CBD Coffee and Other Infused Drinks

As demand continues to increase for hemp-based wellness supplements like CBD oil, we’ve seen a wide variety of products come to life. CBD-infused edibles in particular have proven to be a popular choice for many people, and now CBD coffee and other drinks are on the rise.

Some coffee shops and juice bars have introduced CBD on their menus, making it easy for patrons to add hemp oil into their morning cup of joe or fruit smoothie. Establishments serving CBD coffee, like the popular Caffeine Underground located in New York City, attract many customers thanks to their trendy CBD beverages. Even country music legend Willie Nelson recently debuted his own brand of CBD-infused coffee beans, bringing more attention to the CBD drink market.

Why are CBD drinks so popular?

For starters, they tend to taste a lot better than your average CBD hemp oil or edible. The strong flavor of coffee overpowers the taste of hemp, making it nearly undetectable for someone drinking a CBD-infused coffee. Other types of drinks, like CBD tea, water, or water-soluble powders also have flavorful ingredients that mask the earthy hemp taste with something a bit more pleasant.

Although, it’s unlikely that you would feel many effects from the CBD when ordering from a local coffee or drink shop, as these beverages often contain very small amounts of CBD oil.

For those that are truly interested in trying hemp-infused drinks that have a more potent concentration of CBD, we recommend buying from quality CBD brands. These companies specialize in formulating products that are rich in CBD, and they list the total milligrams of CBD so you know how much you are getting.

If you’re curious about where to buy CBD drinks, check out some of our top picks:

Benefits of CBD in Beverages

CBD has become a popular wellness supplement for many reasons—one of them being that it helps alleviate anxiety and stress. This can be especially convenient for people that succumb to work-related stress, which can often be made worse by stimulants like caffeine. Some people find that they enjoy CBD-infused coffee for its ability to mitigate the negative side effects associated with caffeine (like tension or jitters), while still gaining an energy boost.

Other CBD drinks also have their own range of health benefits, as they allow CBD to work within the body without interference. Even without help from caffeine, CBD has the ability to stimulate the mind and promote mental focus when administered in small doses. For this reason, some people turn to caffeine-free CBD drinks as an alternative to coffee, but others simply appreciate the general wellness advantages they get when drinking CBD-infused beverages.

Is it safe to drink CBD?

There are very few (and rare) negative side effects associated with CBD derived from hemp, since this compound doesn’t produce any of the psychoactive effects associated with THC-heavy marijuana. However, CBD products have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. We recommend talking to your doctor if are unsure about ingesting a cannabis plant extract like CBD.

Why CBD Coffee?

CBD is an anti-inflammatory that studies suggest might help in reducing symptoms related to anxiety. For some, CBD coffee seems like a great way to start the day, as it provides the rush of caffeine but with a possible stress reliever thanks to CBD. It’s also thought that the negative effects of caffeine, like shaking or irritability, can be combated by CBD’s neuroprotective properties. At least that’s what proponents of CBD coffee are saying, but we aren’t ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet.

Caffeine provides a boost of energy, while CBD is commonly used as a way to calm the mind and relax. Coffee drinkers seem to enjoy these two substance when they’re combined together—but does caffeine alter the effect of CBD on the body?

Benefits of CBD Coffee

While CBD coffee may just seem like a popular fad, it does have the potential to bring about health advantages, and promote awareness within the cannabis community.

• Even if you don’t feel particularly relaxed after drinking CBD coffee, your endocannabinoid system will be positively impacted by the cannabinoids, especially when used long-term. Your endocannabinoid system helps regulate many bodily functions, like mood, memory, sleep, and appetite, and using CBD may promote balance of these processes.
• Coffee is assumed to offer more health benefits rather than harmful effects because it’s an antioxidant, and CBD falls into this category as well. When used individually, CBD and coffee help reduce free radicals in the body that can lead to disease and cell damage, and combining the two together might make one antioxidant-rich beverage.
• Trends like CBD coffee garner attention for the cannabis industry, and help break down stigmas commonly associated with plant extracts like CBD. It’s important to properly inform consumers and increase awareness of the potential of cannabis, so more studies can be performed to truly test the plant’s medicinal value.

Drawbacks of CBD in Drinks

With all of this added attention, CBD-infused coffee is gaining recognition and leading more coffee shops to add the hemp derivative to their own beverages. Even Willie Nelson is getting in on the action, as he now has his own line of CBD-infused coffee beans.

While CBD coffee may be well-liked, there are some possible negative side effects that you should consider before giving into the hype.

• CBD is not heat friendly—Temperature plays an important role in the efficacy of CBD, since this cannabis compound can start to break down when it comes into contact with high heat. When drinking CBD-infused coffee, you may not get the same concentration of cannabinoids that can be found in regular CBD oil.
• Dosing is important—Many people are unaware that CBD acts as a stimulant in lower doses, and has more sedative properties in high amounts. This means that small portions of CBD paired with coffee could be overstimulating for some people, while heavy doses might cause drowsiness despite the caffeine. Ask your barista how the CBD coffee is prepared and how potent it is beforehand, especially if you’re trying anything containing CBD for the first time.
• Don’t expect CBD to counteract your caffeine intake—While the suggested beneficial properties of CBD seem like they might ease the negative side effects of coffee consumption, caffeine remains a stimulant. You should still avoid excessive amounts of caffeine, even when drinking CBD coffee.
• Don’t drink CBD coffees back to back—CBD works best when it’s administered periodically, often two to three times throughout the day. If you drink multiple cups of coffee in the morning, it’s best to only have one CBD-infused coffee at a time, as separating the doses by a few hours is preferred.

Like most other CBD products, CBD coffee has yet to be evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and this drink is not intended to treat or prevent any disease or illness. If you are considering using CBD for symptom relief, we recommend trying other methods first, like CBD oil or capsules, and discuss with your doctor before taking any new supplements.

CBD coffee is no doubt an intriguing concoction that may work well for some, but it’s probably left best to those that don’t have serious medical conditions that are exacerbated by caffeine, like high blood pressure, anxiety, or insomnia.