Q: Are your ingredients NON-GMO?
A: Yes! All of our ingredients are certified NON-GMO.
Q: Where is the coffee in Grass Fed Coffee from?
A: We use a blend of South American coffees and coffee extracts for superior flavor and smoothness.
Q: Why do you cold brew your coffee?
A: Cold brewed coffee is sweeter, low in acidity, and less bitter without any added sugar. We could get super nerdy about coffee flavor profiles in Grass Fed Coffee and how we obsessed over them for 3 plus years, but we’ll let other experts chime in to preserve our dignity.
- Is your coffee organic?
A: Some of our coffee is organically certified, and some of it is not. Click here for reasons why organic coffee isn’t always necessarily better. That said, there are advantages to organic coffee as well. We will continually revisit our supply chain as we grow, including organic vs non organic coffee.
Q: How much caffeine is there in 1 serving of Grass Fed Coffee?
A: 80 milligrams of caffeine per serving, which is roughly equivalent to a nice strong cup of coffee. The combination of our ingredients makes GFC feel much stronger though, without high levels of caffeine!
Q: Butter in coffee? Really?
A: Yes, really! People have been putting in butter into coffee and tea around the world for centuries.
Click here and here to find out more historical details of butter coffee and tea.
Also, cream is butter, churned. So it’s not that weird, we promise!
Q: How is grass fed butter any better than regular butter? It’s all yellow to me.
A: Grass fed butter (from pasture grazing cows) contain higher levels of CLA's, Vitamin K2, and omega 3’s, and butyrate when compared to butter made from grain fed cattle.
Grass fed butter in Grass Fed Coffee contains high levels of heart healthy fats and vitamins, which can be a key part of a healthy diet.
Also, butter from grass fed cows is said to be richer and darker yellow as opposed to pale grain fed butter.
Of course grass fed cows are MUCH happier, healthier, and more sustainable… and we think it tastes better too!
Q: Where is our grass fed butter sourced?
A: We proudly use grass fed butter from American cows!
This was an intentional choice to support pasture raised dairies here at home!
Q: The label lists a high daily fat percentage from one serving. Will I get fat from drinking Grass Fed Coffee?
A: When combined with low carb/high healthy fats and protein diets like Paleo, Keto and incorporating intermittent fasting, many butter coffee drinkers have actually reduced their body fat percentage as their bodies become more efficient at burning fats for energy over carbs!
But we recognize that everyone’s metabolism is different so please consume Grass Fed Coffee under the care of a medical professional.
Q: But isn’t saturated fat dangerous?
A: Recent research has shown that there is no link between saturated fats and cardiovascular disease. It is a far more complex relationship than saturated fat = bad. Saturated fats can actually be beneficial, especially when they’re full of vitamins and antioxidants like those found in our grass fed butter. Empower yourself by doing your own research!
Q: What are MCT oils?
A: MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) are oils distilled from coconut oil. There are many health benefits to coconut oil. MCT oils make up roughly 15% of coconut oil. Our MCT oil is sourced from Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Q: But why put MCT’s in Grass Fed Coffee?
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are fats with an unusual chemical structure that allows the body to digest them easily. Most fats are broken down in the intestine and remade into a special form that can be transported in the blood. But MCTs are absorbed intact and taken to the liver, where they are used directly for energy. In this sense, they are processed very similarly to carbohydrates.
MCT’s have incredible purported benefits in fat burning and muscle building. They are absorbed quickly by the body for energy, just like carbs, but contain more energy per ounce than carbs.
Many athletes consume MCT oils in butter coffee to improve their athletic performance. There are also limited studies that suggest MCT’s improve cognitive function.
Q: Is Grass Fed Coffee safe for pregnant women?
A: We’ve placed a disclaimer on our Tetrapak because there is conflicting information regarding the safety of caffeine for pregnant women. Additional information on our main ingredients (grass fed butter, MCT oil, coffee) is included below.
Grass Fed Butter has many vitamins and nutrients that can be helpful during pregnancy.
The effects of MCT oil and pregnancy have not been studied extensively. But the benefits of coconut oil (from which MCT is distilled) during pregnancy are extensive. A list of potential side effects from MCT oil and how to mitigate them are listed here.
Research suggests coffee to be beneficial to many areas of health. However, coffee does contain caffeine, which generates conflicting opinions for pregnant women.
This is another overview of butter coffee and pregnancy.
As always, please consume Grass Fed Coffee under the care of a medical professional.
Q: Anything else about MCT’s and grass fed butter I should know?
A: The levels of MCT/Butter in Grass Fed Coffee were carefully selected to provide maximum benefits while limiting any inconvenient effects. But some may experience digestive distress until accustomed to the levels of MCT/butter. This typically happens within 1-4 days.
Q: Should I drink an entire serving?
A: We recommend consuming a half Tetrapak (11 oz) to start. While the effects of Grass Fed Coffee (mental clarity, focus, energy) are steady and lasting, they can be very strong at first for beginners.
Q: Xylitol? What does that do?
A: Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol (not the kind that gets you tipsy) that is present in small amounts in fruits and vegetables. It is used as a sugar substitute, but contains 40% less calories than sugar. Xylitol is processed by the body like a carbohydrate, but does not raise blood sugar levels like sugar, which is why it is considered a no “net” carb sweetener.
Xylitol is also used to prevent tooth decay and has antibacterial properties.
Grass Fed Coffee has just enough Xylitol to taste slightly sweet, without being overpowering.
Q: Grass Fed Coffee contains 11 grams of carbs per serving (11 oz). Where do those carbs come from, if there is no sugar? Will drinking GFC put me out of Ketosis?
A: The 11 grams of carbs in Grass Fed Coffee come from Xylitol and Chicory.
But after deducting carbs for fiber and Xylitol (does not raise blood sugar), GFC contains 5 net carbs/0 grams of sugar per serving, making it Keto and Paleo friendly!
For comparison, a 12 oz Coke contains 39 carbs from sugar.
For food labeling purposes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that labels list the full number of grams of total carbohydrate that come from sugar alcohols (like Xylitol) and fiber. But these sources of carbohydrate are only partially converted to glucose—or not converted at all—so they may have less impact on blood glucose than other carbohydrate components.
A more detailed explanation of no net carbs can be found here.
Q: What are emulsifiers and stabilizers?
A: Ordinarily, butter coffee blended at home results in creamy latte like beverage with a frothy head. But if left sitting, eventually the coffee, butter, and MCT oil will clump and separate.
We prevented this in our ready to drink butter coffee by using an emulsifier and a stabilizer.
All you need to do is give your Grass Fed Tetrapak a vigorous shake, and then enjoy the smooth deliciousness!
Q: Why not use a natural emulsifier?
A: We tried. And failed. And tried. Then failed some more.
Remember our 3 year formulation process? This was one of our biggest challenges.
We learned first hand the natural emulsifiers currently on the market are not effective at getting Grass Fed Coffee to blend the way we needed it to, without negatively impacting flavor and bitterness.
Eventually, we found a proprietary emulsifier that we believe is safe and effective.
We’ve listed all the ingredients in our emulsifier and stabilizer on our label to be as transparent as possible.
Q: I see you, Carrageenan. I’ve heard mixed reviews.
A: Carrageenan is a well known emulsifier that is extracted from red algae. It has been used in food preparation since the 15th century and is present in many products in the organic industry.
The debate over carrageenan stems from there being two different types with very different functions.
1) Undegraded carrageenan (food grade) is approved by the FDA for human consumption.
2) Degraded carrageenan (poligeenan) is NOT approved for human consumption.
The study that many refer to as evidence of the dangers of carrageenan were for poligeenan, not undegraded carrageenan.
Additionally, the amounts of poligeenan (not food grade) tested in the study were far in excess of what any normal person would ever consume. We believe any supplement/ingredient taken in excess can be harmful for the body.
Undegraded carrageenan (food grade) is considered safe by multiple regulatory bodies, and has been tested and re-tested extensively.
4 case studies of why the public has been confused over the degree of safety testing performed on food grade carrageenan are linked here.
We chose to use carrageenan in GFC after carefully reviewing all the studies and literature, and concluding that it was safe.
However, we recognize everyone’s body is different, so please consult your medical provider before consuming.
Q: What’s Microcrystalline cellulose?
A: Microcrystalline cellulose, or wood pulp, is another emulsifier commonly used in vitamin supplements.
Q: What are mono and diglycerides?
A: Mono and diglycerides are synthetic fats produced from both plant and animal origin that are additives to help stabilize and extend shelf life.
We recognize that some may be concerned with mono and diglycerides. We view them to be a functional necessity when creating a shelf stable product that can keep for an extended period of time.
These are only present in minute amounts in GFC (.20% of 11 oz).
Q: What’s sodium carboxymethylcellulose?
A: Sodium carboxymethylcellulose is also known as cellulose gum. It is another emulsifier used in many gluten free foods, chewing gums, ice creams, and biscuits.
Q: Why does the label say “Contains Milk” when milk isn’t an ingredient?
A: FDA regulations dictate that any product containing dairy state “Contains Milk” on the label. Grass Fed Coffee does not contain milk, but it does have butter.
Q: I’m lactose intolerant/allergic to whey protein. Will Grass Fed Coffee be a problem?
A: Our Grass Fed butter does contain caseins which can cause an adverse reaction to people who are lactose intolerant. Additionally, dairy products like butter do contain lactose and whey. We recommend anyone that is lactose intolerant or allergic to whey protein consult with a medical professional before consuming Grass Fed Coffee.
Q: Is Grass Fed Coffee shelf stable?
A: Yes, it is fully shelf stable!
Q: How long is Grass Fed Coffee shelf stable for?
A: Our current shelf life studies have Grass Fed Coffee shelf stable for a year.
Q: Do I need to refrigerate Grass Fed Coffee?
A: Nope! No refrigeration necessary. It’s solely a question of personal taste. We prefer it chilled though!
Q: Are there plans for additional flavors for Grass Fed Coffee?
A: We do plan on creating additional flavors and Grass Fed drinks in the future. Stay tuned!
Q: I’m a distributor (domestic and/or international) interested in carrying Grass Fed Coffee. How can I reach you?
A: Please email us at info@grassfedcoffee.com!
Q: What does the graphic on the label represent?
A: We believe Grass Fed Coffee is the evolution of energy and of coffee, which is why we depicted evolution on the label. Maybe it works better when you don’t think too much about it.
Q: Established 142,000 years ago?
A: Our attempt at humor.
If you have any additional questions, drop us a line at info@grassfedcoffee.com.
Thank you!
- Grass Fed Coffee