Millions of people start their day with a cup of coffee. A dose of caffeine in the morning boosts our energy and keeps us mentally alert for several hours. However, it’s not the perfect beverage because of the known adverse effects caused by having too much coffee every day.
CBD (cannabidiol) offers a promising solution for coffee lovers. Because of how this cannabinoid interacts with the body, as well as its myriad of potential health benefits, more and more brands have joined the hype by promoting the idea of stirring in CBD oil or isolates to your coffee or by developing fresh brews infused with CBD.
If you’re interested to learn more about how CBD can enhance your coffee habits, this article has everything you need to know about this creative way of getting your caffeine fix every morning.
Coffee + CBD
If you’re already familiar with the sedating effects of CBD, you might be wondering why some brands have decided to combine it with coffee, a widely popular stimulant.
While it’s true that CBD will help you calm down well enough to induce sleep at higher doses, taking a low amount of CBD may stimulate your body and mind. This observation—as well as the other supposed health benefits we may gain from CBD—has led brands and some coffee drinkers to start mixing a few drops of CBD oil or CBD-infused honey with their morning brews.
Unfortunately, the grassy taste from the hemp plant where CBD is derived can be off-putting for some, so some have turned to CBD isolates, typically sold in unflavored powdered form.
However, as we have said earlier, the dosage matters if you want to obtain the desired effects from CBD coffee. Stirring CBD oil or isolates in your coffee requires you to keep a careful eye on the ratio—something that you probably won’t enjoy doing every time you need a caffeine boost.
That’s why some creative CBD brands and daring coffee roasters are offering coffee beans that have been pre-infused with CBD. Just like your regular beans, all you have to do is grind and brew to enjoy its numerous potential benefits to your day-to-day activities.
What is CBD?
It’s one of the two major chemical compounds found in the cannabis sativa plant. Compared to its psychoactive cousin THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD provides all the potential health benefits without getting you “stoned.”
In the US, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) considers it legal as long as the THC level does not exceed 0.3% of its dry weight. However, we suggest checking first the most recent update on their state laws about CBD since some states still don’t allow the selling or consumption of CBD products.
Why Should You Start Drinking CBD Coffee?
Regardless of your preferred method, adding CBD coffee into your daily morning routine can do wonders for the rest of your day. Let’s go over the five reasons you should try this CBD beverage.
1. CBD coffee may help you concentrate better on completing your tasks for the day
Many people drink coffee in the morning to feel more awake and alert. Its caffeine content prevents the buildup of adenosine—a neurotransmitter that is associated with tiredness and sleep. Because of its inhibitory properties, coffee keeps us energized and ready to face the various challenges of our daily lives.
CBD takes things up a notch because it can delay the reabsorption of adenosine. Though it will increase the adenosine levels in the brain, it prevents you from feeling restless or jittery—a common side effect of caffeine. Moreover, this cannabinoid increases the serotonin level in the brain, thus helping us stay motivated throughout the day.
Many CBD coffee drinkers describe the mental alertness gained from this beverage as smoother and longer-lasting than what they typically experience from drinking regular coffee. The internal balance created by the combination of caffeine and CBD allows us to focus more on what we’re doing rather than being distracted by our rapid heartbeats or nervous energy.
2. CBD coffee quickens recovery from physical workouts
Aside from satisfying their caffeine requirement, some people make it a habit to go out for a run or perform workout routines as part of their daily morning routine. While such physical activities could boost our energy level, they leave us in pain, especially if we push past our limits.
A cup of generic coffee won’t provide relief to your sore muscles, but CBD-infused coffee can in two ways. First, CBD improves our ability to regulate pain since it helps increase the production of anandamide—a neurotransmitter that affects how we perceive pain. Second, the inflammations in our muscle tissues may be reduced through CBD, as highlighted by this 2020 review.
Given these, making the switch to CBD coffee can help you embrace an active but relatively pain-free lifestyle.
3. CBD coffee bolsters our body’s defense mechanisms
Aside from being effective against inflammations, CBD has shown promise as a potent antioxidant. Since coffee is also rich in antioxidants, you may receive more substantial protection from the potential illnesses and damage caused by the free radicals in the body.
Antioxidants can also slow down the natural aging process. Therefore, as a bonus, a cup of CBD coffee every morning could delay the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes, and other signs of aging on our skin.
4. CBD coffee can reduce your trips to the bathroom
If you find yourself going to the bathroom more frequently after drinking coffee, don’t be alarmed right away because the presence of caffeine in your body urges us to expel it immediately through urination or bowel movement. However, it becomes a problem when excessive consumption of coffee leads you to suffer from diarrhea.
Since inflammation causes this intestinal condition, CBD may lessen the irritation caused by caffeine on your guts. A 2016 study involving participants with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) has demonstrated how this cannabinoid can provide relief from diarrhea and abdominal pain when consumed at the proper dosage.
5. CBD coffee may help you develop healthier sleeping habits
It may sound counterintuitive at first, but CBD coffee may be the key to getting enough rest at night. According to a 2017 review of the studies conducted about the role of CBD on sleep, it may also address insomnia, which is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep. CBD can also be effective against excessive daytime sleepiness, nightmares due to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and sleep deprivation due to chronic pain.
To enjoy this benefit, we suggest refraining from drinking CBD coffee too close to bedtime, though. The caffeine content will still disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle, albeit to a lower degree.
Helpful Tips for First-Time CBD Coffee Drinkers
If these benefits of CBD coffee have convinced you to make the switch, here are some suggestions from our team to guide you on your search for the ideal CBD coffee product for you.
Go for trusted and reliable brands
Choosing a reputable CBD brand is one of the most important things you can do before buying CBD coffee. Due to the lack of solid regulations of CBD, consumers have to depend on the results of independent lab tests to find out how potent and safe a given CBD product is. Remember to check if the CBD coffee product you wish to try comes with an updated batch COA (certificate of analysis) from a reputable testing facility before proceeding with your purchase.
Read the label
Not all CBD coffee is created equal, so it’s important to know how to read a label. Brands use different types and amounts of CBD extracts for their products. If you’re not sure which to pick, below is a quick rundown of what you may expect from each type:
- Full-spectrum
This CBD extract contains all cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other plant proteins naturally found in the hemp plant. Because of its THC content, you may receive more potent effects from CBD coffee due to the so-called “entourage effect”.
- Broad-spectrum
If you want to experience the entourage effect but without the risk of feeling mildly euphoric, broad-spectrum CBD coffee is the right choice for you. Yes, it may still have trace amounts of THC, but expect its impact to be slightly muted compared to its full-spectrum counterpart though.
- Isolates
People who want to eliminate THC from their CBD coffee should consider getting products infused with CBD isolates. The extraction process leaves CBD in its purest form, so you can be assured that you’d be consuming this cannabinoid only in every cup.
Start low and go slow
Whether you have decided to buy CBD-infused coffee beans or mix CBD oil with your favorite brew, we recommend getting a low dose of CBD—around 5 to 10mg—for your first cup. Observe the response of your body and mind, and then gradually work your way up to your ideal CBD dosage. Doing so will lessen the likelihood of suffering from the side effects of CBD that could be preventing you from enjoying your CBD coffee experience.
Final Thoughts on CBD Coffee
Coffee, on its own, is one of the most effective ways to invigorate ourselves every day. Infusing CBD into your favorite brew can elevate your morning routine and help you achieve a sustainable balance between productivity and good health.
If you haven’t tried CBD coffee before, bear in mind our valuable tips as you browse through the numerous selections in the market.
