CBD With Coffee

Written By: Emily Spring

A Match Made in Plant Heaven

With CBD’s skyrocketing popularity, you’ve probably seen all kinds of CBD products—CBD face masks, CBD-infused sauces, and even CBD dog treats. 

But have you heard of CBD coffee?

Picturing coffee and CBD together might seem like an oxymoron. Coffee is a stimulant. CBD has relaxing properties, known for its ability to induce a sense of calmness. So why would you mix the two? 

In reality, CBD and coffee balance each other perfectly. For instance, CBD can help to minimize some of the jitteriness spurred by caffeine. At the same time, the caffeine minimizes the drowsiness sometimes caused by CBD. 

Thus, CBD coffee could potentially leave you feeling alert and relaxed at the same time. Curious to learn more? Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about CBD coffee. 

What is CBD Coffee?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an all-natural cannabinoid found in cannabis plants like marijuana and hemp. However, given the higher concentration of CBD in hemp, it’s usually extracted from that variation of cannabis specifically. And although CBD can be extracted from marijuana, CBD isolate and extract products are (by law) formulated with no more than 0.3% THC.

• Note: THC—tetrahydrocannabinol—is the cannabinoid responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana. Because CBD oil has less than 0.3% THC, it can deliver health benefits without any psychoactive effects. 

Research has shown that CBD works by linking up to a system in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is responsible for helping balance the other organ systems in your body (including your circulatory, digestive, and reproductive systems). It also helps to manage mood, sleep, appetite and much more. 

By interacting with this system, CBD can provide a host of potential benefits:

• Relieve aches and discomfort
• Manage daily stresses and promote a sense of calm
• Help you to get more restful sleep 

To that end, a CBD coffee is coffee that has been infused with CBD oil. In most cases, a few drops of CBD oil are added to a cup of coffee, but some recipes use CBD-infused coffee beans instead. Regardless of how it’s made, CBD coffee is a drink that combines the energizing effects of coffee with the soothing effects of CBD. 

To better understand the effects of pairing CBD with coffee, let’s take a look at how both CBD and caffeine work.

How CBD Works

When CBD interacts with the ECS system, it helps your body link up with the natural hormones it already produces. 

For example, scientists have found that CBD interacts with serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a natural chemical created by your body that helps to improve mood and promote relaxation. However, so does CBD. When serotonin receptors are exposed to CBD, it helps calm nervousness and bodily discomfort.

The soothing effect of CBD is one of the biggest reasons why so many people use CBD on a regular basis. The cannabidiol can help you feel calmer and less anxious much like taking an herbal supplement for stress. However, because of CBD’s relaxation-inducing properties, it also has a propensity to make people tired. Luckily, you can mitigate this sleepiness. How?

With CBD coffee. 

How Caffeine Works

Caffeine is a stimulant that works to “energize” the central nervous system (CNS). Most of us have, at least at one point in our lives, drank caffeine. After all, it’s the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. With that being said, it can have the following side effects:

• Rapid heartbeat  
• Shaking or jitteriness
• Feelings of increased stress

But why does caffeine have such powerful properties? While CBD interacts with the ECS system, caffeine interacts with adenosine receptors throughout the body.

Adenosine is a chemical created in the brain that binds to the adenosine receptors found in your nerve cells. When adenosine binds to receptors, it has several effects:

• It slows your nerve cell activity and causes you to feel sleepy
• It causes blood vessels to dilate, which may let more oxygen in

Caffeine works by fooling these receptors. To the nerve cell, caffeine looks almost identical to adenosine. In fact, caffeine can bind directly to an adenosine receptor. Once the caffeine has bound itself to the receptors, it causes the nerve cells to speed up—instead of slowing down like they would with adenosine. 

It also prevents any adenosine from binding to receptors because they have already bound to caffeine. This, in turn, causes your brain to increase neuron activity, which then stimulates your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. 

Overall, you feel much more awake and energized thanks to the way that the caffeine hijacks your body’s receptors. 

Why the CBD and Coffee Combo Is Fantastic

There’s a reason why so many people love their morning coffee. From the taste to the energy provided, most agree that it’s a great way to start the day. 

Similarly, CBD is an increasingly popular choice for managing daily restlessness, promoting mood, and dealing with discomfort. These CBD benefits can help you feel your best. 

Now put those two together and voila! You have an energizing, tasty drink that also includes properties that can help your health and well-being. And if you’re not always a fan of how caffeine affects you, the CBD combo might mitigate the jitteriness associated with coffee. 

Are There Side Effects? 

Of course, as with most substances, there are usually some side effects. For coffee, jitteriness and an increased heart rate are common. Some people avoid caffeine entirely due to how it affects their central nervous system.

There aren’t many notable side effects of CBD, but some people do notice a sense of sleepiness after taking CBD in an oil or edible form. In fact, some people avoid taking CBD in the morning or afternoon because it can make them feel tired. 

This is where CBD coffee comes in. You still get the benefits from both the coffee and the CBD, but the side effects are often minimized. 

To summarize:

• Caffeine still interacts with your adenosine receptors, energizing you 
• CBD still interacts with the ECS, providing a host of positive effects
• Since CBD helps promote calm, it can assist with the coffee jitters
• The coffee helps you feel awake and alert, even as you relax

CBD coffee is, in short, the best of both worlds. If you’re interested, let’s find out where you can get one.

Finding CBD at Your Local Cafe

While CBD is legal at the federal level, state-by-state regulations vary when it comes to the sale of CBD, especially CBD edibles. If there's not a CBD cafe near you, look for one in your next trip out of state.

Keep in mind that if you opt for a CBD coffee made in a coffee shop, you should talk to the barista about the brand of CBD products used and the amount they add. They should have no problem showing you the CBD oil that they add to your craft coffee. It’s always important that you’re aware of the type of CBD you use as certain brands are of a much higher quality than others.

However, making your own CBD coffee is the best option because you can control the type of CBD oil you use and the amount you add. Read ahead to get started.

CBD Coffee Recipes

Perhaps the best way to enjoy a CBD coffee is by creating one yourself. This is much easier than you may think. In fact, it involves one of the simplest recipes ever. 

To make CBD coffee, you need three ingredients:

• Coffee
• CBD oil
• Your creamer of choice

Why do you need creamer? CBD oil does not mix with water because it is hydrophobic. If you add CBD oil to coffee, you will notice it beading up on the surface rather than mixing into your drink. To combat this, you need to add in some type of fatty substance for the oil to bind to. This allows the CBD to mix into the drink properly. Any creamer with some fat should work.

Pro tip: coconut oil is a fantastic non-dairy option. Make sure you blend in a blender to get a delicious, creamy consistency. 

To make your own CBD-infused cup of coffee, simply brew your favorite coffee blend (or even pick up a cup from your favorite coffee shop) and add in a few drops of high-quality CBD oil along with a splash of your chosen creamer. Mix well, and you’ve got a delicious CBD-infused coffee to enjoy. 

Tips for Customizing Your CBD Coffee

As you start to experiment with coffee and CBD, customize your morning coffee to fit your needs. Our best tips for CBD coffee include:

• Use a high-quality CBD from a trusted brand. This way, you know you’re getting the desired dose.
• Start with a small dose of CBD oil—21 mg—and increase your dosage to achieve the desired effect.
• Try adding CBD to a hot coffee or to a cold brew. Any temperature will work as long as there is some type of fat included in the drink. 
• Add in other ingredients to make a fancier latte-style drink. Consider mixing in some sugar and cinnamon, or even add a little bit of caramel sauce for a homemade CBD caramel macchiato. 

Looking for a high-quality CBD oil? Look no further than Plant People. Our organic CBD tinctures use the highest quality hemp. Whether you’re looking for relief from aches, improvements in mood, or restful sleep, we have the blend that’s right for you. 

Written by Emily Spring 

Emily Spring is the Director of Marketing at Plant People. A longtime proponent of balanced living, she has enjoyed over 8 years driving growth in the lifestyle, health and wellness sectors with deep experience in functional solutions for optimizing anyone's everyday life.

Reviewed by Gabe Kennedy

 Co-Founder of Plant People, Gabe Kennedy is an acclaimed chef and entrepreneur. Growing up in a house of healers and herbalists, he is passionate about the power of food as a tool for health, and actualized this passion and belief system into his company, Plant People. Named to Forbes 30 under 30 Gabe has shaped menus and cooked his way around the world with his mission to promote a more communal, green and healthy world.

 Gabe is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. You can learn more about his work at his website.