Keto Bulletproof Coffee

Annie Lampella @ Ketofocus

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published August 4, 2019 • Updated February 21, 2026

Reader Rating
4.8 Stars (16 Reviews)

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

I've been making this every morning since 2013. Bulletproof coffee (grass-fed butter, MCT oil, and fresh brewed coffee blended until frothy) keeps me full and focused straight through to lunch.

Keto Butter Coffee

I’ve been starting my mornings with this coffee for over ten years, and I still look forward to it every single day. Bulletproof coffee is freshly brewed coffee blended with grass-fed butter and MCT oil until it turns into a rich, frothy drink that honestly tastes like a latte. No cream, no milk, no sugar. Just healthy fat and coffee, and it keeps me full until lunch without even thinking about food.

The concept behind butter coffee is simple. You brew your favorite coffee (or espresso), toss in a tablespoon of butter and a tablespoon of MCT oil, and blend for about 30 seconds. That’s it. The blending is what creates that creamy foam on top, and I promise it does not taste like you just dropped a stick of butter in a mug. The texture is smooth, almost velvety.

I started making this when I went keto back in 2012, and it solved my biggest morning problem: I was never hungry for breakfast but needed something to keep my energy steady. This was the answer. The fats from the butter and MCT oil are absorbed quickly and used as fuel rather than stored, so you get a sustained energy boost on top of the caffeine. No crash at 10 AM. No reaching for snacks by 11.

If you’re new to MCT oil, start with one teaspoon and work your way up to a full tablespoon over a week or two. I learned this the hard way. Too much MCT oil on an empty stomach can cause digestive issues, and nobody wants that first thing in the morning. Your body adjusts, but give it time.

One thing I love about this recipe is how easy it is to make your own variations. I keep mine plain most mornings, but when I want something different, I’ll make a keto mocha or try a dalgona coffee with whipped topping. When the weather gets hot, I pour everything over ice or go all out with a keto frappuccino. And on cold winter mornings, a peppermint white mocha is hard to beat.

For anyone following a keto diet, this is the ideal morning drink. Zero carbs, 37 grams of healthy fats, and enough sustained energy to power through the whole morning. I genuinely cannot imagine starting my day any other way.

How to make butter coffee

  1. Brew coffee using your favorite beans or method. I use a standard drip maker, but pour-over and espresso both work.
  2. Pour the hot coffee into a blender. Add grass-fed butter and MCT oil.
  3. Blend for about 30 seconds until a thick, frothy head forms. This step is everything. Stirring won’t do it. You need the blending action to emulsify the fat into the coffee.

If you don’t have a blender, a handheld milk frother works. I keep one in my travel bag for mornings away from home. It doesn’t get quite as frothy, but it mixes everything well enough.

The key is blending, not stirring. When the fat gets properly emulsified, the drink turns creamy and smooth with a foam layer on top. Skip the blending and you end up with an oily film floating on your coffee.

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Keto Bulletproof Coffee

4.8 (16) Prep 5m Total 5m 1 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces of fresh brewed coffee or espresso
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted, grass fed butter
  • 1 tablespoon MCT oil or coconut oil

Step by Step Instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1
Get the blender

Add ingredients to a blender.

bulletproof coffee mixed in a blender
2
Pulse it

Pulse until combined. If using a frother, add ingredients to a cup and use frother to mix until combined.

mixing bulletproof coffee with frother or blender
Nutrition Per Serving
334 Calories
37.3g Fat
0.5g Protein
0g Net Carbs
0g Total Carbs
1 Servings
Nutrition disclaimer

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

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Keto Bulletproof Coffee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in bulletproof coffee?

Three ingredients are all I use: fresh brewed coffee, a tablespoon of grass-fed butter, and a tablespoon of MCT oil. I blend everything together for about 30 seconds until it gets frothy and creamy, almost like a latte. Some people swap coconut oil for the MCT oil, and that works fine, but I prefer pure MCT for the sharper energy boost.

How many cups can I drink per day?

I stick to one bulletproof in the morning, and that's plenty for me. Each cup has around 300 calories from the butter and oil alone, so multiple cups add up fast. On especially long days, I'll make a second cup in the early afternoon with slightly less butter and oil. But most days, one cup keeps me satisfied straight through to lunch.

Does butter coffee break a fast?

Technically, yes. The butter and MCT oil contain calories and fat, which triggers some insulin response. That said, I drink mine during my intermittent fasting window and still see results because the fat keeps me from eating actual meals until noon or later. If you're doing a strict water-only fast, skip the butter and oil. But if you follow a fat-fast approach where pure fat is allowed, this fits right in.

Should I start with less MCT oil if I'm new to it?

I always tell people to start with one teaspoon, not a full tablespoon. When I first tried MCT oil, I went straight to a tablespoon and my stomach let me know that was a mistake. Your body needs time to adjust to processing that much concentrated fat at once. Start small, give it a week, then gradually increase. Most people I've talked to can handle the full tablespoon within two weeks.

Can I use ghee instead of butter?

I've used ghee plenty of times, and it works well. Ghee is clarified butter with the milk solids removed, so it's a solid option if dairy bothers your stomach. The coffee still gets creamy and frothy when blended. The flavor is slightly different (a little nuttier), but I actually like the change. My one note is that ghee tends to be pricier than regular butter, so I save it for days when I know dairy won't sit well.

Can I use coconut oil instead of MCT oil?

You can, and I did for my first year before switching to pure MCT oil. Coconut oil contains MCTs naturally, but it's only about 55-65% medium-chain fats. The rest are longer-chain fats that don't convert to energy as quickly. So you'll still get some of the benefits, but the effect is milder. I also find that coconut oil leaves a slight coconut flavor in the coffee, which I don't mind but some people do. If you're just getting started and don't want to buy a separate MCT oil, coconut oil is a fine place to begin.

Is this meant to replace breakfast?

For me, yes. I drink my cup around 7 AM and don't eat solid food until noon or later. With 37 grams of fat per serving, it's calorie-dense enough to function as a meal. I used to force myself to eat breakfast even when I wasn't hungry, and switching to keto coffee was one of the best changes I made. That said, if you're someone who needs solid food in the morning, you can have this alongside your meal. Just factor in the extra calories.

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Why I drink this every morning

The healthy fats do more than just make this coffee taste good. Here’s what I notice on the mornings I drink it versus the mornings I skip it.

Why I always use grass-fed butter

Pasture raised, grass-fed butter on counter

I always reach for grass-fed (pasture-raised) butter specifically. Butter from grass-fed cows has a higher omega-3 content and contains vitamin K2, which only comes from grass-fed animals. I can taste the difference too. Grass-fed butter is richer, more golden, and gives the coffee a better flavor than conventional butter.

Kerrygold is the brand I use most often, but any grass-fed option works. Look for packaging that says “pasture-raised” or “from grass-fed cows.” If you’re dairy-sensitive, ghee is a solid swap. I’ve used it on days when my stomach is being finicky, and the coffee still turns out creamy.

MCT oil on counter

What Is MCT oil?

MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, and they come from coconut oil or palm oil. The “medium chain” part means these fatty acids are shorter (8-10 carbons), which is why your body can use them as immediate fuel instead of storing them like longer-chain fats.

I use a C8 MCT oil, which is the most concentrated form. It’s flavorless and odorless, so it disappears into the coffee completely. If you’re just starting out, coconut oil works as a substitute, but pure MCT oil gives you a stronger energy boost because the concentration of medium-chain fats is higher.

Ways to upgrade your cup

coffee in hand with butter and other ingredients

I keep my morning cup simple most days, but part of what I love about this recipe is how versatile it is. Once you have the base down, you can take it anywhere.

Here are the add-ins I rotate through depending on the day:

  • collagen powder (I add this most mornings for the extra protein)
  • adaptogens
  • Himalayan salt (a tiny pinch mellows out the bitterness)
  • stevia or other sweeteners
  • sugar-free coffee syrups
  • heavy cream
  • half and half
  • cinnamon
  • protein powder
  • almond milk or coconut milk

When I want to switch things up completely, I’ll go for a salted caramel dalgona for something with a whipped topping.

Ways people enjoy this coffee recipe

“I don’t know if mine counts as bulletproof but I’m hooked. 1 tbsp mct oil, 1 tbsp vanilla cinnamon skinny syrup, 1 tbsp of heavy whipping cream, a few stevia drops, froth it all together and sprinkle cinnamon on top.”

➥ from YouTube subscriber @Christina-tp4mo

“I add 2 tbsp salted butter, 2 tbsp coconut oil, 4 tbsp collagen peptides and of course coffee with a tad of Stevia.”

➥ from YouTube subscriber carlosalessi7860

Blender vs. milk frother

handheld mixer on counter

I use a blender every time I’m home. The difference is real. A blender fully emulsifies the butter and oil into the coffee, creating that thick frothy layer on top. It honestly tastes like I added cream, but there’s no cream in it at all.

A handheld milk frother works when I’m traveling or don’t feel like cleaning the blender. It gets the job done and mixes everything well enough. But if you’re comparing the two side by side, the blender wins on frothiness and texture every time. The frother produces more of a mixed drink. The blender produces something closer to a latte.

Why butter in coffee works

blender with butter and coffee

The butter is what makes this taste like a coffeehouse latte. When you blend it into hot coffee, it emulsifies into the liquid and creates a creamy, smooth texture without any milk or cream. That frothy top? That’s the butter doing its job.

I used to add heavy cream to my morning coffee, and switching to butter was honestly an upgrade. The body of the drink is richer, the foam is better, and I’m not hungry for hours afterward. If you’re someone who needs more than black coffee in the morning but wants to skip the dairy, this is the way to go.

Can I use espresso instead?

espresso machine

I use regular drip coffee most mornings, but espresso works just as well. It’s a more concentrated brew, so the final drink will be smaller and stronger. Espresso also develops a natural foam called crema, which blends nicely with the butter and oil for an extra-creamy result.

If you’re sensitive to coffee acidity, I’ve been enjoying Golden Ratio lately. It’s a smoother, less acidic coffee that comes in different flavors. I like it as a base for this recipe or just with a splash of cream on lighter mornings.

How to make the iced version

When it’s warm out (or honestly, any time I want a cold coffee), I make the iced version. Brew the coffee hot, blend in the butter and MCT oil while it’s still hot, then pour the whole thing over a full glass of ice. The fat stays emulsified even when it hits the cold.

For something thicker, blend it with ice directly in the blender. Or try a frozen hot chocolate for a chocolatey cold drink, or a keto vanilla milkshake when you want to skip coffee entirely.

About the Author
Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis, she has over 14 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism.

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  1. C
    Cindy Aug 25, 2022

    This coffee is delicious! Its the best thing that I've put into my mouth since I started keto!! How many would be too many in a day?! Lol thank you

    1. Annie Lampella
      Annie Lampella Aug 26, 2022

      I stick to one. Each cup is close to 300 calories just from the butter and oil, so a second one adds up quick. On a really long day I'll make another around noon, but that's about as far as I go.

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