I put ghee in my coffee and this is why you should too…
Do you absolutely adore coffee but find that it sometimes leaves you with the jitters? You enjoy it while you’re sipping it but then 30 minutes later you feel wired and your mind is racing? I know the feeling. I was dealing with some pretty intense coffee jitters and everyone kept suggesting I remove coffee or drink decaf. I wasn’t completely opposed to this, but coffee was a huge part of my morning routine and we had created a really beautiful relationship. I wasn’t ready to let it go.
This was right around the time when the buttered coffee “trend” started making an appearance in the US. I was super skeptical at first, I thought that the idea of butter blended into coffee sounded so gross, but I also knew that drinking ghee was an ancient Ayurvedic practice. All these wellness influencers I knew were doing it, so of course I had to try it. I started doing a little research to find the origin of this recipe. The concept of adding fat to coffee or tea was not new. Indigenous cultures in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Vietnam had been doing this for centuries. Butter coffee has been cited as far back as the 9th century in Ethiopia. They would grind and roast the coffee beans and combine with ghee for a portable quick caffeine fix.
Let’s talk about why putting fat in your coffee works!
Not all bodies have an easy time metabolizing caffeine, which may be the impetuous for those post coffee jitters. Adding fat to your coffee creates a “time release” effect.
Rather than drinking a black cup of coffee or coffee with some milk which will immediately hit your adrenals and nervous system, you add fat and that fat buffers that hit. It also supports digestion, gives you a good dose of good fats first thing in the morning and decreases the acidity of the coffee.
I personally prefer to use ghee in my coffee as it has a long history in Ayurvedic tradition, tastes delicious and because all the casein and lactose have been removed, it can be a gentler option for those who are sensitive to dairy.
But why is fat good for you?
This is a really great question, especially since so many of us grew up in the center of diet culture and the fat free movement. This movement has caused so much damage. FAT IS YOUR FRIEND! Ghee, olive oil, butter, avocado/avocado oil, salmon, nuts, all of these are sources of good fat. Your brain is made up of 60% fat which means that it needs a generous amount of fat each day to function properly. There are, of course, some medical conditions that may need you to watch out for large amounts of fat, but in general we want these kinds of fats in our diet regularly.
I personally don’t love the taste of butter in my coffee. Ghee is a much gentler way to put fat into your coffee. This traditional Ayurvedic recipe uses unsalted butter and is simmered until all the fat solids float to the bottom. You are left with this beautiful liquid gold that quite literally never goes bad. In Ayurvedic tradition, ghee is valued as a digestive aid that helps the body assimilate what it takes in. It is traditionally used to carry the beneficial properties of herbs, and is considered deeply nourishing — the perfect companion for your morning brew.
My favorite part about making a coffee in the morning is deciding how I want to feel and selecting functional herbs and mushrooms based off that. My usual go-to's are Reishi for calm, Mucuna Pruriens traditionally used to support mood, Lion’s Mane for focus and Pearl powder for a sense of calm and radiance. You can also play with what kinds of flavors you want to bring in. You can use plain ghee, or I like to make vanilla bean ghee (super simple), adding things like cardamom and/or cinnamon not only add a beautiful flavor but also a beautiful warming note.
Here is my current favorite recipe:
Adaptogenic Coffee with Ghee
Ingredients⅓ cup plant based milk 1 cup strong brewed coffee 1 tbsp. vanilla bean ghee 1 tbsp. Tocos (for skin and connective tissues) ½ tsp. each Reishi, Pearl powder and Mucuna Pruriens ½-1 tsp. coconut sugar ⅛ tsp. ground cinnamon ⅛ tsp. ground cardamom |
MethodPlace all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend on high until frothy (about 30 seconds). Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy! Whether you choose to add ghee to your coffee or not really is a person choice, but I challenge you to try it for a week and see how you feel. If you are new to adding fat to your coffee start with 1 teaspoon and slowly work up to a full tablespoon. Your body will thank you! |
Sources:
Food & Nutrition: Exploring the Origins of Butter Beverages
Global Table Adventure: The Real Reason Why People Put Butter In Their Coffee
Click here for Amrit's Skin & Spirit Tonic
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
