BUTTER COFFEE: THE FACTS, THE MYTHS, AND AN EASY RECIPE

Here’s everything I’ve learned about butter coffee, plus a simple recipe to try at home.

Adding butter to your coffee may not immediately sound appealing. My first thought was a pool of grease floating on my cup of coffee. Fortunately, curiosity got the better of me, and I grabbed a blender to try the recipe myself.

To my delight, it’s delicious – rich, creamy, light, and smooth all at the same time. But what about those health claims? Is adding butter to coffee the magical elixir marketers would have you believe? I dug into the hard science to find out.

What Is Butter Coffee?

Butter coffee is coffee blended with butter (and usually coconut oil or MCT oil) to create a rich and creamy drink. This low carb, high fat beverage is currently trendy among those following intermittent fasting, paleo, or ketogenic diets, but it actually has a long history.

There is evidence that coffee and butter were mixed in Ethiopia as early as the 9th century, and Tibetans have been drinking yak butter tea or coffee for generations (1). Singapore-style butter coffee, locally known as nanyang kopi, has been a popular cheap breakfast since the 1930s. 

Butter vs Bulletproof Coffee

Butter coffee and Bulletproof coffee are similar but not identical. Bulletproof is a brand, developed by entrepreneur Dave Asprey. His recipe uses specific coffee beans, adheres to a strict code of using only unsalted, grass-fed butter, and includes MCT oil, which is derived from coconut oil but contains more medium-chain triglycerides. 

Think of buttered coffee or coconut oil coffee as Bulletproof coffee with fewer rules, less marketing hype, and no expensive branded ingredients.

Does coffee taste better with butter?

I enjoy the flavor of coffee with butter. It’s reminiscent of coffee with cream but more complex – adding hints of nuttiness and a gentle sweetness.

If I use a blender to whip it together, it develops a silky lightness that reminds me of a latte.

What Are The Benefits Of Adding Butter to Coffee?

Many potential health benefits of butter coffee have been reported, but few are backed by rigorous scientific research. Here’s what is proven:

Butter adds a high amount of fat to the coffee, an important macronutrient for many bodily functions (2).

Grass-fed butter is particularly rich in vitamin A, which is good for your eyesight, immune system, organ function, and overall growth and development (3). It also contains calcium and vitamins E, K, and B – though in lower amounts.

Myths And Good Marketing

If you believe the hype, drinking butter coffee is more than just a tasty treat with a high fat content; it’s a magical ticket to overall health. Let’s look a little deeper at those claims.

Long-Lasting Energy

Fans of the coffee drink report that adding butter to their coffee slows the absorption and release of caffeine, leading to sustained energy and no subsequent crash. There is no scientific evidence this is true. 

So while you will likely experience a nice energy boost from coffee with butter and MCT oil, there is no special synergy between fat and caffeine in coffee.

Mental Clarity and Focus

Is buttered coffee good for your brain? Yes, but probably not because you’ve added butter or MCT oil. 

If you’re in ketosis, MCTs are broken down in the liver into ketones. Ketones provide energy for brain cells and may help prevent brain diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s (4). However, there is no evidence that ketones from MCT promote mental clarity or focus.

Rather, all these effects (clarity, focus, and prevention of disease) are well-proven for caffeinated regular coffee (5).

Healthy Fats

Coconut oil has an excellent PR person. A recent survey revealed that 72% of Americans rated coconut oil as “healthy,” but only 37% of nutrition experts agreed (6). Most of the fat found in butter and coconut oil is saturated fat, often called “bad” fat because it can raise LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

MCT oil is a slightly different and better story. It is refined from coconut oil and contains a higher percentage of MCTs, smaller fat molecules that are broken down more quickly for energy. This is theorized to promote feelings of fullness and prevent fat storage.

Does Butter Coffee Help You Lose Weight?

It seems counterintuitive that drinking coffee high in fat and calories can promote weight loss. But advocates claim that starting the day with butter coffee increases their energy and keeps them feeling full longer, leading to weight loss. 

Any scientific basis for this claim can be attributed more to MCT oil than coconut oil or butter. One study found that replacing longer-chain fats in your morning diet with medium-chain triglycerides may cause you to eat less at lunch (7). However, there is no evidence that just adding butter to your morning cup of coffee helps you shed pounds.

The Risk Of Butter Coffee

Coffee made with butter can certainly be a component of a healthy, balanced diet. The risk comes in using it as a daily meal replacement. Butter coffee is a good source of fat, but it is low in key nutrients found in other fat sources like avocados, nuts, eggs, and dairy. You might end up lighter but less healthy – not a worthwhile trade, in my opinion. 

A Simple Butter Coffee Recipe

Making butter coffee at home is incredibly easy. Add coffee, oil, and butter to a blender and blend until frothy.

What is the best butter for coffee?

The best butter for coffee is grass-fed unsalted butter; many enthusiasts recommend the Kerrygold brand. Grass-fed butter is higher in unsaturated fats than regular butter and richer in vitamins A and E. Alternatively, you can use clarified butter or ghee, which is lower in lactose.

Step 1: Brew Coffee

Use any method you like to brew strong black coffee. I like to use a French press for a fuller-bodied brew that holds its own against the butter. My recipe is 25 grams of ground dark roast coffee steeped in 12 ounces of 200 F water for 4 minutes.

Step 2: Add Ingredients To The Blender

Add 8 ounces of coffee, 1 tablespoon of quality butter, and 1 tsp of coconut oil (if desired) to a blender. Make sure the blender is compatible with hot liquids and less than half full.

Step 3: Blend And Serve

Blend the ingredients for about 30 seconds, until you have a frothy morning drink that resembles a latte. Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!

A Few Fun Butter Coffee Variations

Once you’ve mastered the basics, there are endless ways to customize your keto coffee. For example:

• Add ½ teaspoon of cocoa powder for a butter coffee mocha. Grate some dark chocolate shavings on top to serve.
• Add ½ teaspoon of cocoa powder and a few drops of peppermint oil for a homemade peppermint mocha.
• For a vanilla latte, add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract and a few drops of liquid stevia. Dust cinnamon on top.

Final Thoughts

The health claims surrounding butter coffee might be overblown – or, at least, in need of more study – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add it to your coffee routine. This rich and creamy brew is a delicious way to enjoy your morning coffee and increase fat intake, whether you’re fasting, on the keto diet, or just looking for a frothy latte alternative that doesn’t require an espresso machine.

FAQs

Can you have butter in your coffee while fasting?

There are mixed opinions on this. Many people say you can add up to a tablespoon of butter or coconut oil to coffee while fasting because it won’t raise your blood sugar or insulin levels. Others insist that any caloric intake breaks a fast. Everyone agrees that buttered coffee won’t interfere with your state of ketosis on the keto diet.

What is the healthiest thing to add to coffee?

“Healthiest” is difficult to define, but here are some suggestions for nutrient-dense coffee additives. Try adding dairy milk or plant-based alternatives, spices like cinnamon or chicory, protein or collagen powder, cocoa powder, grass-fed butter, raw honey, or coffee with lemon. 

What country puts butter in coffee?

Butter in coffee is currently popular in Western countries among followers of the keto, paleo, and intermittent fasting diets. It is also regularly consumed in some form in Singapore, Vietnam, Northern India, and Tibet – due to long tradition rather than modern trends.