Coffee
Coffee is a popular drink throughout the world, but how much do you really know about coffee? The quality, taste and effect of coffee can vary widely depending on how it is grown, processed, tested and manufactured. The more you know about coffee, the more you can appreciate the incredible benefits and versatility this drink offers. Whether you enjoy a cup for breakfast, as an afternoon pick-me-up or as an excuse to catch up with a friend, there’s a perfect brew for every moment.
Ready to take a deep dive into the wonderful world of coffee? Read on to learn about the benefits of coffee, what makes Bulletproof coffee different, how to make a perfect cup and exciting new ways to enjoy coffee with a variety of good-for-you recipes.
What Is Coffee?
By the time you’re making coffee at home, you’re either using ground or whole coffee beans to brew your cup. But where do coffee beans come from and how are they produced?
Most of the world’s coffee beans come from two plants:1
- Coffea arabica—found in Latin America, Asia and eastern Africa
- Coffea canephora—grown in Brazil, Southeast Asia and Central Africa
Arabica is milder and more flavorful than its counterpart but is more difficult to grow since it requires higher elevation, a cool subtropical climate and it is more vulnerable to pests.
Coffee grown at high altitudes is often considered to be high in quality, too. At higher altitudes, the lower temperatures slow down the ripening process of coffee cherries. This allows the beans to develop more complex flavors and a richer aroma. All Bulletproof coffee is grown at high altitudes above 1000 meters (about 3280.84 ft).
Coffee plants grow small fruits, coffee cherries, which turn red when ripe. Each fruit contains one or two coffee seeds, which are removed (hulled) and dried. After that, the green coffee undergoes roasting and transforms into the aromatic bean you find at the supermarket.
Now comes the hard part: choosing from the wide variety of coffee roasts, flavors, origins and even caffeine levels. Whatever your preference, there are many health benefits you can count on in every cup.
Benefits of Coffee
There are a ton of great reasons to pour yourself a cup of coffee besides enjoying its delicious taste and reliable burst of energy. Explore some surprising benefits of coffee and how they can positively impact your wellness journey.
Coffee Increases Your Metabolism
Caffeine, found in coffee, jolts your body into burning more calories, which can help support healthy weight maintenance.2 In other words, that daily intake of caffeine can do much more than boost your brain; it supports your body’s ability to burn more calories whether you are active or at rest.3
Coffee Helps You Feel Full
Coffee is a natural hunger suppressant because its stimulating effects temporarily help you feel full. If you’re enjoying Bulletproof coffee with grass-fed ghee and MCT oil, you’ll enjoy even more of that full feeling since MCT increases satiety and therefore can help decrease your overall food consumption.4
Coffee Is Good for Your Liver
Whether you prefer caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, the brew helps your body manage a healthy level of liver enzymes.5 Research has shown that moderate coffee consumption may help slow the progression of certain types of liver ailments.6
Coffee Contains Antioxidants
Antioxidants help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, protecting our cells from oxidative damage.7 When compared to other antioxidant-rich drinks, coffee comes out on top with 200-550 mg/cup, compared to tea with 150-400 mg/cup and red wine with 150-400 mg/glass.
The Science-Backed Benefits of Coffee
As one of today’s most popular drinks on the planet besides water and tea, coffee has been subject to a wide number of scientific studies to explore its numerous health benefits.8
Heart Health
A recent study explored the effects of coffee on blood pressure regulation and found that people who drink 1-3 cups per day may have a reduced risk of developing arterial hypertension.9 Surprisingly, even people with arterial hypertension documented in the study did not suffer from adverse blood pressure effects when drinking coffee.
Brain Health
Another scientific paper assessed that there may be a correlation between coffee consumption and a decreased risk of brain disease.10 Coffee contains thousands of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, caffeic acid, alkaloids and diterpenes, but their effect on the body is not yet fully understood. However, the ways in which coffee’s bioactive compounds interact with the body have shown promising results in supporting brain health.
Endurance
And finally, a 2020 research paper examined the effect of caffeinated coffee on muscular endurance for female athletes with interesting results. The study concluded that consuming caffeinated coffee could improve lower body muscle endurance and cognitive performance of participants.11
The Bulletproof Difference
It’s no secret that we’re obsessed with coffee. We go above and beyond industry standards to bring you top-quality coffee you can count on to fuel your day. From sourcing our coffee beans to testing them for mold toxins and heavy metals, every step of our process ensures you’re drinking the best coffee available. Read on to discover what makes Bulletproof Coffee so special.
Sourcing Bulletproof Coffee
We partner with small farms in Central and South America that are Rainforest Alliance certified. This certification ensures that each farm maintains sustainable farming practices, protects human rights, conserves forests and fights against climate change. By drinking Bulletproof coffee, you are supporting local communities in their continued efforts to balance the needs of people and nature.
Our Coffee Testing Standards
To ensure our coffee is of the highest quality, we only use rigorous testing led by accredited third-party labs. We choose testing partners based on their experience and expertise in the field. We use scientifically proven methods to test ingredients and finished products to make sure you are getting the most out of our coffee.
For coffee beans, we primarily test for two concerns: mold and heavy metals. Every shipment of green coffee beans undergoes extensive testing. We analyze every batch to make sure they meet our stringent purity and safety standards.
Additionally, we have a team of food safety experts who are dedicated to the well-being of our customers. They assess any potential risks associated with ingredients in our products as an extra level of protection in delivering the highest product safety and quality. You can trust the integrity of our science-backed testing process for peace of mind in every cup.
Bulletproof Coffee
Bulletproof Coffee is not your ordinary cup of joe. It is a delicious functional drink made from coffee, MCT oil and grass-fed ghee. When you drink Bulletproof Coffee, you get a readily available source of energy from the MCT oil, vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid from ghee, as well as benefits derived from coffee itself.
Why add fat to coffee? Adding healthy fats to your coffee may help you feel full and energized.12 As an essential part of any diet, fats deliver essential nutrients to your body and are necessary to absorb fat-soluble vitamins.13 Adding ghee or butter to your coffee adds a delicious creaminess to the drink. Although popular with the low-carb and keto crowd, Bulletproof Coffee can be a great addition to any healthy diet.
Ready to enjoy the benefits of Bulletproof Coffee? Try the Bulletproof Coffee recipe today.
Making Coffee
Coffee-making can be considered an art, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. To get the most out of your coffee, take a look at our recommendations for choosing the perfect coffee roast, grinding your coffee to perfection, brewing optimally and adding healthy enhancers.
Choosing a Coffee Roast
Light, medium or dark roasts; what do they all mean? Coffee beans undergo a roasting process to bring out their many flavor profiles. A light roast can bring out flavors of caramel, spice, berries, chocolate or even hints of floral. A darker roast is bolder and stronger tasting. And a medium roast is somewhere in between. Which is best? It all depends on what you prefer.
Additionally, different coffee roasts can contain varying levels of caffeine. Contrary to popular belief, the roasting process actually decreases the caffeine content in coffee. Lighter roasts retain more caffeine than darker roasts. Keep in mind, other factors such as coffee bean variety, brewing method and serving size also play a role in determining the final caffeine content in your cup.
Take a look at how to choose coffee beans to find the perfect match for your tastes.
Grinding Coffee
We love grinding coffee beans right before brewing to get the most out of coffee’s flavor. Grinding beans release their aromas and oils, but they begin to break down when exposed to air and moisture. If you’re grinding your beans at home, don’t wait too long to brew them. The ideal texture and size of your ground coffee depends on how you brew it.
Fine Grinds
As fine as table salt, this texture is perfect for espresso machines.
Medium Grinds
This size of coffee grind is the most common and versatile. You can use it for drip coffee and pour-overs.
Coarse Grinds
Bigger textured grinds are best for French press or to use in a cold brew recipe.
Coffee Grinders
You can choose from various coffee grinders on the market, but here’s a few to get familiar with:
Blade Coffee Grinder
This single-blade coffee grinder offers a quick and easy solution. Keep in mind that it may create inconsistently sized ground coffee.
Burr Coffee Grinder
For a more consistently sized coffee texture, opt for this coffee grinder. It uses pressure instead of blades to break down the coffee beans.
Hand Coffee Grinder
This type of grinder is useful when you’re out camping, you have an electricity shortage or you’re on the go. However, you’ll have to put in some manual labor for a few minutes to crank out enough ground coffee for your cup.
Coffee Maker Options for Brewing
There are so many methods for brewing coffee, depending on your time, taste and budget. Here are some examples of our favorite ways to create the perfect cup of coffee at home.
Drip Machine Coffee
This popular brewing method is not the most nuanced in terms of flavor, but it is convenient and relatively inexpensive. Drop a paper filter in the coffee maker’s basket, add the required amount of coffee, pour water on top, press a button and sit back until your coffee is done.
French Press
The French press is a great way to enjoy a more full-bodied cup of coffee because it allows the beans’ natural oils to pass through the stainless-steel mesh filter. To brew, add coffee grounds into the pitcher and pour boiling water on top. Place the sieve disc and lid on top with the plunger up high. After about four minutes, press the plunger down to separate the water from the grounds.
Cold Brew Coffee
This method is slow but worth it. No fancy coffee maker is needed! Plus, you can make a big batch and store it for up to five days in the fridge. Put coarse ground coffee into a pitcher, add water and refrigerate for around 12 hours. Filter out the coffee grounds and serve.
Keurig® Single Serve Coffee Maker
This coffee maker is popular for a reason. It's the most convenient way to quickly make a single cup of coffee at a time. The Keurig machine is designed to work with coffee pods that contain pre-measured ground coffee. The machine has a water reservoir that you fill with water before brewing. After inserting a pod, you simply close the machine's lid, press a button and have a freshly brewed cup in under a minute.
Healthy Enhancements
Coffee is great on its own, but adding healthy mix-ins makes it even more exciting and nutritious. Explore some of our favorite products to try in your next cup of coffee.
Coffee Creamers
Conventional coffee creamers can include not-so-healthy ingredients like artificial flavors and partially hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners.14 The Bulletproof Creamer is made with grass-fed butter and MCT oil to bring you a rich and satisfying blend.
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Ghee
Our Grass-Fed Ghee adds a delicious creamy taste and a dose of keto-friendly healthy fats to support your keto diet or low-carb diet goals. This lactose-free butter substitute is rich in omega-3 fatty acids to help support multiple functions of a healthy body.†
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Enhanced Coffee
Want to take your cup to the next level? Try The High Achiever™, a medium-dark roast that includes B Vitamins, Lion’s Mane and Coffeeberry. These functional ingredients work synergistically with the our coffee to help provide sustained energy throughout the day.
Shop NowCoffee Recipes
Looking to experience something new with coffee? Try incorporating it into our favorite keto-friendly recipes. There are countless ways to enjoy the benefits of coffee besides drinking it as part of your morning ritual.
Learn More About Coffee
Coffee Articles
Coffee FAQ
You might have heard that light roast and dark roast beans have different levels of caffeine. This isn’t quite true.
The size of a coffee bean changes the longer it’s roasted. Light roast beans are smaller and denser than dark roast beans. If you measure your light roast coffee with a scoop or tablespoon, you might end up with more coffee per scoop—and therefore (slightly) more caffeine. If you want to keep your caffeine consistent across different roasts, measure your beans by weight instead of volume.
Store your beans in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature.
As a coffee term, acidity refers to bright, tangy, fruity or wine-like flavors in coffee beans. It has nothing to do with the amount of acid, or pH.
Coffee contains five major naturally occurring acids. The average cup of black coffee has a pH of about 5, making it mildly acidic. If you’re sensitive to acid or looking for low-acid coffee, try darker roasts or decaf.
Absolutely. If you want to use Bulletproof coffee beans to make espresso, we recommend our medium-dark roast, The Mentalist — but it’s up to personal preference.
We recommend using a method that preserves the coffee’s natural oils. These contribute to the flavor and antioxidant profile of your brew. Try a French press with glass and steel components.
Ground coffee can lose its freshness faster than whole bean coffee because there’s more surface area exposed to air after grinding. Store your ground coffee in an airtight container to get the most flavor out of your brew.
For the freshest and most flavorful cup of coffee, buy your beans whole and grind them right before you brew them. This step maintains the fragrance and complexities of the coffee bean flavor.
There isn’t a significant caffeine difference in any of the Bulletproof roasts (besides decaf, obviously). However, the way you prepare your coffee can influence caffeine levels. In general, you’ll get more caffeine out of an espresso shot than a cup of coffee from a drip machine.
If you want the strongest coffee in terms of flavor, try darker roasts. These coffee beans have more robust flavor profiles that naturally develop from their longer roasting process. French Kick is a smooth and sweet dark roast with smoky chocolate notes. The Mentalist is a medium-dark roast with dark cocoa and vanilla aromatics, cherry sweetness and notes of almond and caramel. Try them in whole bean, ground or single-serve pods.
Yes. All Bulletproof coffee beans take well to butter but stand just as well on their own. Learn about coffee add-ins to enhance your morning brew.
You can use your preferred coffee beans, but your results may vary. At Bulletproof, we carefully control and test our coffee beans for mold toxins. This reduces your exposure to the mold toxins that can be found in lower-quality, mass-market coffee beans.
We’re proud of our attention to detail. But there’s no guarantee that other companies have the same standards that we do. The official Bulletproof Coffee recipe uses Bulletproof coffee beans because they’re certified clean and tested for toxins. That means peace of mind, plus delicious and flavorful coffee beans you can feel good about drinking every day.
It depends on how much you use. However, if you were to use the standard 2 ½ heaping tablespoons of coffee per cup, a 12-ounce bag would make roughly 18 cups of coffee.
For maximum flavor, use an opened bag of coffee within 3 to 4 weeks. Bulletproof coffee beans are best enjoyed within two weeks of receipt. To preserve freshness for as long as possible, store your coffee beans in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature.
Bulletproof Coffee is not vacuum sealed. We package it in multi-layer foil bags that contain a one-way valve that allows the freshly roasted coffee to de-gas while minimizing oxidative degradation. Our coffee is bagged directly after it is roasted to maximize its freshness. This is not a standard practice for commercially available coffee and will cause inflation on occasion, but this does not affect the quality of the coffee whatsoever.