Long before Bulletproof Coffee and all its knock-offs became trendy and huge money-makers, elite athletes and Tibetan trekkers knew the value of adding good quality fats to good quality coffee or tea.
Creating my own version started as a whim. Since meeting and marrying my hubby, we had both put on weight. I called them my “happy pounds,” but let’s be clear: They were “happy to be with Steve” pounds, NOT “happy to weigh more than I ever did pregnant” pounds. They needed to go away.
We did the obvious things like adding more exercise and eating more salads, but living off salads just makes me feel tired even when we include enough good proteins. Plus, my digestion does not seem to appreciate a mostly raw diet.
One evening while Pinterest binging, I stumbled upon some coffee recipes from Wellness Mama that included fats and the rationale behind adding them, and began experimenting.
Our final version includes cacao so it’s more like the mocha we both love. We add unflavored hydrolyzed collagen powder for its good-for-our-bones-and-hair protein, and we also flavor it with cinnamon and often add other spices such as turmeric, pepper, cayenne, cardamom, and ginger. I like a peppermint version and a vanilla version, but Steve doesn’t care for either of those. I even added pureed pumpkin for a pumpkin spice treat last fall.
We use mostly decaffeinated coffee. Neither of us tolerates high doses of caffeine, and we find just adding one or two scoops of regular grounds to the pot is plenty to give us the energy boost we want to start our day.
When whirled on high for 20-30 seconds, it resembles a really good latte, foamy and delicious. But drink it quickly. Once it cools, the fat begins to separate out and it’s no longer a tasty treat.
Did it help us lose weight? Honestly, I don't know. We have both lost weight since beginning this morning routine, but I also got back into a regular walking schedule. What we do know is that we love the way it energizes us to start the day.
Here is our basic recipe and a few flavor suggestions:
Note: Many of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery or health food store. If you like the convenience of ordering online, the links for available products are included. Personally, I do believe it's important to use high-quality ingredients - organic coffee, organic non-refined cold-processed coconut oil, organic grass-fed butter, and pure maple syrup.
Serves 2
5 cups brewed organic coffee (We like a dark roast and are still experimenting to find the one we like best)
1-2 tablespoons organic coconut oil (Nutiva)
1-2 tablespoons grass-fed butter (Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter from Grass-Fed Cows)
1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup OR 2-3 pitted Medjool dates (If choosing the dates, whirl them with the coffee before adding the other ingredients)
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder (Viva)
2 scoops hydrolyzed collagen powder (Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides)
Flavor Options:
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 shakes turmeric, 2 shakes black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon, 2 shakes cayenne
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon cardamom
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, 1/8 teaspoon powdered cloves
- 1-2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1-2 teaspoons apple pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ - 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
When I’m feeling decadent, you might even find a shot of Amaretto, Bailey’s or Kahlua!
Put all ingredients in a Vitamix , NutriBullet, or other blender, and mix on high for 20 - 30 seconds.
Enjoy!
PS – Clearly, I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or health care professional of any kind. Always, check with your own health care specialists before trying anything new.
If you have read the recent news that coconut oil is not healthy, read this balanced look at what the studies have to say.
Anne Wade is Teacher, Writer, Mentor, and Coach for courageous women in midlife and beyond who want to disrupt their own status quo and design life on their own terms, even in turbulent times. She has developed the Becoming Found process of going within to find and address the inner barriers we have all inadvertently built up against love, happiness, health, wealth and any other desires of our hearts. Teaching women to unapologetically shine like a superstar and live their legacy is Anne’s mission.
You can follow her on her Facebook page “Anne Wade – Becoming found” or join her “Becoming Found” Facebook group.