The “Oily Coffee” Trend Under Professional Scrutiny
In recent years, the practice of adding butter, coconut oil, or even olive oil to coffee, marketed as “bulletproof coffee,” has been gaining traction in Spain. Some consumers see it as a new way to boost energy and aid in weight loss. However, whether this method is genuinely healthier than traditional coffee with sugar has drawn the attention and scrutiny of the nutrition community.
Butter in Coffee: The Potential Risks of Saturated Fat
Yhenny Brito Mendoza, a nutritionist from the Diet Therapy Group of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO), clearly states that while butter is rich in vitamins A and D3, its main component is saturated fat, and excessive intake is detrimental to health. She cites research data indicating that replacing butter with vegetable oils can reduce the risk of premature death by 17%. Therefore, she strongly advises against adding butter to coffee as a daily habit and recommends minimizing overall butter consumption.
Olive Oil in Coffee: Not a Weight Loss “Miracle Cure”
Compared to butter, extra virgin olive oil, rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, is a healthier choice, but its intake must also be controlled. While the World Health Organization (WHO) hasn’t set a specific upper limit, the generally recommended healthy daily intake by nutritionists is 2 to 4 tablespoons. Experts refute the claim that olive oil in coffee aids in weight loss, stressing that there is currently no reliable scientific evidence to support this. They emphasize that achieving weight reduction fundamentally depends on creating an overall calorie deficit.
Expert Consensus: More Marketing Hype Than Actual Benefit
Several nutritionists, such as Luis Cañada, believe the trend of constantly adding “extras” to coffee is more of a commercial marketing strategy. They stress that coffee itself already serves core functions like boosting alertness and facilitating social interaction, without needing added fats to be “enhanced.” From a health and rational perspective, returning to pure black coffee, without added sugar or oil, is perhaps the wisest choice.
