Butter Coffee: The British-American Weight Loss Trend

Coffee lovers in the UK and US have been stirring more than just cream into their morning cups. A growing trend sees people adding butter—yes, actual butter—to their coffee, not for taste alone but as part of a weight-loss regimen. What started as a fringe biohacking trick is now sold in stores and touted by health enthusiasts as a meal substitute. But what’s really behind the butter coffee craze?

Yes, adding unsalted, grass-fed butter to your coffee is the core of the trend. This drink, popularized in the US, is marketed as a high-fat, low-carb meal alternative that may support weight loss by forcing your body to burn fat for energy. But it’s not just any butter—it must be grass-fed and unsalted to align with the claimed health benefits.

What Is Butter Coffee?

Butter coffee is exactly what it sounds like: a cup of black coffee blended or stirred with unsalted, grass-fed butter. It’s often associated with ‘bulletproof coffee,’ a term coined by American entrepreneur Dave Asprey. The idea is simple—replace a meal with a creamy, fatty coffee drink that keeps you full and energized. In the UK and US, this beverage has moved from niche health blogs to mainstream cafes and retail shelves, sometimes even labeled plainly as ‘butter coffee.’

Where Did the Idea Come From?

The concept originated with Dave Asprey, who encountered butter-infused tea, known as yak butter tea or po cha, while trekking in Tibet. Impressed by how Himalayan mountaineers used it for energy, Asprey experimented with adding butter to his own coffee. He later refined the recipe and launched it as part of his broader ‘Bulletproof Diet’ philosophy, which promotes high-fat, low-carb living for increased mental clarity, energy, and weight management.

How Does It Claim to Help With Weight Loss?

The theory behind butter coffee for weight loss is rooted in nutritional biochemistry. When your diet is very low in carbohydrates and sugar, the body enters a metabolic state called ketosis, where it burns stored fat for energy instead of glucose. By replacing a traditional meal with a high-fat coffee drink, proponents argue you can suppress appetite, stabilize blood sugar, and encourage your body to use fat as its primary fuel source—potentially leading to weight loss over time.

According to Dave Asprey, this approach also helps fight fatigue, supports brain function, and may prevent chronic diseases. The high-fat content is said to provide sustained energy without the crashes associated with sugar or caffeine alone.

Why Grass-Fed, Unsalted Butter?

Not all butter is created equal in this trend. The recipe specifically calls for unsalted butter from grass-fed cows. Grass-fed butter is higher in certain nutrients, including beta-carotene, which gives it a richer yellow color. It also contains more omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants compared to conventional butter from grain-fed cows. These compounds are linked to anti-inflammatory effects, potential anti-cancer properties, and benefits for both brain and immune system health. Unsalted butter is preferred to control sodium intake and maintain the intended flavor profile.

What Are the Concerns?

Despite its popularity, butter coffee isn’t without critics. Nutrition experts who favor traditional, balanced weight-loss methods warn that replacing meals with high-fat coffee can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Extremely low sugar and carbohydrate intake may cause side effects such as headaches, muscle cramps, digestive discomfort, and fatigue—especially during the initial transition phase as the body adapts to using fat as its main energy source.

There’s also debate over whether long-term reliance on such a high-fat, low-fiber diet is sustainable or advisable for everyone, particularly without medical or nutritional supervision.

Is It Selling?

Yes. Planet Organic, a UK retailer specializing in natural products, reported strong and growing sales of butter coffee since introducing it over a year ago. The product has moved beyond home preparation and is now available off the shelf, signaling a shift from biohacker niche to broader consumer acceptance.

How to Make Butter Coffee (Asprey’s Method)

While the article doesn’t include a step-by-step from the original source, Asprey’s original method typically involves:

• Brewing a strong cup of black coffee (usually 8–12 oz)
• Adding 1–2 tablespoons of unsalted, grass-fed butter
• Optionally adding 1–2 tablespoons of MCT oil (not mentioned in this article but part of the original Bulletproof recipe)
• Blending until frothy, creating a latte-like texture

Exact ratios and whether MCT oil is included aren’t specified here, but the essential components are black coffee and grass-fed, unsalted butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is butter coffee?

Butter coffee is black coffee mixed with unsalted, grass-fed butter, and sometimes MCT oil. It’s consumed as a high-fat, low-carb drink meant to replace a meal, popularized by US entrepreneur Dave Asprey as part of his Bulletproof Diet.

Does butter coffee really help with weight loss?

Advocates say it can help by promoting ketosis—a metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel due to low carb intake. However, scientific evidence is mixed, and weight loss results vary by individual.

What kind of butter should I use for butter coffee?

Use unsalted butter from grass-fed cows. Grass-fed butter contains more beneficial nutrients like omega-3s, beta-carotene, and antioxidants compared to regular butter from grain-fed cows.

Can butter coffee replace a meal?

Yes, it’s marketed as a meal replacement. The high fat content is supposed to keep you full, but it may not provide all the nutrients you’d get from a balanced meal.

Are there any side effects to drinking butter coffee?

Possible side effects include headaches, digestive issues, muscle cramps, and fatigue, especially when first starting out or if overall carbohydrate intake is too low.

Where can I buy butter coffee?

It’s now sold in some health food stores like Planet Organic in the UK, and you can also make it at home with the right butter and coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Butter Coffee

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for its bright citrus and floral notes, or their Colombia Huila for a balanced mix of caramel and nuts—both shine in butter coffee’s rich base. For a deeper profile, their PWN Golden Mandheling offers a full-bodied, low-acidity cup that pairs well with fat. These single origins highlight distinct flavours even when blended with butter. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.