Have you heard of the latest trend in coffee- bulletproof coffee? I have and here are my thoughts:
I’ve tried and tasted it, and I am a fan of a warm, steaming cup of bulletproof and upgraded coffee!
Having done my research there is a big divide between fans and haters of Bulletproof, upgraded, make-at-home Coffee. Some people just don’t get the putting butter and coconut oil in your coffee.
Some ridicule the claims of more energy from drinking a cup of Bulletproof joe and others poo-poo the notion that the “Upgraded” coffee used to create the drink has fewer mycotoxins in than regular brand coffee.
What does “Upgraded” black coffee mean?
The jury is out on whether mycotoxin levels are *that* much different in Bulletproof Coffee and other coffee brands. Mycotoxins are otherwise known as mould. The EU has strict levels as to the levels of these mycotoxins that can be present in coffee, but apparently, the US is much laxer over these levels.
Physician David Bach has observed that coffee producers are already good at removing mycotoxins from their product and that there is “no evidence that supports the idea that mycotoxins make you sluggish.”[1]
Upgraded Bulletproof Coffee is sourced from a high-elevation coffee estate in Guatemala, and its also from one single origin. High-quality Arabica beans are used,
which in themselves are less likely to grow mould, but it is also produced using a special method (unique to Bulletproof) that minimises mycotoxin contamination.
Irrespective of the mycotoxins debate, the Upgraded Bulletproof Coffee does make a delicious brew, rich and full of aroma. You can taste and smell the quality!
Bullletproof Coffee: Putting Grass-Fed Butter Instead of Cream or Milk in Your Coffee
This part, I can see makes sense from a nutritional perspective. Grass-fed butter is full of high-quality fats and nutrients, and we know that it can withstand heat because we cook with it. Grass-fed butter is richer in omega-3s, CLA, beta-carotene, vitamin A (500iu per tablespoon!), vitamin K2, vitamin D, vitamin E, and antioxidants. Grass-fed butter is also high in butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid. Studies show that butyrate can both prevent and decrease inflammation in humans.
Bulletproof Coffee: Brain Octane Oil
Brain Octane Oil is a purified form of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, derived from coconut oil. To be an MCT, the molecule has to have carbon tails of length between 6 and 12 carbons. The shorter the tail, the faster your body absorbs the molecule and converts it into ketones, which are little molecules that can fuel your brain instead of glucose.
Brain Octane is pure C-8 MCT – it has 18 times the C-8 of coconut oil. At this point, you may be asking why not C-6 MCT if your body can process it quicker? Well, C-6 tastes and smells awful whereas C-8 is nearly odourless and tasteless.
In just three steps your body can convert Brain Octane Oil to ATP, whilst it takes 25 steps to convert sugar to ATP.
Why choose Brain Octane over coconut oil? Well according to Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey, you can use coconut oil but you won’t get the same instant energy boost that you do with Brain Octane Oil because lauric acid is processed via the liver whilst Brain Octane bypasses this processing, making it rapidly available.
Personally, I normally do feel a little pick-me-up when I take some coconut oil, and I didn’t notice a difference between using coconut oil and Brain Octane Oil. I also prefer my foods as unadulterated as possible, so I will be sticking to coconut oil for my bulletproof coffee!
How Do You Make it Bulletproof?
It’s a piece of cake! Brew your coffee as you would usually (I use a cafetiere) then add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed unsalted butter (I also tried salted and it didn’t affect the taste that much). Then add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil and blend for 30 seconds until frothy. Enjoy!
I think this is the perfect start to the day for people who don’t particularly like eating breakfast, or perhaps don’t have time for it! A coffee with added nutritional benefits, and without the sugar spike and crash that a cafe latte or cappuccino can bring!