Is Coffee Keto? Facts, Recipes, and More

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. People drink more than 400 billion cups of coffee every year, and coffee consumption is a daily ritual in almost every country on Earth.

If you’re going to drink coffee on keto, just make sure you avoid sugar, milk, and other higher-carb coffee additives. They’ll kick you out of ketosis.

Instead, drink your coffee black, or choose low-carb additions like:

• Heavy cream
• Nut milks (almond, macadamia, etc.)
• MCT oil powder
• Butter
• Monk fruit
• Stevia
• Erythritol

The Health Benefits of Coffee

Longevity

Several large-scale studies have found that people who drink coffee daily live longer[*]. Coffee consumption correlates with lower all-cause risk of death. 

Long-Term Brain Health

People who drink coffee regularly are less likely to develop dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases[*]. 

Cardiovascular Health

Studies show that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of overall cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and heart attacks[*]. 

Attention and Focus

The caffeine in coffee is a cognitive enhancer. It improves reaction time, vigilance (sustained attention over time), and short-term memory, especially if you’re sleep-deprived[*][*]. 

Inflammation

Coffee is a robust source of antioxidants, including several dozen different anti-inflammatory polyphenols. 

The antioxidants in coffee protect your cells from damage and inflammation[*][*]. Inflammation is a culprit in many chronic diseases[*], which may explain why people who drink coffee live longer. 

Overall, coffee is great for you. It benefits your heart, brain, inflammation levels, and more. 

What Is Keto Coffee and Is It Healthy?

Many keto dieters start their day with keto coffee (aka, butter coffee or Bulletproof coffee — a combination of coffee, grass-fed butter, and coconut oil or MCT oil. 

This is a good way to meet your ideal keto macros while also starting your day with a boost in energy and mental clarity. 

Here’s what makes keto coffee work so well:

#1. Caffeine For Focus and Mental Clarity

Caffeine provides a variety of mental and physical benefits, including[*]:

• Increased energy
• Better focus and short-term memory (especially if you’re sleep-deprived)
• Improved mood
• Better physical performance

Keto Coffee also contains essential B vitamins and phytonutrients, which further support energy production and protect your cells from stress[*].Finally, caffeine from coffee may increase your metabolic rate, so you burn more calories at rest and lose weight more easily[*].

#2. Saturated Fat for Appetite Suppression

A lot of people like to drink keto coffee and then eat nothing for several hours. This strategy works well for weight loss, as keto coffee is particularly filling. 

Coffee[*] and MCT oil[*] both suppress appetite. Combining them together makes keto coffee a satiating way to start your day. 

#3. MCT Oil for Brain-Boosting Energy and Weight Loss

MCT oil is made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), special fatty acids derived from coconut oil. 

Your liver absorbs and processes MCTs rapidly, converting them into ketones (fat-based energy) much faster than it does other fats.

MCT oil can help you:

• Lose weight.  MCTs can help you feel fuller for longer, and they have a thermogenic effect, which may help boost your metabolism and support your weight loss goals[*][*][*][*].
• Improve mental focus. MCTs can help sharpen your cognitive performance because your brain works best on fatty acids[*].

How to Make Keto Coffee

The classic keto coffee recipe calls for:

• 1 cup freshly brewed hot black coffee
• 1-2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
• 1-2 tablespoons MCT oil or MCT oil powder

Combine these ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy. 

To make the perfect cup of keto coffee, follow these few suggestions listed below.

Use Grass-Fed Butter

Grass-fed butter is more nutrient-dense than grain-fed butter[*]. It also tastes better and has a better consistency — creamier, instead of wat

Use Liquid MCT Oil or MCT Oil Powder

To learn about the differences between these two keto supplements, check out this handy chart for a quick review:

You can add liquid MCT oil to your keto coffee when you’re home and take along MCT powder when you’re traveling or making your second cup at work.

Make Keto Coffee Your Own With Optional Add-Ins

Use one or more of these to flavor your cup of keto coffee :

• Heavy cream or whipping cream
• Unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk
• Collagen peptides from collagen protein powder
• Cinnamon
• Pink Himalayan salt
• Maca powder
• Sugar-free cocoa powder
• Peppermint or almond extract
• Pure vanilla
• Keto-friendly sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit, or erythritol

Try experimenting with your favorite flavors and you’ll be able to whip up a keto coffee in less than five minutes.

Keto Coffee Recipes

Here are a few keto coffee recipes to make basic keto coffee more exciting. 

Keto Dalgona Coffee

Dalgona coffee is a sweet, whipped, fluffy version of a traditional latte. It’s delicious and takes just a few minutes to make. This keto dalgona coffee recipe uses monk fruit as a zero-carb sweetener in place of sugar. 

Dirty Vanilla Chai Latte

This dirty vanilla chai latte combines coffee and chai tea for a spicy, warming breakfast drink that’s packed with healthy fats. If you don’t have an instant keto coffee packet, you can substitute with a tablespoon of grass-fed butter and a scoop of MCT oil powder. 

Salted Caramel Frappuccino

Almond milk, heavy cream, and cocoa powder make this salted caramel frappuccino nutrient-dense and low-carb. It’s also full of MCTs for extra energy. 

Keto Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Vietnamese iced coffee is delicious, but it’s usually made with sugar-packed sweetened condensed milk. This keto version keeps the classic flavor, but uses stevia to keep the carb count low.  

The Takeaway

Keto Coffee is a keto-friendly, high-antioxidant way to start your day –but it all depends on what you put in it! If you’re used to half and half or sugar-laden creamers, it’s time to make the switch to something more low-carb.

Whether you call it keto coffee, butter coffee, or Bulletproof coffee, adding MCT oil and butter to your morning brew is a great way to gain energy and stay in ketosis.