The first time I dabbled in some CBD coffee it happened on a whim. “Want some CBD oil in this?” asked the beanie-hatted Dalston barista, waving my cappuccino around like it wasn’t full of liquid. “Yeah, go on then,” I replied. I was intrigued to see how the cannabidiol might affect my usual morning caffeine high. Doesn’t CBD make you drowsy? Would the two chemicals in effect cancel each other out? Would I just feel – shock, horror – like my usual, unstimulated self?
I didn’t in fact have to rawdog my way through life. Instead, I found that the CBD sort of smoothed out the usual coffee jitters, so that I still had the energy boost, but without any of the scattered thoughts that caffeine can sometimes produce. It helps that CBD is actually quite good for you. From its calming effects to its potential anti-inflammatory and serotonin-boosting properties, the wonder ingredient – which experienced a spike in popularity from the late 2010s onwards – has very few downsides.
From that day on, CBD became a regular ingredient in my coffee. I found that I was better able to concentrate at work, while also just generally feeling less anxious. Not all CBD oils are created equal though (read British Vogue’s guide to finding a CBD oil that actually works here). If you too are thinking of delving into this unexpected combo, here’s everything you need to know about CBD coffee.
Before we dive into CBD coffee, let’s first take a look at CBD, short for cannabidiol – a chemical compound found in cannabis. Not to be confused with THC (the stuff in weed that gets you high; currently illegal in the UK), CBD is often used for its therapeutic benefits. “Our research has shown that over-the-counter CBD is most often used for anxiety, stress, sleep problems and as an anti-inflammatory,” Dr Julie Moltke, medical doctor, cannabis specialist and author of A Quick Guide To CBD tells British Vogue.
While further research is needed, multiple studies have found that CBD has the potential to reduce anxiety systems and behaviours. Research has also found that CBD contains a number of potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It’s also considered non-addictive and safe, although again, more long-term research is needed.
While there are no proven extra benefits to combining CBD and coffee, the combo isn’t dangerous – and if you love coffee, but it also makes you anxious or distractible, then adding a little CBD (the Food Standards Agency currently recommend consuming no more than 10mg, or 4-5 drops, a day), can be a fun way to get that daily CBD dose. Again, for me, on an anecdotal level, I find it to be the perfect combination.
“It makes sense that coffee and CBD can balance each other out,” says Dr Moltke. “Caffeine increases cortisol and dopamine, which is why it can give physical symptoms of stress, and why most of us coffee drinkers are addicted to our daily cup. CBD on the other hand acts on serotonin receptors and GABA receptors in the brain, making us feel more relaxed and less stressed. So, hypothetically, CBD would be able to counter-balance the agitating effects of coffee while [helping you stay] alert and focused.”
