My New Morning Ritual: Bulletproof Coffee

When I was a kid, I remember my parents drinking coffee every morning. I specifically remember hearing mom wake up with dad at 4:00AM and grind coffee (rather inconsistently) in one of those grinders where you put the coffee in the top and pop the lid on and push down several times until these beans have been adequately ground to one's satisfaction. It had to have been a somewhat unpleasant way to wake up when I analyze this memory, but for some reason, I look back upon those mornings with fondness. I guess whenever I think about the times when I felt completely safe it reminds me to be really grateful that I grew up in a safe, stable home. Also makes me thankful I grew up in a home where it smelled like coffee in the morning.

Morning time in my home growing up and the habitual practices that often attached themselves to that time always included coffee in my household. Most days it was accompanied by the smell of oatmeal or scrambled eggs. Commonly, it included Nat King Cole, The Chieftains, or folky 70's singer/songwriters that have become my most favorite musicians to this day. As a kid my brothers and I would often complain about having to eat oatmeal with raisins for breakfast when most of our other friends got to have Pop-Tarts and Lucky Charms (those lucky punks). Ironically, I have to admit that I anticipate when Tim and I have kids we will feed our kids the same thing. You really do turn into your mother.

From a young age, I distinctly remember asking my mom for a sip of her coffee with milk and sugar and sometimes she would say yes but most of the time she would say it will keep me from growing, "so no." Not only have I always been intrigued by the smell and idea of coffee, I have actually always loved the taste of it even more. When my mom would stop at Starbucks she would always let me drink the remaining black coffee that slipped its liquid between the ice cubes.

For some reason, I have always felt very emotionally attached to coffee. I remember when I was in Junior High and I was actually allowed to drink it, how I decided I wanted to be a coffee purest. When all my friends were getting frappacinos and pouring creamer into their coffee, at some point in time I remember someone saying to one of them "Would you like some coffee with that creamer?" I remember thinking to myself "I have to drink it plain to decide if I actually like it and if I do not, then I have no reason to drink that stuff." Well, I like it plain. I'll always take my coffee black (please). Espresso too. But if I am at a coffee shop I typically judge a cafe my its espresso and milk. Only whole milk though (pretty please).

So you can imagine that a few months ago when I realized coffee has been causing me to become really shaky sort of out of nowhere, it was really hard to kick. I tried tea, I tried matcha green tea lattes (which I do enjoy) but nothing has compared to the coffee. Especially when I wake up and make it for Tim anyway!! Well, I have been reading and hearing about Bulletproof coffee again and how good it is for your brain function, for cognitive health, how the fat is key for stabilizing the coffee and releasing the caffeine more slowly.... all the things. This concoction has saved me. I do miss my black coffee and I have it sometimes, but honestly, I have this drink for breakfast and it keeps me full all morning long and it tastes to good! It just makes you feel good.

Here is my recipe:

1 Cup Black Coffee (I like to use high quality, organic coffee beans)
1 Tbsp Grass Fed Butter (I used the brand Kerrygold)
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Dash of Vanilla
1 Scoop of Collagen Powder

I cannot say enough good things about this! The original recipe is 1 C coffee, 1 tbsp grass-fed butter and one Tbsp MCT oil (and then you add all the stuff you want) but I have not bought the MCT oil yet. You can get it at any health food store!

Some good add-ins?

Try: