What's the Point of Putting Butter in Coffee?

November 21, 2025 •

4 min read

Butter coffee, also known as Bulletproof Coffee, gained mainstream attention after entrepreneur Dave Asprey popularized it, but its roots trace back to ancient traditions, like Tibetan yak butter tea. This unusual combination is celebrated by those seeking sustained energy, mental clarity, and weight management benefits, particularly followers of ketogenic diets.

Quick Summary

Butter coffee, a keto-friendly drink blending coffee with butter and MCT oil, offers a creamy texture and sustained energy by slowing caffeine absorption. It can also promote satiety and support fat-burning, but it adds a significant number of calories and fat to your diet.

Key Points

Sustained Energy: The fat in butter and MCT oil slows caffeine absorption, preventing energy spikes and crashes.
Mental Clarity: MCTs are rapidly converted into ketones, which can serve as a potent brain fuel for enhanced focus.
Appetite Control: The high-fat content promotes feelings of fullness, which can help suppress hunger and reduce overall calorie intake.
Keto-Friendly: It's a popular drink in ketogenic and low-carb diets for increasing fat intake and maintaining ketosis.
High-Calorie Content: Butter coffee is high in calories and saturated fat, which can lead to weight gain if not managed properly.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Using it as a meal replacement can result in a lack of essential nutrients like fiber, protein, and vitamins.
Traditional Roots: The practice is a modern take on ancient traditions, such as Tibetan yak butter tea, used for energy in harsh climates.

The Origins of Butter Coffee: From Ancient Traditions to Modern Trends

While the concept of putting butter in coffee may seem modern, it has a long history in certain cultures. Tibetan people, for instance, have consumed yak butter tea for centuries to provide essential energy and warmth in high-altitude environments. The modern butter coffee trend was famously popularized by Dave Asprey, founder of the Bulletproof brand, who created a recipe with grass-fed butter and MCT oil after being inspired by yak butter tea.

Potential Benefits of Adding Butter to Your Coffee

Sustained Energy Release

One of the most frequently cited reasons for adding butter to coffee is for a smooth, sustained energy boost, rather than the jitters and crash associated with drinking black coffee. The fat from the butter and MCT oil helps slow down the absorption of caffeine into the bloodstream. This mechanism provides a longer, more even release of energy, helping to combat the classic midday slump.

Enhanced Mental Clarity and Focus

For many, particularly those following a ketogenic diet, butter coffee is a powerful tool for cognitive function. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are often added alongside butter, are quickly converted into ketones by the liver. Ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier and serve as a readily available fuel source for the brain, potentially improving focus and concentration.

Promotes Feelings of Satiety

The high-fat content of butter coffee can be surprisingly effective at curbing hunger. The healthy fats, especially MCTs, increase feelings of fullness and can help reduce cravings. This is one reason butter coffee is popular with those practicing intermittent fasting, as it can act as a breakfast replacement that keeps them satiated for several hours without spiking blood sugar.

Supports Ketogenic Diets

On a ketogenic or low-carb diet, the body relies on fat for energy. Butter coffee helps individuals increase their daily fat intake and maintain a state of ketosis, where the body burns fat for fuel. The combination of coffee, butter, and MCT oil provides a convenient and high-calorie source of fat to fuel the body and support fat-burning goals.

How to Make Butter Coffee

Making butter coffee requires more than just stirring a pat of butter into your cup. To get a creamy, frothy texture similar to a latte, blending is essential. Here is a basic recipe:

Ingredients:
- 1 cup of hot, brewed coffee
- 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted, grass-fed butter or ghee
- 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil or coconut oil
Instructions:
1. Brew your coffee using your preferred method.
2. Combine the hot coffee, butter, and MCT oil in a blender.
3. Blend on high for 20-30 seconds until the mixture is frothy and resembles a creamy latte.
4. For added flavor, consider blending in a dash of cinnamon or vanilla extract.

Comparing Key Fats: Butter vs. Coconut Oil vs. MCT Oil


Feature	Grass-Fed Butter	Coconut Oil	MCT Oil
Primary Function	Adds creaminess and provides a source of fat-soluble vitamins.	Provides a source of MCTs with a distinct coconut flavor.	Concentrated source of medium-chain triglycerides for rapid energy.
Fatty Acid Profile	Contains a mix of short, medium, and long-chain fatty acids.	Rich in MCTs, but also contains other fatty acids.	Consists solely of medium-chain triglycerides (C8 and C10).
Metabolism	Contains butyrate for gut health and a more gradual energy release.	Faster metabolism than butter, but still contains some long-chain fats.	Rapidly converted to ketones by the liver for quick energy.
Taste & Texture	Rich, creamy, and distinct buttery flavor.	Adds a subtle coconut flavor and creamy texture.	Tasteless and odorless, allowing coffee flavor to dominate.
Digestive Impact	Can cause gastrointestinal issues in those not used to high fat.	Generally well-tolerated but can cause issues if too much is used.	Can cause digestive upset, especially when starting with a high dose.

Potential Risks and Considerations

While butter coffee offers intriguing benefits, it is not a magical solution and comes with potential downsides. It is an extremely high-calorie drink, with a single cup potentially containing 200 to 500 calories, depending on the amount of fat used. This can contribute to weight gain if not managed within overall daily calorie intake.

Furthermore, using butter coffee as a meal replacement can lead to nutrient deficiencies, as it lacks essential protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals found in a balanced breakfast. The high saturated fat content is also a concern for individuals with high cholesterol or heart disease risk, and it can cause digestive issues like bloating or diarrhea in some people. Consulting a healthcare professional before making it a daily habit is recommended.

Conclusion: Should You Put Butter in Your Coffee?

Putting butter in coffee is a functional beverage trend rooted in traditional practices that was popularized for its purported benefits in providing sustained energy, enhancing mental clarity, and aiding weight management, especially for those on low-carb diets. While many enjoy the creamy taste and reported effects, it's not a universal health panacea. The high calorie and saturated fat content mean it should be consumed mindfully and as part of a balanced diet, not as a replacement for whole foods. For some, it may be a useful tool for specific dietary goals, while for others, a regular cup of black coffee or a nutritious meal remains the better option. The key is to weigh the potential benefits against the risks and understand that it's a supplement, not a full meal.

To learn more about the science behind ketogenic diets and energy metabolism, consider exploring authoritative sources such as the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bulletproof coffee is a trademarked version of butter coffee developed by Dave Asprey, using specific coffee beans, unsalted grass-fed butter, and Brain Octane MCT oil. Butter coffee is the general term for blending coffee with butter and typically MCT or coconut oil.

Butter coffee may aid weight loss by suppressing appetite and increasing satiety, but it is also very high in calories. If the extra calories aren't offset elsewhere in your diet, it could lead to weight gain. It is not a miracle weight loss solution.

For optimal results, proponents recommend using unsalted, grass-fed butter, which has a better fatty acid profile and more nutrients compared to conventional butter. Salted butter is generally not advised for taste.

While it can provide sustained energy and satiety, butter coffee is not a nutritionally complete breakfast. It lacks protein, fiber, and many vitamins and minerals found in whole foods, which can lead to deficiencies if regularly used as a meal replacement.

Some individuals, especially those new to consuming high amounts of fat, may experience digestive distress such as bloating, gas, or diarrhea. The high saturated fat content is also a concern for those with high cholesterol or heart conditions.

MCT oil is a concentrated medium-chain triglyceride derived from coconut oil, and it's a key ingredient in many butter coffee recipes. While not strictly necessary, it is rapidly converted into ketones for energy and is responsible for many of the beverage's purported cognitive benefits.

While anecdotal evidence and some research on its ingredients exist, scientific evidence to support all the health claims surrounding butter coffee is mixed. Its benefits are most pronounced for those on specific diets, like keto, but it's important to be mindful of its high calorie and fat content.