Keto Coffee: What Is It and What Are The Benefits?
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Keto Coffee: What Is It and What Are The Benefits?

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Keto Coffee: What Is It and What Are The Benefits?

Posted 3 years ago

Brian Stanton

Brian Stanton

Author

SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD

SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD

Expert Approved

Should I start my day with a steaming hot mug of Keto coffee?

Many Keto dieters have wondered this. They’ve seen the hype around BULLETPROOF® coffee, and they want to know if Keto coffee will improve their health. 

If you’re not sure what BULLETPROOF® coffee is, don’t worry—this article is for Keto coffee beginners. You’ll learn what it is, how to make it, and the potential health benefits. 

But even if you’re a Keto veteran, you’ll find some useful info here. At the very least, you’ll walk away with a new Keto coffee recipe or three. 

What Is Keto Coffee?

Keto coffee is just coffee with added fat. The typical fats added to Keto coffee are:

The most popular species of Keto coffee is called BULLETPROOF® coffee. Invented by Dave Asprey, BULLETPROOF® coffee is a whipped-up blend of black coffee, MCT oil, and butter. You’ll learn how to make it in a bit. 

Keto coffee is called Keto coffee because it’s compatible with the Keto diet. Coffee itself has zero calories, so all the calories in this drink come from added fat. 

This fits rather nicely with your Keto macros. On a Keto diet, you consume the majority of your calories from fat (55 to 75 percent), a moderate amount from protein (15 to 35 percent), and a minimal amount from carbs (under 10 percent). 

Keeping your macros in these ratios helps keep the hormone insulin low and tells your body to burn fat for energy. In other words, it promotes the fat-burning state called ketosis.[*]

It’s a cliche, but it’s true: On Keto, you become a fat-burning machine.  

And Keto coffee doesn’t interfere with that machine. In fact, it may enhance it. 

Potential Benefits of Keto Coffee

Why drink Keto coffee? Beyond the rich and creamy taste, here are some potential health benefits to consider. 

#1: Accelerates Keto-adaptation

In the first few weeks of going Keto, many folks experience headaches, weakness, and fatigue. This “Keto flu” is often a case of your fat-burning machine struggling to warm up. The body needs time to Keto-adapt. 

That’s where Keto coffee comes in. By supplying extra fats, Keto coffee may speed up your fat adaptation. Pro tip: MCT oil (the star ingredient in BULLETPROOF® coffee) can be especially effective for deepening your state of ketosis by increasing your body’s ability to burn fat.[*]

#2: Better cognition

In the literature, higher levels of ketones (from being in ketosis or taking a ketone supplement) have been linked to better cognition:

  • Older people showed enhanced cognition after a single meal with MCTs.[*]
  • Rats in ketosis were better maze navigators[*]
  • MCT supplementation improved memory in Alzheimer’s patients.[*]

And so deepening ketosis with Keto coffee may give you the mental boost you’re seeking. 

#3: Rapid energy

When you drink Keto coffee, you’re likely consuming ketogenic calories on an empty stomach. Combined with the caffeine, those quick calories give you a lift. 

MCT oil is especially fast-absorbing. Unlike other fats, it doesn’t require bile for digestion—so it travels straight from the gut to the liver to be oxidized (burned) for energy.[*

#4: Fat loss

First, a caveat: if you add Keto coffee to your existing diet, it won’t help with fat loss. Even though Keto coffee is Keto-friendly, it’s still high in calories. 

But let’s say you use Keto coffee to replace breakfast. That might work. 

Yet again, MCT oil is the star. Multiple studies have found an MCT-supplemented diet to be effective for fat loss.[*][*][*

Why? Probably because MCTs curb hunger hormones while simultaneously increasing energy expenditure.[*][*]  Good combo. 

How to Make Keto Coffee

To make Keto coffee, simply add 1-4 tablespoons of fat to black coffee and stir. That’s it. 

Making BULLETPROOF® coffee requires a bit more effort. The tools and ingredients you’ll need are:

  • A blender or food processor
  • One mug of black coffee, hot
  • 1-2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil (or the equivalent amount of MCT oil powder)

Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until frothy. It should come out looking and tasting like a coffeehouse special. 

What about sweeteners and creamers? That depends on the sweetener or creamer. 

Avoid sugar, honey, agave, milk, and half-and-half. They all contain too much sugar to be Keto. 

Any non-caloric sweetener is fair game, but the best options are allulose, erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit. These zero-calorie natural sweeteners have a great safety profile and won’t kick you out of ketosis. 

If you like cream in your coffee, look for heavy creams that contain little to no lactose (milk sugar). Be sure to check labels for carb counts. 

Keto Coffee Recipes

Ready to spice things up with creative Keto coffee recipes? Check these out:

What If You Don’t Drink Coffee?

No problem. Coffee is merely a vehicle to carry your Keto fats. 

Tea is the obvious alternative. If you’re a tea person, check out this recipe for Keto butter tea.

You can also consume MCT oil directly; no beverage required. Just be sure to go slow because too many MCTs can cause digestive distress. If you’ve never had MCTs, start with a teaspoon and work your way up from there. 

Who Should Avoid Keto Coffee?

Keto coffee may not be ideal for those:

  • Sensitive to caffeine or struggling with insomnia
  • Trying to capture the full benefits of intermittent fasting by skipping breakfast
  • With problems digesting fat (liver, pancreas, or gallbladder issues)

It’s also worth reiterating that Keto coffee isn’t a magic weight-loss strategy. Like any other calorie source, it can be overdone. 

Should You Drink Keto Coffee?

The above caveats aside, go for it. If you haven’t tried Keto coffee yet, it’s worth running the experiment. 

See how Keto coffee makes you feel. See how it affects your energy levels, mood, body weight, focus, alertness, sleep, and any other metrics that matter to you. 

If these are improving, you’ve probably found a winner. 

*BULLETPROOF® is a registered trademark owned by Bulletproof Digital, Inc.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. Carb Manager may earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through these links.

Comments 4

  • FavorableAvocado204831

    FavorableAvocado204831 2 years ago

    Lovely bulletproof coffee in the morning. Replaces breakfast after fasting 15 hours

    • FavorableAvocado204831

      FavorableAvocado204831 2 years ago

      That’s what I do I really enjoy it

  • RousingKale737858

    RousingKale737858 3 years ago

    I love this, but wonder, if I put 2 Tbsp. of MCT oil, how many grams does this equal for my Bullet Proof Coffee?

    • FavorableRadish752373

      FavorableRadish752373 2 years ago

      each tblsp. contains 14g of fat and about 110 cal. So you can factor that in to your daily intake.