Cannabis Coffee: Here's Why You Need It

Can you put cannabis in coffee? Yes! The right cannabis enhances your morning brew, perks you up, and focuses your mind towards productivity - and so does the right coffee! Cannabis coffee isn’t new, people have been doing it for a long time now. Even hemp-derived CBD consumers are giving their coffee a botanical boost, with many companies encouraging consumers to add a few drops of CBD oil. Like cannabis, coffee has a wide range of cultivars and can present a huge variety of flavors, too, just like weed! 

Cannabis flavor profiles include:

• Nutty - Fruity
• Smoky - Spicy
• Herby - Woody 
• Chocolatey - Cheesy
• Caramely - Floral
• Fruity - Chocolatey
• Sour - Citrusy

We believe in wellness here at Pantry, so let’s take it a step further and talk about bulletproof coffee. It’s a health focused beverage already, but throw in cannabis and you’ve taken your wellness to a whole new level! 

Weed in coffee = the perfect pair

Bulletproof coffee is said (said, we aren’t making claims here) to improve mental focus, aid in weight loss, boost your energy, and just generally help you out. It’s usually coffee, grass fed butter, MCT oil, and maybe a few other optional ingredients like chocolate. Certain cannabis products uplift, energize, and realign focus - so weed coffee really is the perfect combination! 

Benefits of Fatty Foods in Cannabis-infused Coffee

Although there aren’t that many studies about bulletproof coffee itself, there are, however, plenty of studies supporting grass-fed butter’s potential health benefits, so that’s why it’s one of the coffee’s star ingredients!

Science is uncovering a lot of mind-blowing evidence supporting a high-fat diet, or at the very least, way more fat than we’ve been told was acceptable in the past few decades - like this 2017 piece of research. Keep in mind, high fat doesn’t mean eat whatever fatty foods you want in the name of science. There are “good fats” and “bad fats”, so you need to eat the right kind and limit the wrong one. 

The diet culture has been focused on low-fat, mainly since the 1980s. We’ve almost been accustomed to opting for the low-fat version of things thinking it’s the healthier choice. “The focus on reducing total fat resulted in increased consumption of refined carbohydrates and added sugars, and avoidance of nutrient-dense foods rich in healthy unsaturated fats such as nuts, seeds, avocados and vegetable oils. Subsequently, fat consumption has decreased while carbohydrate intake has increased as a percentage of calories, which has been accompanied by significant increases in total energy intake and obesity rates in the United States,” reads the study linked above. 

What they didn’t tell you during the low-fat craze is that fat provides our body with a myriad of benefits. It’s a source of fatty acids, like omega-3s, which the body cannot produce on its own. 

Fun fact: there’s a pathway in the body that turns cannabinoids into omega-3 fatty acids, according to a 2017 study, so the right weed coffee is packed with anti-inflammatory properties! "This finding demonstrates how omega-3 fatty acids can produce some of the same medicinal qualities as marijuana, but without a psychotropic effect,” reads a quote in the study. 

Fat also helps the body absorb essential vitamins like vitamin A, E, and D. It’s thought to contribute to brain and heart health, as well as reduce inflammation in the body. For example, one tablespoon of grass-fedbutter contains approximately 12 grams of good fat. Butter contains glycosphingolipids, which are fatty acids that fight against infections in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s also rich in important compounds like butyrate and conjugated linoleic acid, both supporting brain health, protecting against disease, and digestive health. It’s important to opt for grass-fed butter, as cows on a grass-fed diet produce butter with more nutrients than cows who eat grain! 

If you’re vegan but still want bulletproof coffee (and maybe a little weed), you can omit the butter and load up on MCT oil or coconut oil! MCT oil is made from a kind of fat called medium-chain triglycerides, which are thought to promote a healthy brain, reduce inflammation, aid with weight loss, and more. You’ll usually find MCT oil to be derived from coconut oil. MCTs are smaller than other kinds of fat we eat, like long-chain triglycerides (LCT), so they are easier to digest. 

• 1 tablespoon of MCT oil contains 14 grams of fat, the same goes for coconut oil

Choosing High-quality Ingredients for Your Cannabis Coffee

Not all cannabis is created equal and the same goes for coffee. If you want a quality cannabis coffee, you'll want to start with high-quality ingredients. Choosing organic coffee beans with high levels of antioxidants and minerals will help ensure a healthy and great-tasting cup of coffee. The same goes for your cannabis. Products that are vegan and gluten-free with natural sugars are always a bonus.

Keep in mind the reason for welcoming cannabis-infused coffee to your morning routine. You have a goal to be well, in some capacity. Whether you’re trying to reduce stress before heading to work, work up an appetite before eating breakfast, or energize and refresh your mind - you’re trying to improve your wellness and state of being! Don’t ruin it with low-quality coffee or cannabis products. It’s easy to grab the most convenient thing we have access to, but your health is worth the time it takes to find high-quality products. 

Why should I drink cannabis-infused coffee? 

We’ve argued our support for bulletproof coffee, but cannabis. Cannabis is another thing you need. We mentioned cannabis coffee is the 1-2 punch you to boost your morning energy, but it can also: 

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Improve gastrointestinal functions and health
• Minimize chronic or recurring pain 
• Regulating and improving sleep
• Curbs nausea and increases your appetite 

Remember, we aren’t claiming cannabis cures or treats any of these conditions. We’ve met a lot of cannabis consumers and hear their stories - this is what they tell us cannabis does for them. We’re honored to hold space for their collective experiences and support the need for more clinical cannabis research so we can tell more stories! 

Cannabis-infused coffee is the perfect marriage of two plants that offer so much to improve our quality of life. No matter what you're looking to achieve with cannabis coffee - reduced stress, improved sleep, or a boost in energy - it's important to choose high-quality ingredients with a conscience. Your cannabis coffee is an essential to your wellness goals and support a healthy, balanced lifestyle. So why not give it a try?

How to make cannabis coffee 

The easiest way to add weed to your coffee is with Pantry’s keto bites, especially if you’re on the keto diet and need to remain compliant! Just drop one (or two, if you’re crazy) in your cup and let it melt for a keto-approved, chocolatey coffee. That’s it! No additional prep work required. 

The keto bites are crafted with simple, yet high-quality ingredients like cocoa butter, cacao powder, and coconut sugar. They have less than a gram of sugar per piece, so you won’t experience an after-coffee crash and they’re compliant with virtually any diet. Here’s a bulletproof coffee recipe we modified to include our keto bites: 

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Bulletproof Brewed Coffee hot, click to find out more
• 2 tablespoons Ghee click to find out more
• 1 tablespoon MCT oil click to find out more
• pinch pink salt optional
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
• 1-2 keto bites

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until fully combined and smooth.
2. Serve immediately. Enjoy!