Did someone say coffee break? When you start following a keto diet, it can feel like all your favorite foods and drinks are now off-limits.
But don’t despair. Coffee is still here.
Black coffee is a keto-approved drink that you can enjoy every morning. And if you’ve been missing cream and sugar in your brew, you can enjoy keto coffee. (Sometimes called Bulletproof coffee.)
This creamy drink not only perks you up but may help you enter ketosis faster. This article will break down the basics of keto coffee, its health benefits, and how to make your own cup at home.
What Is Keto Coffee?
Keto coffee is a blended drink of coffee and fat. It is often used as a breakfast replacement drink and can keep you stay full until lunchtime.
Generally, keto coffee contains brewed black coffee and a keto-approved fat source, such as:
- Unsalted, grass-fed butter
- Organic ghee
- Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil
- MCT powder
In case you’re wondering, Bulletproof coffee is a type of keto coffee that uses its own unique blend of coffee and fat. This keto staple combines coffee, butter, and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil.
If you just can’t wait, skip to the bottom of this article for a go-to keto coffee recipe. Otherwise, keep reading.
How Does Keto Coffee Work?
Keto coffee is most effective when paired with a keto diet. The keto diet works by putting the body into ketosis, a metabolic state in which you burn fat for energy.
A keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb, moderate-protein diet. Without a steady supply of carbohydrates, the body switches its energy source to fat.
When you switch to fat for energy, your body starts making ketones. Ketones are molecules produced in the liver that can be used as a backup fuel when carbs are not available.
As your body continues to break down fat to meet its energy needs, you naturally start to lose weight. That’s why keto tends to work well for weight loss.[*]
Because keto coffee starts your day with keto-approved fats, it can give your body a jump start on ketosis.
Potential Benefits of Keto Coffee
Keto coffee has a rich and creamy taste while packing some serious energy to power your day. Here are a few potential health benefits of drinking it.
Weight Loss
A morning cup of keto coffee may contribute to your weight loss goal. The MCTs in keto coffee are not stored in body fat tissues like other types of dietary fat but travel directly to the liver to be converted into ketones. Deeper ketosis means more satiety, which can prevent overeating.
The fats in keto coffee also help your body to metabolise the caffeine more slowly, keeping you going all morning and preventing a crash later.[*]
To be clear, however, adding keto coffee to your current diet isn’t a weight loss guarantee. (Those extra calories may even cause weight gain.) The idea is that keto coffee helps you subtract other calories from your regimen.
Mental Clarity
Being in ketosis may improve mental acuity. An example will help illustrate.
A 2009 study looked at adults experiencing cognitive impairment because their brains had lost the ability to use glucose for fuel. When the study participants switched to a keto diet, their brains were able to use ketones for fuel, and mental function significantly improved.[*]
Better Workouts
Adding keto coffee to your morning routine could take your workouts to the next level. A 2020 study of athletes found that adding a keto coffee beverage to their diet significantly increased energy expenditures while exercising. The athletes felt better and more energised during their workouts. Researchers found that keto coffee may enhance recovery too.[*]
Is Keto Coffee for Everyone?
Probably not. If you tend to experience stomach upset or any other uncomfortable symptoms from drinking coffee, it’s best to avoid it.
Keto coffee is best for those who are already following a keto diet or practicing intermittent fasting. But even if you eat some carbs, putting MCT oil in your coffee can promote ketosis. Just don’t expect it to magically help with weight loss if you aren’t reducing food intake elsewhere.
How to Make Keto Coffee
Keto coffee is easy to make at home. You just need the right ingredients and a few minutes in the morning.
Keto coffee must be blended with a blender, immersion blender, or milk frother. To save time, keep your blender on the kitchen counter so it’s ready for action.
Ingredients
- 250 milliliters (1 cup) of black coffee
- 15 to 30 milliliters (1 to 2 tablespoons) of unsalted, grass-fed butter (or ghee)
- 15 to 30 milliliters (1 to 2 tablespoons) of organic MCT oil
Directions
- Brew your cup of hot coffee.
- After brewing your cup of coffee, combine the coffee and fats in a blender or food processor. Pour the coffee into the blender slowly so as to avoid burning yourself.
- Blend the coffee mixture until it resembles a thick, foamy latte.
- Pour yourself a cup and take on the day.
If you’ve been missing your old coffeehouse lattes, get creative with your flavors. Add a dash of cocoa powder for a mocha or cinnamon for spice.
To give your cup an extra health boost, stir in a spoonful of marine collagen powder to repair tired muscles and brighten skin too. Then kick back, relax, and enjoy your creamy keto brew.
