicious to drink regardless of time of day.
Bulletproof coffee is often consumed as a replacement for breakfast or as a way to extend the fasting period during intermittent fasting (popular with the ketogenic diet). It is said to provide sustained energy levels, promote mental clarity, and reduce hunger cravings.
While they had to retract the statement that Bulletproof coffees can improve your cognitive function, it was from a study where it they were able to prove it enhanced the cognitive function of people that had Alzheimer's, while they are yet to prove it with regular healthy brains, I have tested it with a decafe coffee and I found my mental clarity was sharper even without the caffeine.
If you're looking for a new coffee to try or even just trying to ease back on how many coffees you drink a day, this is the one for you.
