The coffee community is skeptical because he makes a bunch of unsubstantiated claims about quality and provides none of the transparency required to back it up. Coffee is a crop that grows on the side of mountains and is harvested under incredibly varying conditions. Even at the most progressive farms in the world the end result is a product that changes every season. The idea that he's found some magical farm that is resistant to mold is total nonsense. That said, in order to be classified as Specialty Coffee it has to score an 80+ on a 100 point scale. Mold is considered a defect resulting in lower grade. In other words, bad coffee you shouldn't drink anyway. No high quality coffees have mold damage, by definition. The Specialty market is only about 20% of the overall market, so it's easy to drink bad coffee. But this guy is not operating in that 20%, and instead seems to be focused on hacking the marketing instead.

If you drink a coffee that makes you feel bad, I'd respectfully suggest that you've been sold a low grade coffee (80% of a $9 billion market).

Melissa since you're now in Chicago (or nearabouts) I'd recommend getting to know some folks at Intelligentsia. Just as you have with your new meat purveyors. They're operating at a legitimately high level and are helping to make that chain smaller. There are others as well of course, but Intelligentsia is one of the best and in your area.

He doesn't even tell us where it's from. Would you put anything else in your mouth whose origins you couldn't verify?

Scam or awesome? More like totally irrelevant. I can get great quality organic dark roast coffee in town, and our local organic dairy, with grass-fed Jersey cows, has fantastic heavy cream. I find the idea of a pool of grease floating on top of my coffee unappealing.

There are two totally unrelated issues with Bulletproof coffee:

1) lower mycotoxin coffee and specifically his "Upgraded coffee" beans

2) adding grass-fed butter to your coffee.

number 2, is relatively simple: butter replaces cream; it can be greasy if you don't emulsify it; some like it some don't; it works for the tibetans and their yak butter. give it a try -- no big deal.

number 1 is more complex. Bulletproof Upgraded coffee is Portland Roasting Guatemalan coffee -- you can go to their website and buy it directly slightly cheaper. I can't figure out if the Upgraded Coffee is just the regular Portland Roasting Guatemalan coffee packaged in his packaging, or if he gets special lower-mold versions of their coffee. I suspect the former. I would also be interested in the level of mold/mycotoxins in other organic or special high grade coffee. It is hard to tell.

Here is a detailed assessment of his coffee claims from: http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/19863/are-fungal-toxins-a-significant-problem-in-coffee-and-if-so-can-they-be-avoide

The blog post: * Is (so far) the first and only one I've ever seen stating mold to be a practical problem in coffee - in the sense of being present in a high enough quantity to matter (mold grows everywhere). * Uses all kinds of weasel words to describe symptoms ("edgy", "cranky", "useless mentally"). * Describes symptoms that are well in line with plain old caffeine withdrawal. * Frequently links to other blog posts on the same site, most of which are "top 10 ways" and "top 5 reasons" fluff pieces. * Manages to cite and thoroughly misuse two studies: one from 1995, and another from 2003. Both are about Ochratoxin A (OA), which isn't even the biggest risk; Aflatoxin is. (More on these later). * Advertises a fairly expensive product, sold by the same author.

The author: * Is, according to his LinkedIn profile (which I refuse to link here), the VP of Cloud Security at Trend Micro - a Silicon Valley tech company. Neither he nor his employer has any experience in human biology or nutrition. * Makes all sorts of fantastical claims about himself: "He upgraded his brain by >20 IQ points, lowered his biological age, and lost 100 lbs without using calories or exercise." * Has an entire page of testimonials, which he frequently cites as "evidence". * Has an entire site dedicated to product-peddling, including the ubiquitous six-second abs and even a $60 "earthing mat", if you can believe that. Go ahead, see for yourself. * Is, in short, not much different from every other con artist and MLM out there on the web selling colon cleansers and magnetic bracelets; he just likes to use technobabble instead of conventional pseudoscience, hoping to woo the geeks out there who don't fall for the usual snake oil.

The facts and studies: * The largest sample tested was just 60 samples of beans, and was tested from only one source (Brazil). This is fine for individual studies, but in the real world there are hundreds (thousands?) of sources from many different countries. It's safe to say that the current studies don't even come close to testing all of the coffee from around the world. * Both OA studies found an incidence rate of approximately 50% for the OA-producing mold, at wildly different concentrations (minimum 0.2 ppb in one study, maximum 7.8 ppb in another). * Neither the FDA nor the EFSA actually have a legal limit for OA, but the EFSA "suggests" a limit of 8 µg/kg, which means that even the worst samples are below the very conservative legal limit. * One study actually tested the incidence of OA in brewed coffee, not just the beans, and found a maximum of 7.8 ppb in the brew (that's 7.8 µg per 1 kg of ground coffee). For reference, there's an EFSA directive recommending an intake of no more than 120 ng/kg (body weight) per week, which comes out to 8.4 µg/day for a 150 lb/70 kg individual, or 1.2 µg/day. * Based on the worst contamination of brewed coffee (7.8 µg/kg), doing the math, you'd have to consume the brew from 150 g of ground coffee per day. That's about half a standard-sized tin of coffee. Per day. * The 3rd study (the one rumtscho linked to, not cited by the blogger/con artist) looked at Aflatoxin, not Ochratoxin, which actually is regulated by the FDA at a maximum of 20 ppb. This study also showed approximately a 50% incidence rate after roasting, with the highest concentration of AT being 16 µg/kg for decaf (less with caffeine). So that means with any random cup of coffee you have up to a 50% chance of consuming an amount of AT that's still well below the FDA limit - that's very nearly zero risk. * None of the studies test the rate of mold growth on beans while in storage under various conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.), so we can't comment on what happens in storage.

So I guess if you want to really be on the safe side, only buy as much coffee as you think you can use in a week or two.

Conclusion:

Don't believe everything that people tell you - especially people with something to sell. Unless you're drinking gallons of coffee a day, brewed coffee is perfectly safe. [end of quote from other site]

As for a general assessment of his website: I think the diet info is generally very good, and the infographic is especially good. But there are some very scammy elements to his website. He recently delved into investment advice and even directed readers to a specific investment adviser/manager and the investment advice is complete and utter nonsense -- literally very obvious snake oil "I-have-a-secret-formula-for-beating-the-market". Total hucksterism. It really makes the whole website suspect for me and makes me suspect the coffee and anything else he is selling. I suspect he read Ferris' 4 hour work week book, and this website is 4 hour work week business all aiming to make money and I would not trust anything on the site unless it refers to specific authoritative sources. Much of the diet advice does refer to specific authoritative sources, but most of it is just basic paleo conventional wisdom that most here would not find controversial.

In short, I think the diet infographic is the best thing on the site, and I would be very hesitant to trust any of the other claims aobut products or anything else on the site without more transparency and sources that back up the claims.

You are in luck because if you blend it there will be no pool of grease of any kind.

Seems to me that a stimulant addiction is a scam no matter who the dealer is. They should make coffee that you can snort off of a mirror for the full 80s club scene effect.

Can't tell you whether it's a scam -- what I -can- tell you is that the coffee smells wonderful and has an amazing flavor, so whether it's got any benefits in terms of health or not, it satisfies on an emotional level -- and that's important, too, isn't it?

Hmmm...my initial thought is does it have to be either a scam or awesome?

If you are finding that your tummy is handling it better than your regular cup of joe, then great! You'll find skeptics of EVERYTHING on the internet!

The bulletproof exec site is down right now, so I'm not too sure as to what their big claim is, also what the price difference is. Now I'm SUPER curious though.

Mycotoxins in coffee is interesting - and I would think that there is HUGE variability in how much would be in different types of coffee, brands and could also vary greatly from bag to bag.

I have been super skeptical of Dave Asprey and Bulletproof... been pretty vocal about it with some of my answers here on PaleoHacks.

But F me I dig bulletproof coffee! Ordered the beans and have been drinking it for a week along with the MCT oil and a teaspoon of sugar and I feel incredible. I am 10 days away from shooting my senior thesis film so things are incredibly crazy and non-stop for me with very little opportunity to get a full nights rest (7 hours max)... but the coffee has keep me sharp, energetic, but still able to calm down at night and sleep. I guess I feel bulletproof.... HAA!

Who came first, Tim Ferriss or Asprey?

Here's my response, and it echoes what others have said.

I'm a fan of Dave Asprey. A big fan. However, like anything, Bulletproof coffee is something you have to try if you're a regular coffee drinker. Those who are, like daily, it's very easy to incorporate and test. Like others, I'm always looking for a new edge to my morning/after coffee.

The stuff is legit. At least N=1. I feel great when I use MCT Oil + Butter. I also use Cinnamon + Stevia and blend it for a minute. The result is a fabulous, filling and creamy drink that can last a few hours (I generally make 32-40 oz at a time and carry it in a thermos).

I have a pretty demanding job, at least one that requires a cognitive function on-point most of the time. I've definitely seen benefits not only getting started in the day, but maintaining a high-level performance for a longer period of time. Maybe some of it is placebo, thinking I'm consuming this great stuff that should make me perform higher.

However, if this isn't enough for me to buy-in, I've tried a few other things with it. Using it DURING a heavy strength/Crossfit workout. I'm not sure if it's the MCT Oil (most have tried this as a pre-workout in the past) or the caffeine (or a combo), but it works. It's works great. After letting it cool, I've sipped on BPC for an hour and been able to complete things I've never done before. Again, maybe there is some natural progression going on here, but in-comparison to previous stuff, it's seemed to work better.

So in conclusion, maybe it's not magic, but for two things I take very seriously (work and fitness), I've seen serious benefits both physically and mentally since I started making BPC (or some personal variance) everyday.

I've been experimenting for a couple of months with going only high end specialty coffee beans (single source, higher elevation, good processing, etc) and can say I do seem to have sharper mental focus without the usual side effects of too much coffee in a day. I suppose it could be placebo, don't know unless I started doing double blind tests on myself.

The butter + MCT oil has been amazing. I used it once to fuel a 4 hour night snowboarding session in 17 degree weather (well plus a couple of egg yolks) and I felt great. Also seems to give me good solid even energy throughout most the day in general, prior to jiu jitsu classes, etc. Recommended.

I drink coffee and eat 2tbsp of coconut butter every morning. Being a coffee snob, I like to source my coffee direct (no Tim Hortons or Starbucks brands here) and I use my own espresso machine to make a morning Americano. I highly doubt my body can tell the difference between eating them separately or as one unit. The way I see it: I get my coffee, I get my coconut butter, I get butter (cooked my eggs in it). It's not a passcode. The body can't tell the difference between bites (or slurps).

I do like the Bulletproof guy, although I disagree with some of his supplements, I think it's great he continually hacks himself.

I wouldn't say it has the potential to be a scam because he clearly tells you how to make it without obligation to buying his coffee. I do believe it is in how you prepare it, and the quality of the coffee makes a huge difference. Also, be sure to use UN-SALTED butter. When I do skip breakfast, it works wonders for me. Could be that it's not everyone's "cup of tea".

I feel good with it (using standard coffee), and can substitute it for breakfast happily, with butter and MCTs from coconut oil as fuel. As that reduces the window for eating protein and carbohydrate it's an appealing idea for a decadent "fast" of sorts.

Very skeptical about the impact of mycotoxins on mental fog and other subjective measures, I think we're into placebo territory. Perhaps there are some people very sensitive, and if so Dave Asprey's one, but his diet is tailored around the risk of mycotoxins which I personally think is taking things too far for the vast majority. He's good on marketing though and I'd wish him all the best with popularising the health effects of coffee. It's supposedly the largest source of antioxidants for the average American, lowers diabetes risk etc.

I can definitely vouch for better quality coffee reducing the jitters and negative side effects of crappy coffee. I roast green beans at home which makes drinking coffee literally the best part of the day. I go to bed at night thinking of how good the coffee will be in the morning.

I've tried Dave's "recipe" with butter and coconut oil, but I can't say I was nuts about it. I definitely prefer pasture-raised heavy cream. You don't get that butter-on-the-lips feeling...

n=1 on this but I tried it a few times with Chock Full O Nuts Dark New York roast and it made me excessively jittery. I then went out and splurged on some Wet Processed high quality coffee from Gimme Coffee! (a local roaster) and noticed a huge difference in the jitters and mental fog that sometimes comes with too much coffee for me too much at once. I haven't tried the brand that he is selling, but I can confirm that using better coffee gave me better results.

Did you try regular coffee with grassfed butter yourself and still have the sludge problem? I'm also in the camp questioning mycotoxins being as bad as he says.

Oh, and it's a moot point for me, I can't stand the taste of coffee...

I call 'hype'. Butter or coconut oil, I want my cream suspended in my coffee, not floating on top.

On the one hand, I'm in favor of better quality coffee yes. I find his argument about lower mycotoxin coffee to be compelling. But I can get single origin water processed organic coffee from a high quality local roaster (and by local, I mean across the street from my work) for $6 less per 12oz than he's charging.

But the other side of it, the whole grassfed butter & MCT oil part, he loses me. When I IF I'm perfectly fine drinking straight black coffee. When I've tried grassfed butter in my coffee it seems to trigger more hunger in me than taking it black. And when I'm not IFing, I eat a very nutrient dense breakfast. So personally, I don't see the point in replacing my nutrient dense breakfast with butter filled coffee nor do I see the point in screwing up my IF by throwing calories in my coffee. Especially since I happen to enjoy a good cup of black coffee, and adding butter just adds minutes of fuss to my morning routine (I'm more inclined to IF on mornings I'm running late).

I'll add to the sentiment here, though most have covered it. After reading his theories, I discovered that my friendly neighborhood roastery carries wet-processed, single-origin coffee and I've been using it at home in our espresso maker for morning lattes (so I'm not doing the whole protocol). About 80% of the time, my morning is brighter, happier, and more productive (gee, aren't I an addict?!). Sometimes, not as much or just less noticeable of a pick-me-up. I attribute this to natural variation in supply.

However. When I consume regular crap coffee? It's bad. Jitters, anxiety, unable to get full thoughts out of my mouth, acid reflux, and a weird empty tummy feeling for the rest of the day no matter how much I eat. These are the reasons I gave up coffee years ago, so as far as I'm concerned, Bulletproof Exec gave me my coffee back. Thank gawd.

Here is my roundabout confirmation of the benefits of wet-processed coffee. I noticed 30 years ago that regular coffee made the muscles in my neck and back tense. That's when I switched to organic coffee (which, as you may guess, was a bit more difficult to find back then.) My speculation back then was that the chemicals used on regular coffee affected my muscles. Several years ago I noticed that, even though I drank organic coffee, it was disturbing my system in some undefined way, enough for me to consider dropping coffee. Then I tried the (local to me) Goshen coffee. It's what I've been using ever since, except for the occasional disappointing attempt to use another brand. I see there's a thread on Marks Daily Apple forum where the participant called Goshen who said that most of their coffees are wet-processed.

I have tried using pastured organic butter in my coffee, but I can't discern any functional difference between using butter and cream, other than taste. Anybody know why butter would be better than cream, given that cream is used to make butter? (I suppose there's already a thread on that somewhere.)

All other things put aside, I can't think of any reason someone would benefit from scamming people into putting butter in their coffee.

Here are some good bets for mycotoxin free coffee brands broken up into mechanical processing & wet processing : blog.healclick.com/mycotoxin-free-coffee-brands/

I wasn't too fond of paying $25 per lb of coffee, and it turns out many coffees that meet the criteria of mechanical (or wet) process / high elevation / single-origin (or better yet, single-estate) can be found for much closer to what you'd pay for any organic/fair-trade beans.

I went all out on the bulletproof diet for a full month. BP coffee in the morning and grass fed beef, spinach etc. Lost 25 pounds in 30 days and feel great. It's definitely not a placebo. The coffee clearly gives you more energy and like someone said earlier, Dave gives you ways to find BP low-toxin coffees in your city right on his blog. I don't even buy his Upgraded stuff but I drink the BP coffee every morning now and feel great. Dave has some great insight on diet - it really has transformed my life not to sound completely cheesy. Try it for a month, it won't kill you. I have no doubt everyone on this board will feel better.

I began incorporating a lot of butter and heavy cream into my diet late last year, and I must say I have been converted to a 'purist'. I have no immediate reaction to dairy, but after months of heavy cream and butter usage my gut just felt 'wrong'. I would say to try this, as many find cream and butter to be fine, but I would also cut it out completely for a few weeks to see if anything changes.

If you want your coffee to taste absolutely wonderful, put it in a powerful blender with your butter & coconut oil. I add cinnamon and blend it high speed for over a minute. You get a frothy layer- like a latte. Delicious!

i buy fazenda aurea from burmancoffee.com It is supposedly dry processed. It is one of the cheapest green coffee beans available from that site and I've found a world of difference in roasting it at home--controlling the roast and not going much beyond first crack results in a very mild bean that is welcome to the more tender stomachs in the household (I am a phillistine and roast in a wok outside.)

this is the first thing I read regarding mycotoxin in coffee: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7451391 "study not continued as 70-80% of toxins studied were eliminated in the roasting process)

I've also switched from using a french press to melitta #2 brown filters in a single-serve funnel. The press seemed necessary to get flavor out of the semi-stale stuff you end up with (yes, even at the local roaster that people seem to idolize) but now that I have control over the whole process, this method preserves just enough.

i agree with melissa.. i just broke a 40 hour fast wiht it.. Oh, man.. amazing! :D

I noticed coffee always made me feel like crap, after several hours. I figured this was due to, too much caffeine. I, then switched to organic swiss process decaf ( Dave said decaf has the highest concentration of mycotoxins) and still felt like crap. I gave up on coffee and caffeine for a long time. Just recently, I came back to caffeine in the form of 5 hour energy shots. I noticed none of the same crappy feeling that coffee gave me. I found Dave's website and his post on mycotoxins. I put this altogether and realized these mycotoxins are a real threat to performance and need to be avoided. I took the plunge and bought Dave's expensive coffee and wow is all I can say. A profound difference in how I feel after this coffee vs cheap crap. Mycotoxins have been researched for sometime, and the data doesn't look good for those consuming them.

Buying the actual coffee sold on his site isn't the key. If you have a good quality source of coffee, it should be completely fine. Like someone else said, he's done a great job at marketing the idea of MCT fats (MCT or CO) and grass-fed butter blended in the coffee to make money.

It's an idea anyone could have tinkered with he's just found a way to profit from it. I can respect that. It's more about the combo than his actual coffee.