Posts about black coffee with ghee benefits promise steady energy, a full stomach and faster weight loss, all from a spoon of ghee stirred into your morning cup.
Most of those coffee with ghee benefits haven't been tested. This page looks at each claim against the evidence, gives the calories and fat in a spoon, and shows how to make it properly if you like the taste. For the basics, see our guide to black coffee.
Black coffee with ghee benefits: the short answer
Only one small study has tested a ghee coffee, and it used far more fat than a teaspoon. A teaspoon adds richness and about 37 calories. Food in general slows caffeine, but ghee itself is untested, and there's no evidence it burns fat or helps weight loss. If you enjoy the taste, it's fine as an occasional treat.
What is ghee coffee?
Ghee coffee is black coffee with about a teaspoon of ghee, blended until creamy so the ghee doesn't float on top. It's an Indian take on butter coffee, often sold as "bulletproof" coffee, which uses butter plus MCT or coconut oil. The idea came from low-carb and keto diets.
The claimed benefits, checked
Here's what's claimed for ghee coffee benefits, and what the evidence says. None of it has been tested on ghee coffee as people actually make it.
Steady energy without a crash
The claim is that fat slows the caffeine down. Food does slow caffeine: in one trial, a carbohydrate-rich meal delayed its peak and lowered it. Whether a teaspoon of ghee does the same hasn't been tested. The energy itself comes from the caffeine.
Feeling full for longer
In one small, early study of six people, a 250-calorie coffee with a tablespoon each of ghee and MCT oil kept people fuller for three hours than plain black coffee. It didn't sharpen their thinking. A teaspoon of ghee is far less, and the fullness likely came from the extra calories.
It helps weight loss
There's no evidence for black coffee with ghee for weight loss. Each teaspoon adds about 37 calories to a drink that otherwise has 2. If you're drinking coffee to lose weight, plain black coffee does the job better. Read more about black coffee for weight loss.
Better digestion
This claim usually comes from Ayurveda-inspired posts. There's no good evidence that ghee in coffee helps digestion.
Vitamins from ghee
Ghee does contain vitamin A, but a teaspoon has only about 36 micrograms, according to the USDA. That's a small amount, and you'd get the same from ghee in your dal.
Calories and fat in a spoon of ghee
A teaspoon of ghee has about 37 calories and 2.6 g of saturated fat, according to the USDA.
| Cup | Calories (about) | Saturated fat (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Black coffee, 200 ml | 2 | 0 g |
| With 1 tsp ghee | 39 | 2.6 g |
| With 2 tsp ghee | 76 | 5.2 g |
The WHO advises getting no more than 10% of your calories from saturated fat, about 22 g on a 2,000-calorie day. India's ICMR-NIN dietary guidelines also say to limit saturated fats like butter and ghee. Two cups a day with a teaspoon each adds up. More on the calories in black coffee.
How to make black coffee with ghee
Making black coffee with ghee takes two minutes:
- Make 150–200 ml of black coffee, instant or brewed.
- Add ½–1 tsp of ghee.
- Blend or froth for 20–30 seconds until it turns creamy. Stirring alone leaves a layer of oil on top.
- Drink it while it's warm.
For the coffee itself, see how to make black coffee.
Who should skip it
Ghee coffee isn't for everyone. Skip it, or ask your doctor first, if you:
- Have high cholesterol or heart disease, since ghee is mostly saturated fat.
- Are counting calories, because each teaspoon adds about 37.
- Have been told to limit fat for any health reason.
Black coffee with ghee FAQs
Can I drink black coffee with ghee every day?
For most healthy people, a teaspoon a day is fine if the rest of your fat intake stays within limits. If your cholesterol is high, skip it or ask your doctor.
Is ghee coffee good for fatty liver?
No study shows that. Coffee itself is linked to a lower risk of liver disease in observational studies, but adding saturated fat isn't a treatment. More in black coffee and fatty liver.
Is ghee coffee the same as bulletproof coffee?
It's a similar idea. Bulletproof coffee uses butter plus MCT or coconut oil, while ghee coffee usually has ghee alone. Both add a lot of calories to black coffee.
The bottom line
Enjoy ghee coffee for its taste if you like it, and count it as food rather than a health drink. Don't expect it to burn fat or replace a balanced breakfast.