CBD and coffee: make customers' daily routine more enjoyable
Effects of CBD and caffeine
The benefits of CBD and caffeine are well known, so let's just briefly recap them. CBD (cannabidiol) is the second most abundant non-psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant and is known for its therapeutic effects, which include relieving anxiety, stress, pain, sleep and immunity.
Caffeine, contained in coffee, stimulates the central nervous system and the heart. The positive effects of this natural stimulant include:
- increasing alertness
- stimulating brain activity (promoting concentration, memory)
- improving mood (increasing dopamine concentration)
- aiding fat burning
How does it work? Mental alertness is controlled by several key neurotransmitters in the brain. One of these is adenosine, a chemical that reduces nerve activity and has a sedative effect. During the day, the level of adenosine in the brain gradually increases, causing an increase in fatigue and feelings of drowsiness. When the level of adenosine in the brain increases sufficiently, the person feels sleepy and feels the need to rest.
Caffeine acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist. This means that caffeine binds to the same receptors that adenosine would normally bind to. This blocks its effect, preventing the feeling of fatigue and instead stimulating the central nervous system and increasing alertness and focus.
At the same time, however, caffeine can increase the heart rate in more sensitive individuals, or at higher doses, and cause anxiety and nervousness. Too much caffeine can also cause headaches or nausea. And it is CBD that has the potential to not only prolong periods of alertness and concentration, but also to counteract the negative effects of caffeine.
Research: CBD, coffee and the endocannabinoid system
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex system of cell signaling. Composed of endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid receptors and enzymes, this system plays a key role in maintaining the homeostasis (stability of the internal environment) of our body and is responsible for a variety of functions such as regulating hormone levels, body temperature, sleep, mood and many others.
CBD is known to interact with the endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 (modulating their activity) and most of the therapeutic effects of CBD come from this interaction.
And what effect does coffee have on the endocannabinoid system? In 2018, a group of researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago published the results of a three-month study conducted in Finland that examined how caffeine affects metabolite changes in the body in a sample of 47 people. Participants in this study did not drink coffee at all one month, consumed four cups a day the second month, and eight cups a day the third month. As coffee consumption increased, levels of endocannabinoid system metabolites decreased. Thus, it is possible that coffee slows down the endocannabinoid system or reduces the efficiency of endocannabinoid transmitters, whereas CBD promotes ECS function. This is another reason why CBD coffee or the combination of coffee and CBD might be of interest to consumers.
How to combine CBD and caffeine?
It is important to mention that there is no research yet that looks at how the two compounds (CBD and caffeine) interact and complement each other when taken together. Thus, the benefits of this combination are only evidenced by the experiences of some users. The recommended dose (ratio) of the two substances is also unknown, as the dosage (and hence the effects) depends on many factors such as age, hormonal activity, use of drugs, lifestyle, sensitivity and dietary habits.
CBD and caffeine can be combined, for example, by adding a few drops of CBD oil directly to coffee. Another option is hemp coffee, which directly combines coffee with CBD or selected ingredients from the cannabis plant.
The best CBD and hemp coffee for your customers
And what coffee to include in your menu? For customers who enjoy the taste of a quality coffee and want to supplement with CBD, a freshly roasted 100% Arabica, Brazilian coffee from family-owned roaster Laura Coffee with full-spectrum CBD extract is the way to go. It is prepared in the same way as the regular coffee (without CBD) we are used to.
Also interesting is the Italian coffee blend Cannabissimo, which combines roasted ground coffee with CBD-rich flowers and hemp leaves, with a THC content of less than 0.01%.
Customers who already take CBD in the form of oils or capsules, for example, but still want "something more" from their coffee than just a boost, will appreciate the organic Fair-Trade coffee with hemp seed. Hemp seed not only has a delicious nutty taste, but is also a nutritious food as it contains a number of vitamins, minerals, fibre, essential fatty acids and is a great source of protein. Coffee from the Slovakian brand SUM will appeal to connoisseurs, which, in addition to hemp seed, also offers a variant with real vanilla extract or Ceylon cinnamon, which is good for digestion, improves mood and warms up beautifully in winter.
If you want to learn more about the hemp coffee in our range, you can watch our YouTube video where we introduce each coffee product.
Summary
Coffee with CBD or other cannabis ingredients is an interesting way to boost the desirable effects of caffeine while counteracting the undesirable ones, such as anxiety, nervousness or headaches. Although there is not yet a study that directly examines the effects of combining caffeine and CBD, hemp coffee is an interesting alternative to regular coffee for consumers. If customers want to use CBD for therapeutic reasons to alleviate certain ailments such as pain, stress or inflammation, CBD oils and drops, capsules or CBD vapes are preferable. For others, there is coffee with CBD or coffee with ground hemp seeds.
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