Bulletproof Coffee
Coffee blended with butter and MCT oil into a creamy, frothy emulsion.
Bulletproof coffee is hot filter coffee blended, not stirred, with unsalted butter and MCT oil until it emulsifies into something closer to a thin latte than a cup of black coffee.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 95 mg in one serving (12 oz (355 ml)), a concentration of 26.8 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Filter Brew then Blender |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 60 g/L coffee, plus butter and MCT oil |
| Dose & yield | 21g → 385g |
| Grind size | Medium |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 3:00 brew, 0:30 blend |
| Serving | 12 oz (355 ml) |
What you need
- 21 g freshly roasted coffee, ground medium
- 355 ml filtered water at 93°C
- 15 g unsalted butter or ghee
- 15 g MCT oil
Required gear
- Filter brewer with paper filters
- Blender or handheld frother
- Scale accurate to 1 g
- Mug
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Brew 355 ml of coffee with a paper filter: 21 g of medium-ground coffee and 355 ml of water at 93°C, in about three minutes.
- 3:00Pour the hot coffee into a blender with 15 g of unsalted butter and 15 g of MCT oil.
- 3:15Blend for 20 to 30 seconds, until the drink is frothy and creamy, with no slick of oil on top.
- 3:45Pour into a mug and drink it hot.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
How strong is it?
We list about 95 mg for a 12 oz cup, a typical figure for a cup of brewed coffee. At the 60 g/L strength in this recipe a 12 oz cup can carry more, and the butter and oil add calories, not caffeine.
Blend, don't stir
Stirring leaves the butter and oil floating in a slick on top. Blend for 20 to 30 seconds, in a blender or with a frother, so the fat breaks into tiny droplets and the drink turns creamy and frothy.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
- This is a high-calorie, high-fat drink. If you have been told to watch the fat or calories in your diet, check with your doctor or a dietitian before making it a habit.
Bulletproof coffee is hot filter coffee blended, not stirred, with unsalted butter and MCT oil until it emulsifies into something closer to a thin latte than a cup of black coffee. It tastes rich, creamy and buttery, a little like a latte, and it is a high-calorie drink.
Origin & Story
The idea came from a mountain. Dave Asprey says it began on a trek in Tibet in 2004, when a cup of creamy yak butter tea, handed to him in a guesthouse, revived him at altitude. In 2009 he shared a coffee version of the recipe on his blog, and from 2011 he sold coffee, oils and supplements under the name Bulletproof.
Tibetan butter tea, po cha, is a much older drink, and a different one: it is made with brick tea, yak butter and salt. Bulletproof coffee borrows the idea of fat in a hot drink, not the recipe.
The recipe is a blend of brewed coffee, unsalted butter or ghee, and MCT oil, a refined oil made from medium-chain fats. It has to be blended, in a blender or with a handheld frother, because stirring leaves the fat floating on top. Blended, it becomes a frothy emulsion, closer to a thin latte than to black coffee.
It is also an energy-dense drink. Depending on the recipe, one cup can contain 230 to 500 calories, almost all of them from fat. Plain coffee has almost none. There is no good evidence that adding butter and oil makes coffee work better, so think of it as a matter of taste and habit.
To make one 12 oz cup, brew 355 ml of coffee at 60 g/L, about 21 g of coffee, with a paper filter. Blend it with 15 g of unsalted butter and 15 g of MCT oil for 20 to 30 seconds, until it is frothy, and drink it hot. Start with half the oil if your stomach is not used to it.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 30/100 |
| Acidity | 34/100 |
| Bitterness | 40/100 |
| Body | 94/100 |
| Aroma | 52/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Bulletproof Coffee?
One serving, 12 oz (355 ml), contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Bulletproof Coffee?
Brew the coffee at 93°C (199°F) as usual, then blend it while it is hot so the butter melts and emulsifies with the oil.
How long should Bulletproof Coffee be extracted?
Timing: 3:00 brew, 0:30 blend. Method: Filter Brew then Blender. Ratio: 60g/L coffee, plus 15g butter and 15g MCT oil. Grind or leaf format: Medium.
Why does my Bulletproof Coffee taste bitter?
The fat in this drink does not remove coffee bitterness, so a bitter cup means the coffee itself was over-extracted. Brew with a medium grind and a paper filter for about three minutes, and use less butter or oil if the drink tastes greasy.
Is bulletproof coffee the same as Tibetan butter tea?
No. Tibetan butter tea, po cha, is made with brick tea, yak butter and salt. Bulletproof coffee uses brewed coffee, unsalted butter or ghee and MCT oil. The coffee is inspired by the idea, not the recipe.
Who invented bulletproof coffee?
Dave Asprey, who says he got the idea from yak butter tea on a trek in Tibet in 2004. He shared the recipe on his blog in 2009 and began selling Bulletproof products in 2011.
Who should avoid Bulletproof Coffee?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. This is a high-calorie, high-fat drink. If you have been told to watch the fat or calories in your diet, check with your doctor or a dietitian before making it a habit. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
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