Bulletproof coffee has been called everything from a high-performance latte to the secret weapon of busy parents, athletes, & entrepreneurs. It’s energizing, creamy, & surprisingly satisfying: the kind of morning drink that keeps you going long after a regular cup of coffee wears off. I first turned to it after Easter break, when life, job applications, & a new round of P90X all collided at once. And honestly… it gave me exactly the steady energy I needed to keep moving.

For the Bulletproof Coffee:

• 1 cup (240 ml) freshly brewed coffee
• 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons Brain Octane Oil (MCT oil)
• 1–2 tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee
• Optional add-ins: vanilla extract, cocoa powder, cinnamon, turmeric, collagen, sea salt

Brew a strong cup of good coffee: this drink is only as good as the beans you start with! While it’s still hot, pour the coffee into a blender & add your MCT oil plus a spoonful (or two) of butter or ghee. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds until it turns creamy, frothy, and looks like a perfect latte. If you want extra flavor, this is the moment to add cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, or any of your favorite performance-boosting spices. Pour it into your favorite mug, admire the foam, & enjoy the smooth, rich energy boost it gives you.

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My relationship with bulletproof coffee began during a hectic season when I desperately needed steady energy. After Easter break, life came rushing at me & suddenly I was hearing everywhere that this strange, buttery latte could help you stay sharp, focused, energized, & balanced. CEOs swore by it, athletes praised it, & exhausted parents claimed it changed their mornings. So I tried it too, because honestly… life demanded something stronger than my usual cup of coffee.

Fat & coffee are two of the most controversial foods in the Western world, yet evidence keeps showing that certain fats & good-quality coffee can support both short-term & long-term brain health. They can sharpen concentration, help regulate hormones, protect against inflammation, & support metabolic stability. But the quality matters…deeply. Bad coffee beans, especially those contaminated with mold or poorly stored, can give you jitters, brain fog, & an energy crash. The whole “clean coffee” movement comes from this idea: better beans, better brain. Single-origin, high-elevation, small-batch Arabica… & always tested for mycotoxins.

Interestingly, bulletproof coffee traces back much farther than Silicon Valley. Its origin lies in the Himalayan tradition of butter tea, deeply rooted in Tibetan life. At altitudes reaching about 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) & temperatures dropping below –23°C (–10°F), people rely on tea whipped with yak butter & salt for survival. Known as po cha, cha süma, jasrub ma, or gur gur, depending on the region, it delivers warmth, calories, & steady energy for long days working in extreme conditions. It’s served to guests, enjoyed before work, & essential for life in the mountains. The butter even protects the lips from harsh winds.

Dave Asprey adapted this tradition after experiencing it firsthand in Tibet, swapping tea for high-quality coffee, yak butter for grass-fed butter, & adding MCT oil for quick, clean-burning energy. That combination became “bulletproof coffee,” & it exploded in popularity…especially among people seeking mental clarity, appetite control, & stamina.

What you don’t add when making it is sugar. Any sugar (even maple syrup or honey) will interrupt the fat-burning momentum & create the usual blood sugar rollercoaster. Instead, you can flavor it with nutrient-dense additions:

• Ceylon cinnamon, for blood sugar regulation
• Cocoa powder, for antioxidants & focus
• Vanilla, for warmth & cognitive support
• Turmeric, for anti-inflammatory benefits
• or even turn tea or hot chocolate into a creamy, frothy butter drink

Because here’s the thing: starting your morning with a carbohydrate-heavy breakfast (toast, cereal, oatmeal, granola, fruit bowls) spikes your blood sugar, gives you a quick burst of energy, & then sends you crashing mid-morning…hungry, tired, unfocused. Bulletproof coffee prevents that by offering fat as fuel, keeping hunger low & energy level.

For me, bulletproof coffee became a supportive ritual…not a lifestyle. I enjoyed the suppressed hunger, the smooth mental clarity, & the steady energy, but I also deeply love breakfast. So this drink slips into my routine occasionally, especially on busy mornings when I need an extra boost or simply want something creamy & fortifying.

At the end of the day, testimonials will say everything under the sun, but the real question is: does it make you feel better? If bulletproof coffee improves your energy, well-being, & focus, then maybe it’s worth your time. And even if you don’t love coffee, you can blend butter & MCT oil into tea, hot chocolate, or other warm drinks for that same creamy, frothy effect.

Like everything in nutrition: the magic is in the dose, the context, & the balance.