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This healthy coffee recipe isn’t just a caffeine boost, but an opportunity to infuse a variety of health benefits into your daily routine. I am more focused and accomplish more in a day with this cup of coffee, and I know its energy can work in my favor.

What makes this elixir so powerful? Just five easy ingredients. Not all coffee is created equal, and it starts with the beans.

white cup of healthy coffee on a striped tea towel next to a french press and some whole coffee beans.
Table of Contents
  1. Recipe Ingredients
  2. Sourcing the Right Coffee Beans
  3. A Balanced, Healthy Coffee Recipe
  4. Healthy Morning Routine
  5. FAQs
  6. Healthy Caffeine Alternatives
  7. Healthy Coffee Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

This is not your average morning cup of joe. While it takes a little extra effort, it’s totally worth it for sustainable energy, a more filling cup and a myriad of health benefits. Here’s what’s in my morning mug:

  • Coarse, ground coffee beans: I care about my coffee beans so I choose high-quality beans from JavaPresse. Learn more about them below!
  • MCT oil: I prefer MCT oil to coconut oil because it is flavorless and contains only medium-chain triglycerides. A little goes a long way with this potent oil! My preferred brand is Nutiva MCT Oil.
  • Grass-fed butter: This unique ingredient is going to keep me full longer and help my coffee give me smooth energy without the crash. Grass-fed versions are more nutritious than regular butter. My go-to brand is Kerry Gold unsalted.
  • Vanilla extract: Use the real stuff, not imitation, to give this a light vanilla flavor. Omit if you aren’t a fan.
  • Collagen powder: Another thing I’m focusing on is strengthening my hair and nails. Collagen powder works great for this and my go-to brand is Vital Proteins.

While these ingredients are a bit expensive, you are only using a little of each per cup, so I can get a lot of servings. Plus, it’s worth it to me to get the right ingredients to start my day!

Sourcing the Right Coffee Beans

I learned a lot about beans, as well as the impact they can have on farmers, soil and health benefits from Raj Jana, founder of JavaPresse, a small-batch coffee company. Let’s take a deeper dive into what I learned from Raj. He gave some awesome ways for us to get the most out of our daily cup of coffee by making it even healthier. 

A hot mug of coffee isnโ€™t just any drink for most of us. Itโ€™s the launchpad for each day. And yet, we often treat our morning coffee like an indulgent treat rather than an opportunity to start each day with a healthy, life-enhancing habit.

whole beans poured out of a bag onto a counter.

environmental certifications

There are a few environmental certifications you can look for to ensure your coffeeโ€™s grown naturally. These certifications use strict standards about what kinds of chemicals can be used, which makes them a safe bet:

  • Certified Organic
  • Bird-Friendly
  • Rainforest Alliance
  • UTZ Certified

There is a potential downside to only sticking with Certified Organic coffee. Most coffee farms donโ€™t have enough financial security to invest in that particular certification, since it can be costly for small, rural businesses. By only buying Certified Organic beans, you may unknowingly penalize incredible farmers, because they can’t afford the certification.

If there’s a local roaster you want to support, call them and ask how their coffee is grown and sourced. While they may not have the certification on their beans, their farmers may be following great practices that are worth supporting!

A Balanced, Healthy Coffee Recipe

ground coffee in a tablespoon scoop and poured into a french press container.

Now that I’ve got the right beans for my coffee, let’s talk about what goes into that ‘perfect cup.’ For me, itโ€™s a mix of moderation and using high-quality ingredients. This healthy cup of coffee gives me stable energy, mental clarity, helps flush out my system and also keeps my skin glowing.

The recipe I use is quite radical for a cup of joe sorta person. It requires a blender (yes, blender), as well as a few niche products found through Amazon and the local grocery store. Here’s how I make mine:

  1. Grind your coffee beans in a coarse setting just before brewing. Pour the grounds into a French press.
  2. Heat water until boiling then pour it over the grounds in the French press. You can put the lid on, keeping the plunger all the way up.
  3. Start a timer. After one minute, take a spoon and gently submerge the grounds that have formed a “crust” on the surface.
  4. After 4 minutes, press down the plunger. Pour the brewed coffee into a heat-safe blender container.
  5. Gently add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
  6. Drink warm and enjoy!

The blender emulsifies the grass-fed butter and coconut oil, creating a creamy and frothy drink with a boost of beneficial fats. Itโ€™s inspired by Dave Aspreyโ€™s Bulletproof Coffee, who originally introduced me to this incredible coffee recipe.

Lately, I have been upgrading it even more with grass-fed collagen powder. I think once you hit your 30s and the grey hairs start popping up, itโ€™s time to take aging seriously. Iโ€™m investing in my longevity with high-quality collagen and loads of healthy fats, which is exactly what this coffee recipe is all about.

If youโ€™re a decaf person, then I recommend using Dandy Blend, as it is the best coffee alternative out there, in my opinion. I’m in love with this stuff! Itโ€™s caffeine-free, gluten-free and delicious. I seriously donโ€™t even realize Iโ€™m not drinking coffee. Itโ€™s so similar.

Healthy Morning Routine

a large jar of green smoothie next to a french press both on a marble tray.

Along with my cup of coffee, I’m also trying to be more intentional with my entire morning routine. Enjoying a cup of coffee while reading a good book has been a recent experience for me. During my morning routine, I focus on a book that will help set my mindset for the day, like a devotional or meditation-style reading.

Back to my point. Your morning mug can be so much more flavorful, rewarding and healthy (if you choose to embrace it!)  Here are some tips on how you can do it.

Keep your coffee simple

I used to say โ€œI like coffee with my half and half,โ€ which was the truth. I would pour in the cream to make the coffee less bitter, as well as much creamier. Over the years, I transitioned from love for cream, to grass-fed butter in my coffee. The results are where itโ€™s at! Removing super-processed dairy from my coffee has not only helped with tummy trouble but also acne and bloating. And the extra dose of healthy fats keeps me satiated because the creamy coffee kickstarts my digestive system.

Maybe dairy isn’t your thing. Maybe itโ€™s the sweetener. Well, itโ€™s time to remove the sweeteners, because they are creating artificial energy and leaching nutrients from your body. Itโ€™s a short-term win (happy energy) for a long-term loss (weight gain, nutrient deficiencies). Try adding a dash of cinnamon or ground vanilla bean to naturally sweeten it.

Maybe even try drinking black coffee. According to Raj, this is the best way to get the most out of a cup of coffee. And yes, there is a way to do it without gagging from the bitterness or harsh acidic bite. Hereโ€™s how:

Buy specialty coffee and then brew it the right way. A good specialty-grade bean ground fresh and made in a French press. Bitterness? Gone. Gross acidity? Gone. Itโ€™s incredibly balanced, as well as full of flavor on its own. No additives are necessary.

french press full of coffee grounds and water.

Buy from the right farms and roasters

Not all coffee is grown equally. Buy from roasters who work with farmers focused on quality and sustainability. Did you know:

For 100% pesticide-free coffee, buy from farmers obsessed with environmental sustainability.

To ensure his beans are naturally grown and healthy as can be, Raj only sources coffees from farmers as excited about sustainability as he isโ€”and they are almost always certified by an environmental organization.

By the time coffee beans have been extracted from the coffee cherry, roasted and brewed into rich coffee, thereโ€™s hardly any chemical residue left from pesticides. However, especially with low-grade commercial coffee, many of the pesticides being used abroad are actually banned in the United States. This means thereโ€™s always a small chance you could be negatively impacted if one of these chemicals finds its way to your beans.

You can easily avoid this risk though, just by buying naturally-grown coffee.

healthy coffee in a white cup on a white plate next to a jar of green smoothie.

FAQs

What is the healthiest cup of coffee?

Start by choosing beans sourced from sustainable growers. If you don’t know, ask! You should be able to find out if your brand of choice does this by some light internet research, or by asking your local roasted. Second, don’t fill that freshly brewed coffee with sweeteners. Opt for grass-fed butter over half n’ half or creamer and try to avoid added sugar.

Can drinking coffee be healthy?

Yes! Coffee has natural caffeine that can help you focus. Yet listen to your body! If you find that you’re sensitive to caffeine then definitely drink a smaller amount, add things like grass-fed butter and collagen to your cup to help your body turn that caffeine into long-lasting energy without a crash.

What type of coffee is good for weight loss?

I like my healthy coffee method as it’s more filling than a cup of black coffee and MCT oil helps wake up my digestive system to get things moving in the right direction for the day.

Healthy Caffeine Alternatives

What if coffee just isn’t your thing? I totally get it. I actually have a few other great healthy caffeine alternatives to start the day off strong:


How do you start your morning? I’d love for you to leave a comment with your fav morning routine + drink. Also, let me know if you’ve tried this healthy coffee!

4.95 from 35 votes

Healthy Coffee

A healthy, filling cup of coffee is a great way to start the day. My healthy coffee recipe uses grass-fed butter, MCT oil and collagen to fuel my day.
Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 8 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Serves: 1

Ingredients  

  • 2 tbsp coffee beans coarse ground
  • 1 tsp MCT Oil
  • 2 tbsp grass-fed butter unsalted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 scoop collagen powder optional

Instructions 

  • Grind the coffee at a coarse setting just before brewing to preserve the freshness and flavors and pour into french press.
  • Heat water until boiling then pour it over the grounds in the french press.
  • Start a timer. After one minute, take a spoon and gently submerge the grounds that have formed a โ€˜crustโ€™ on the surface.
  • After four minutes, press down the plunger. Pour brewed coffee in to heat-safe blender container.
  • Gently add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
  • Drink warm and enjoy the healthy fat and protein goodness!
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Equipment

Notes

  • Standard pre-ground coffee is generally too fine for French press brewing and may get stuck in the mesh filter, creating a lot of resistance when you try to plunge.
  • Regular brewed coffee can be used as the base if you don’t have a French press.
  • After plunging the filter, make sure to decant all the coffee. Otherwise, it will slowly continue to brew and become bitter within the press.

Nutrition

Calories: 258kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 183mg, Potassium: 13mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 700IU, Calcium: 7mg, Iron: 0.01mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

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Comments

  1. I use a Keurig when in a rush with a re-usable k-cup. The best way is with a french press and the best coffee I have found I found in the Dominican when I was there.

    1. I love that you use a reusable k-cup, Corina. I bet the local coffee in the Dominican is just awesome. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Excited to try this system. I have a Kurig, I fill it with water, pop in a pod, and drink it black. I LOVE my morning coffee! That is my current coffee routine. Warm Regards, Cathy

  3. I’m excited about trying coffee this way. I adore coffee and have struggled to adapt my coffee palate after going “green” following my 21 day cleanse with Jen. I used to use sugary flavored creamer, but now I’m sugar-free and processed food free among other things.

    1. That’s so awesome, Cheri! This coffee is delicious and if you’re missing a little sweetness, add a dash of cinnamon or a bit of pure vanilla extract. ๐Ÿ˜€

  4. 5 stars
    When we went to Costa Rica,we toured a coffee bean farm.They actually do this recipe in a carafe too,the only difference is they pour the coffee in a “coffee sock”what we know here is the “pour over”.Their coffee was organic,smooth and mouth watering delicious,and without cream or sugar.Ive been making our coffee like that since.

  5. I drink coffee from my keirig.. And use flavored creamer…would love to get away from all the sugar…

  6. I’m a pretty boring coffee drinker, regular coffee maker, regular coffee and drink it plain! Thank you for the opportunity!

  7. I love having my fresh brewed coffee early afternoon while reading a book. What is a little unusual is that I add ground up flax seeds to get my omega-3’s !!

    Thank you…. Paul

  8. I just got an aeropress but I think using a chemex makes my favorite at home cup of coffee. Thanks!

  9. would love to find and try coffee that is less acidic – I drink 3 cups a day most days, but begin to get sores in my mouth from all the acid – I use my french press to froth my coffee into a latte – coffee, milk, honey, collagen, coconut oil and inulin, sometimes MCT oil – pump the handle up and down until its frothy! The only way I like coffee.

    1. That sounds good, Wilma! If you’re getting sores in your mouth (sounds painful!), maybe aim to drink 1-2 cups a day instead of 3. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. We LOVE our French Press! Our guests are always so impressed with the coffee we make them that we’ve inspired many of our friends and family members to purchase ones for themselves! We sorta feel like French Press ambassadors sometimes… ๐Ÿ™‚

    My favorite way to enjoy that morning cup is to add in a little black strap molasses, almond milk & cinnamon, or sometimes I’ll just stir in a spoonful of full-fat coconut milk. SO DELICIOUS!

  11. 5 stars
    Right now I just brew it in a regular Coffee Maker but after reading this information I will be getting a French Press maker and different coffee. I will thank the person who sent me to your site.
    Thanks for offering this great prize!!

  12. I’m a coffee snob at heart. Although normally I’m left with a coffeemaker that makes ugggghh coffee and I fill it with creamer to mask the flavor. The one time I had some beautiful coffee by itself was from one of my professor’s who roasted coffee beans as a hobby and by golly was it delicious no cream or sugar. I hope I can find that again because I’m tired of crap coffee!!!

  13. My favorite way is pour over but most days I use my Keurig because I have three busy kids 6, 3 & 1!

  14. 4 stars
    I love my french press, we use it as a treat for the weekend. I add a little cinamon, grassfed butter and MTC added, shake in a mason to make my morning “late.”

  15. Nespresso with Cinnamon and Half and Half. Or an Americano with the same!!
    Wish I had time for a French Roast!