Inspired by yak-butter tea consumed in Tibet, Bulletproof Coffee is a concoction of butter, oil, and coffee designed to boost mental performance. It was developed by Dave Asprey (a.k.a. The Bulletproof Executive) in 2009. The recipe is as follows:
Ingredients:
- Bulletproof® Coffee Beans
- 1-2 tbsp Brain Octane™ oil
- 1-2 tbsp grass-fed, unsalted butter or ghee
Preparation:
Brew one cup of coffee using the coffee beans. Add coffee, oil, and butter in a blender. Blend for 20-30 seconds. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: In this article, I discuss my own opinions and observations on health topics. I am not a doctor. The information here is only observations and opinions, not medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes that might affect your health.
Now, you might be thinking, “is all that fat going to clog my arteries?” I had similar concerns, so my solution was only to drink the Bulletproof Coffee on mornings before I get a good cardio workout. I also made sure to avoid eating carbohydrates while all that fat is in my system because carbohydrates cause your body to store excess fat.
The results were awesome. I would drink some Bulletproof Coffee after my morning routine, go to the gym for an hour or two, and be focused and energetic when I got back. I also found that I would not be hungry until the middle of the afternoon. A big cup of Bulletproof Coffee could seemingly power me through a couple of hours of workout and several hours into the afternoon.
After my initial Bulletproof Coffee Beans®, Brain Octane™ oil, and grass-fed ghee ran out, I began making a “poor man’s version” of Bulletproof Coffee. I used two cups of regular coffee, organic coconut oil, and Kerrygold unsalted butter instead of the proper ingredients. I didn’t notice any difference from switching from “official” to “unofficial” ingredients.
Whether this is just a Silicon Valley fad or not, only time will tell. I did enjoy drinking the coffee in the morning and getting the noticeable energy boost, though. I don’t currently drink Bulletproof Coffee, but I’ve added to my set of tools that I can use when I need to crank up productivity in the short-term.
I am interested in your thoughts after taking time off of bulletproof coffee. I make it with organic coffee, organic coconut oil, and unsalted Kerry Gold. I often wonder if I am clogging my arteries faster than w standard coffee and nonfat creamer. I do see a boost in mental clarity and sustained energy which is nice.
As far as I can tell, there is no scientific proof that saturated fat is bad for you. But on the other hand, I also can’t find any proof that it is NOT bad for you either. Sadly, I don’t get my blood tested often enough to draw my own conclusions about this. So given the lack of definitive information, I treat Bulletproof Coffee as a supplement. I personally don’t take any supplements longer than a few months at a time before taking a break, as to avoid dependence on them.
After taking Bulletproof Coffee every morning for four months, I think I got used to its effects and started craving normal food in the morning for breakfast. After a few months, the effect of the coffee and fat seemed to lose its ‘pop’ as well. Now I drink Bulletproof Coffee only occasionally when I need some extra mental clarity in the morning. I like to think of it as a secret weapon in my arsenal of morning pick-me-ups.