Cannabis and Coffee: How They interact With Each Other and How to Make Your Own Weed-Dosed Coffee
- 1. The history of cannabis and coffee
- 2. Caffeine, cannabinoids, and entering the flow state
- 3. Caffeine and its effect on the ecs
- 4. How to make weed coffee
- 5. The best fast buds strains to use for cannabis coffee
- 6. Conclusion
Cannabis and coffee - two of the most commonly consumed psychotropic chemicals in the world, both with a rich, documented history of use throughout the entire globe.
It's no surprise, then, that people have been combining the two substances for longer than records have been taken. So, what happens when you mix cannabis and coffee? How do they interact with each other? And what are the risks and benefits of doing so? Let's take a closer look.
1. The History of Cannabis and Coffee
Cannabis has been used for centuries as a medicinal plant throughout Western, African, and Asian cultures, with the first recorded use dating back to 2737 BC in China. And while the miracle plant offers many medicinal benefits, it has probably also been consumed as a recreational aid for just as long, if not longer. It wasn't until the late 1800s that cannabis criminalization first became an issue, and not until the early to mid-1900s that it was properly outlawed in most parts of the world. Coffee, on the other hand, has always sat on the right side of the law - and may have been consumed for even longer than our favorite green herb (although who really knows, right?).
The first true recorded use of coffee dates back to the 9th century when Arabian scholars began using the beans to help stay alert and mentally present during religious ceremonies, although oral history stretches even further back in Ethiopia and other parts of northern Africa. Coffee quickly spread from the birthplace of humanity throughout the Arab world and eventually to Europe and the Americas.
So, it is most likely safe to assume that due to the long and chequered history of both cannabis and coffee they probably would have been used hand in hand. And while the two substances have totally different effects - with caffeine producing a clear and alert feeling, while most users report a hazy effect from cannabis (it is obviously much more complicated than this) - they can have a positive outcome when combined, for some people anyway. Let's dig a little deeper...
2. Caffeine, Cannabinoids, And Entering The Flow State
In the last decade or so there's been a lot of talk about the benefits of entering a flow state - that heightened state of focus and productivity where time seems to stand still and the creative juices really start to flow. Some say it's the key to unlocking your creative potential. Others claim it's the secret to finally conquering that long list of forgotten tasks.
But what does it really take to enter the flow state?
According to some experts, the answer lies in caffeine and cannabinoids. Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that can help to improve focus and vigilance. Cannabinoids, on the other hand, are known for their calming effects. When used together, these two substances can help to achieve a perfect balance of alertness and relaxation, making it easier to enter the flow state and stay there for extended periods of time. It's not all about creativity, though. Extreme sports competitors, in particular, have known for decades about the positive outcomes of combining the two drugs, especially when mixed with some light exercise. For competitors, entering a state of flow can make the difference between a first place finish, or scraping by at the back of the pack.
Author, Steven Kotler, puts it this way "Endorphins should come first. Ideally, you should exercise for a good 20 minutes or more to trigger the flow state. We don't enter flow until we're doing something that taxes us, something that stretches the limits of our comfort zone. Action sports athletes for years have been combining exercise, coffee, and cannabis into a 'hippie speedball."
What is actually going on in the brain at this point?
Well, we haven't worked that all out yet, but what we do know is that there is a certain balance happening between a bunch of neurochemicals when we enter that state of flow. Thanks to the magic of MRI machines, we know that dopamine, anandamide, serotonin, and endorphins all play a specific and important role in entering flow. Surprise, surprise - these are the chemicals that can be released when we mix coffee and weed! Of course, it's not quite as simple as that, at least not for everyone. Some people find that certain strains of weed can induce a feeling of paranoia, while others feel that coffee gives them the jitters and can increase these unwanted feelings. The key lies in finding the right balance for you - and that might take some trial and error.
Back to Kotler, who seems to have worked out a great balance, at least for himself. While he was skeptical in the beginning, he soon found that smoking what he considers a "microdose" or a quarter-hit every 45 minutes of writing allowed him to enter that sweet spot. "The stuff that normally inhibits you goes away," Kotler says. "You have to do a big edit session afterward, especially in the beginning, but you can usually find enough nuggets that it's worth pursuing." And, while all of this is pretty anecdotal, there have been a few peer-reviewed studies we can look at to see if we can understand exactly what is going on when we mix our morning cup of joe with a few hits of the sticky-icky.
3. Caffeine and its effect on the ECS
A study from 2018 looked at how caffeine interacted with the ECS (Endocannabinoid system), and specifically how it affected metabolites. Metabolites are the substances that our bodies make when we metabolize any food, liquid, or drug and by studying these we infer what is happening throughout the body. The participants in this particular study were asked to abstain from any caffeine for one month, then asked to drink 4 standard cups of coffee per day for the next month, and then 8 per day for the month after that. The urine of the participants was analyzed to see how the metabolites were affected by this increased caffeine use.
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was shown to metabolize less and less as study participants increased their coffee consumption, according to the research. This points to the fact that as more coffee was ingested, the ECS was slowed down. This would help counteract the feelings of lethargy and tiredness that are sometimes associated with cannabis use, which is pretty unsurprising. So, does this point to an increased chance of entering flow when combining a morning spliff and a hot cup of coffee? Maybe - but the jury is still firmly out.
4. How To Make Weed Coffee
If you want to give it a try, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The first is that, as we mentioned before, it might take some trial and error to find the right dose for you. A good place to start is with a quarter hit of weed - this should be enough to give you a little bit of a buzz without being overwhelming.
The second is that you may want to use a strain of weed that is high in CBD and low in THC. CBD is the non-psychoactive component of weed, and it is known for its calming effect. THC, on the other hand, is the psychoactive component and it is this that can sometimes induce feelings of paranoia. There are a bunch of people already reporting that adding CBD into their morning coffee routine can help reduce the jittery feeling that can sometimes go hand in hand with a strong brew.
Finally, you'll want to make sure that you grind your weed finely, and decarb it before dumping it into the coffee. This will help it to mix evenly with the coffee and also ensure that you get an accurate dose. Once you've got all of that sorted, making weed coffee is actually pretty simple. You can either add the weed directly to your coffee grounds before brewing, or you can brew your coffee as normal and then add a little ground weed to your cup.
If you're going the first route, you'll want to use about a quarter of a gram of weed for every six ounces of coffee. If you're going the second route, you can add the weed to your cup after brewing and then stir it in. Start with a small amount - remember, it's always easier to add more weed than it is to take it away! The other option is to add some cannabutter or cannabis-infused coconut oil to your cup of black gold. This is definitely our preferred option, as the outcome is super delicious - especially if you decide on going for the canna coco-oil (the healthier of the two options also). There are a few ways to make your own infused coconut oil, but for the most part, we recommend the slow cooking option.
To make slow-cooked cannabis-infused coconut oil you will need:
- 14 grams of weed
- 1 liter of coconut oil
- 1.5 liters of water
- A Crockpot or a large cooking pot
- Cheesecloth or a fine metal strainer
- Jars to store the infused oil
The method is as follows -
- First things first, you want to grind up your weed. Not too fine, but not super chunky either. To decarb the buds, heat your oven to the lowest setting it goes and place your buds in for 20 minutes.
- Next, put the water and oil into your crockpot and bring it up to a very low simmer. If you don't have a crockpot handy then you can use a normal cooking pot over low heat.
- Once it has begun to boil, turn the heat right down and add the weed. A cooking temp of 80C is perfect.
- Let it cook for 8 hours, stirring occasionally. After 8 hours, turn off the crockpot and let it cool for a bit. The on/off method works really well here. Leave it cooking for an hour, then turn it off for an hour. This can be done 4 times for great results.
- Then, line a cheesecloth over a bowl and pour the mixture through it to strain out the weed. If you don't have any cheesecloth you can use a fine mesh metal strainer.
- Once all of the liquid has strained through, you're left with weed-infused coconut oil and water. Place the bowl in the fridge for 30 mins and the oil will separate and harden at the top.
- Remove the hardened oil, reheat to liquefy, and pour it into your storage jars.
Assuming you want to use this weed coffee for its intended purpose - i.e. as a pick-me-up in the morning - we recommend adding a tablespoon or two into your cup of joe. If you're using it more as an evening drink, you can add a little more depending on how strong you like it. Once again, start off with less than you think - a heavy dose of edibles can be a bit of a wild ride!
5. The Best Fast Buds Strains to Use For Cannabis Coffee
With so many amazing strains to choose from, each with its own list of benefits, how are you supposed to decide on the best bud to pair with your cup of coffee? We have chatted about trial and error in terms of dosage already in this article, but you may have to play around with cultivars a little also before you find the sweet spot for you. “Oh no, you mean I will have to try a bunch of delicious different strains?”. Hard life, right?
Here at Fast Buds, we have a huge range to choose from. And thankfully, they are all autoflowering beasts which means they are about as easy to grow as you can find anywhere on the market. In the past year, we have taken out multiple “best autoflowering seed company” awards, as well as the top honors at a wide range of cannabis cup ceremonies.
| Type | Strain Name | THC | CBD | Harvest indoor | Harvest Outdoor | Genes | Size | Seed to Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High CBD | CBD Auto 20:1 | 0.3 – 0.85% | 10 – 20% | 350 – 450 gr/m2 | 50 – 170 gr/plant | Sativa 50%/Indica 50% | Large | 9 – 10 weeks |
| Balanced | CBD Auto 1:1 (CBD Crack) | Up to 7% | Up to 7% | 450 – 550 gr/m2 | 50 – 170 gr/plant | Sativa 35%/Indica 65% | Extra Large | 9 – 10 weeks |
| High THC Indica | Banana Purple Punch Auto | Up to 26% | < 1% | 450 – 550 gr/m2 | 60 – 200 gr/plant | Sativa 25%/Indica 75% | Extra Large | 8 weeks |
| High THC Sativa | Amnesia Zkittlez Auto | Up to 24% | < 0.5% | 450 – 600 gr/m2 | 60 – 200 gr/plant | Sativa 75%/Indica 25% | Extra Large | 9 – 10 weeks |
No matter if you are after a pure CBD option, a heavy-hitting THC monster, or something in between - we have you totally covered. So, without any more fanfare, let's have a quick look at the best strains we currently offer for pairing with coffee.
6. Conclusion
And that's pretty much all there is to it. While there isn't a ton of scientific evidence out there to support the idea that weed and coffee are a perfect match, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that many people find the combination to be pretty darned delightful. So, why not give it a try for yourself? You might just find that you've found the perfect way to start your day.
