Putting ghee in coffee has become fairly commonplace, so much so that you can even order 'butter coffee' or similar in some of the more trendy coffee shops. However, for the more traditional coffee and tea drinkers, you may be wondering about the risks and benefits of this curious health trend. The basic idea behind adding ghee, butter, and/or MCT (medium chain triglycerides) to your morning java is to even out the caffeine spike, suppress the appetite, and prevent mid-morning hunger pains, sugar crashes, and energy slumps. Many people who follow a low-carb diet such as the ketogenic diet, replace the morning meal with this beverage. Also, there are many people who have reported weight loss, as well as increased energy and focus in connection with starting their day with butter coffee. So why add ghee to coffee? Blogger Sonakshi Kohli aptly dubs ghee coffee, “the desi answer to the West’s obsession with bulletproof coffee.” The idea is to even out energy levels and provide a feeling of fullness that will last until lunch time. This will make you less likely to indulge in between-meal snacking, to experience energy crashes, or to overeat at lunch. You'll also get the enjoy all of the unique benefits that ghee has to offer.
Ghee Coffee Versus Butter Coffee
Why ghee coffee instead of butter coffee? The answer lies in the benefits of ghee over butter. Ghee-making involves removing milk solids, like proteins and sugars. Therefore, even those who are lactose intolerant will often do just fine with ghee. Ghee is a more pure fat than butter. Also, ghee and Ghruta (a premium type of ghee) is rich in digestible, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, including Omega 3s. Also, on a practical note, ghee is more liquid than butter. Therefore, it stirs more easily into coffee or chai. Furthermore, though butter is delicious, many coffee drinkers will appreciate the slightly sweeter taste of ghee, and its smooth texture is certainly a plus.
Ghee in Coffee: What to Consider
The only way to see if putting ghee in coffee works for you is to try it! For some, having a cup of chai, coffee, or herbal coffee with a teaspoon of ghee is great way to start the day. The important thing is to buy high quality ghee that comes from free-range, grass fed cows. PIOR Living offers Ghruta, considered the highest quality ghee you can buy in Ayurvedic tradition.
Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Her Ayurveda practice is based in Asheville, North Carolina and she is the co-owner of Iyengar Yoga Asheville.