You may have heard of keto coffee, also known as bulletproof coffee. Or maybe you’ve never heard either of these and you’re now wondering ‘what is keto coffee?’

But it’s likely that if you’ve clicked on this article, you’re already aware of keto coffee and you’re interested in trying it out for yourself!

For those who are following the ketogenic diet, keto coffee is a great alternative to ‘normal’ coffee. It enables coffee lovers to continue enjoying their morning (or afternoon) hot drinks each day without ruining their diet.

Technically, coffee is acceptable on a ketogenic (keto) diet. A cup of plain black coffee doesn’t contain any calories and it doesn’t kickstart your metabolism. Therefore, drinking a cup in the morning will not throw your body out of its ketotic state. But if you add milk and sugar to this coffee, it will take you out of a ketotic state.

This is because milk and sugar both contain glucose. Your body will switch from breaking down fats into ketones for energy and, instead, it will use this glucose for energy.

Therefore, if you don’t enjoy drinking unsweetened black coffee and you are following the keto diet, making yourself a keto coffee each morning is a great way to get around this problem! It enables you to continue drinking a frothy coffee whilst maintaining your ketotic state.

What is Keto Coffee?

You may already know what keto coffee is, but let’s run through the basics.

Keto coffee (bulletproof coffee) is basically a black coffee with some extra ingredients thrown in. Instead of adding a carbohydrate source, such as milk or table sugar, you add fats.

Look at any keto coffee recipe and it will contain coffee and one or more of the following.

MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides) – this is the purest form of medium-chain triglycerides that you can add to your keto coffee. Many keto coffee recipes use a combination of MCT oil and one of the other fat sources below.
Butter – this is added to keto coffee to provide a source of fats. It also makes the coffee smoother and creamier.
Ghee – this is clarified butter that is often used in dairy-free recipes. It’s easier to digest than lactose-containing products, like butter.
Coconut oil – this is a great option if you’re making a plant-based keto coffee because coconut oil is dairy-free. It’s perfect for vegetarians, vegans, or those with dairy intolerances who are following the keto diet.
Heavy cream – this is added to most keto coffee recipes. It gives the drink a smooth and silky texture, and creates a latte-style coffee.

If you look up ‘how to make keto coffee’, you might also spot some additional ingredients, but these are optional. The only compulsory ingredients in a keto coffee are coffee granules and a fat source.

Why Do People Drink Keto Coffee?

You might be wondering why anybody would start putting butter into their coffee. It sounds a little crazy and, frankly, quite disgusting, to somebody who has never heard of keto coffee before.

But there is a method to the madness!

Drinking keto coffee has a range of benefits, including these below.

1. It Provides You With Energy

The main reason why people drink keto coffee, whether they’re using keto coffee pods or creating their drinks from scratch, is energy.

On the keto diet, you want to stay in a ketotic state for as long as possible, and this can often require long fasts. Drinking keto coffee can help you to stay in ketosis without eating food to boost your energy levels.

Not only does the caffeine in keto coffee give you a boost but the fat sources also provide extra energy for your body. MCT oil is absorbed very quickly in the body, so you will feel energised as soon as you take a sip of your keto coffee.

The MCT oil can also slow down the rate of caffeine metabolism in your body, which provides you with a more gradual long-term rise in energy compared to a huge spike and trough.

2. It Will Make You Feel Full

Since the coffee and the fat source provide you with energy, you will feel full even though you haven’t eaten any food. You’ll feel nice and satisfied, and you won’t be sitting there thinking about your next meal.

3. It Can Help With Weight Loss

One of the most common reasons why people choose to follow the keto diet is for fat loss. Due to the MCT oil, there is a slow release of energy. This keeps you fuller for longer, and reduces the chances of you reaching for unhealthy snacks during the day.

In turn, you can help you to prolong your fast for as long as possible and stay in a ketotic state for several more hours, which can benefit you on a weight loss journey.

4. It Tastes Nice

When you first search ‘what is keto coffee?’ and look at a keto coffee recipe, you might be surprised at the ingredients. But, as weird as it sounds, putting MCT oil and butter into your coffee can taste great.

The fat sources make the coffee taste creamy and smooth, similar to how it would taste with traditional milk and sugar.

How to Make Keto Coffee

Here is a great basic keto coffee recipe for you to try. This variation uses keto coffee pods which are a great alternative to Nespresso pods.

Ingredients

1 Nespresso compatible keto coffee pod

2 tablespoons butter

Method

Brew your coffee using a Nespresso machine
Stir in the butter
Enjoy!

Our coffee pods already have MCT oil blended into them so you don't have to deal with hassle of blending the fats.

Play around with different combinations of fats. You might find that you prefer the pods with coconut oil, or you love a mixture of heavy cream and ghee. It’s completely up to you which fat sources you add to your keto coffee, so have fun with it and see what you come up with!

Variations of the Keto Coffee Recipe

Aside from the traditional keto coffee recipe above, there are other variations that you might prefer.

Note that the method is exactly the same with every keto coffee recipe. You brew your coffee, pop your fat source into the blender, pour the coffee on top, blend it up, and serve immediately while the coffee is still hot. But here are some alternative recipes for you to try out if you want to spice up your usual keto coffee.

Creamy Keto Coffee

Although keto coffee is usually quite creamy and frothy, you can add extra ingredients to make it even creamier. This is the perfect option if you’re the kind of person to go for a latte coffee over an Americano.

Here are the ingredients for a creamy keto coffee.

Nespresso compatible keto coffee pod
One tbsp ghee
One tsp stevia

Protein Keto Coffee

If you’re looking for an interesting way to add protein to your keto diet, this recipe is perfect for you. The egg yolks contain lots of healthy protein and fats, as well as essential vitamins.

Here is the recipe for the protein keto coffee.

Nespresso compatible keto coffee pod
One tbsp ghee or vegan butter
One tbsp collagen peptides
2 egg yolks

Sweet Coconut Keto Coffee

Got a sweet tooth? The sweet coconut keto coffee recipe can be your new go-to when you need a hot drink to wake you up in the mornings!

This recipe uses coconut oil to add a sweet flavour to your coffee so it feels like you’re drinking a delicious milky latte. This recipe is also plant-based so it’s ideal for vegans or those who are lactose intolerant.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make the sweet coconut keto coffee.

Nespresso compatible keto coffee pod
One tbsp coconut oil, coconut cream, or coconut milk
One tsp stevia or sugar-free syrup
One tsp cinnamon or cocoa powder

Now you know what keto coffee is and you know how to make keto coffee (with multiple variations), you can start enjoying a delicious hot drink every morning without ruining your fast!