Combining Coffee And Avocado For Maximum Taste, Health, And Energy Benefits

Coffee and avocados, both boast intense benefits to your health, and the two have made the top of the list of food-favorites by millennials, but actually combining these health boosters may seem a bit odd.

Sure, a freshly brewed cup of coffee enjoyed alongside a piece of avocado toast doesn’t sound all that outlandish, but blending some avocado into your favorite coffee smoothie may induce some brow-raising.

But…it shouldn’t!

This combo not only improves your health, but the addition of avocado to your morning brew can also create a creamy, smooth, and undeniably delicious treat!

Here in the US we seem to just be catching on to this trend, but this combo is old news in other parts of the globe:

In Australia, coffee houses have been serving lattes inside mostly scooped out avocado halves since roughly 2017.

And in Indonesia, locals have enjoyed the jus alpukat for many years.

Jus Alpukat roughly translates to avocado juice, but this can be misleading as the treat is truly more like a milkshake, sweet and creamy from the combination of sweetened condensed milk, avocado, and coffee (or chocolate in some places).

Today we’d like to explore this Indonesian inspired way of savoring the pairing of avocado and coffee in a slightly different manner, a method that’s quick, easy, and healthy - smoothie style!

So, whether you’re looking for a quick and easy breakfast that’s filling, delicious, and energizing, or an afternoon snack that’ll provide you with a boost of energy that also holds you over until dinner, combining coffee and avocado in a creamy, tasty, smoothie is a must-try.

But, if you’re still questioning the thought of this combo, read through the following ways these smoothie ingredients can boost your health, and if all else fails, consider this one of those, “don’t knock it ‘til you try it” creations, because trust us…you’re gonna love it!

What Happens When You Combine Avocado And Coffee

It’s true, avocado and coffee sound like an unlikely pair. But, other than their amazing health benefits, which we’ll get to in a moment, these two are also a true peas and carrots duo!

Avocados are naturally thick and creamy. Guacamole fans can attest to this attribute, where smashed avocados make this dip rich, creamy, and smooth.

And, coffee fans can attest to many creamy additions taking any brew from great to grand, which is why adding milks, creamers, and whipping cream is such a necessity for so many java drinkers.

But, the creaminess of avocado, when mixed with coffee, doesn’t just elevate your brew by making it creamy.

The velvety, rich texture of the avocado mingles with your brew to bring forward a more robust mouthfeel, the primary characteristic of coffee most people crave. You know, that strong and powerful flavor and aroma that draws most of us to coffee like moths to flames!

A fun fact, most individuals prefer a medium to dark roasted coffee. But, the addition of avocado can take even lighter roasts and make them taste more full-bodied.

Another fun fact? Even before folks started adding avocado directly to coffee for these benefits, simply enjoying a cup of joe alongside some avocado toast brought these same enhancements in flavor.

So, if you’re a coffee and avocado toast fan, you were likely drawn to this pair as your brew was enhanced due to the creamy element of the avocado.

The combination of coffee and avocado also benefits those who sometimes experience a caffeine crash a few hours after drinking too much coffee.

Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system, and if you’ve had too much caffeine, your serotonin levels can dip, causing the infamous coffee crash.

And, while consuming too much caffeine at a time can still have adverse effects, meaning this isn’t a license to overdo it, adding avocado to coffee means you’ve changed the math equation, so to speak.

Instead of simply pouring caffeine into your system, you’ve also added the fiber and healthy fat from the avocado, and when you add caffeine, fiber, and healthy fat, this results in a boost in energy that won’t lead to that infamous crash.

But, flavor enhancement and efficient energy aren’t the only benefits of adding avocado to coffee…

Building A Great (and healthy) Avocado Coffee Smoothie

Both coffee and avocado boast powerful benefits to your health, but a great, and healthy, smoothie doesn’t just include avocado and coffee.

We promise, we’ll get to the recipe in a moment, but first we want to take a look at the ingredient list, detailing all the ways this smoothie can effectively power you through your day: coffee, avocado, red raspberries or black cherries, kefir or plain greek yogurt, kale, protein powder, chia seeds, and cinnamon.

1- Coffee

While black coffee contains very little calories, one per cup to be exact, it is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that benefit your health in a great way.

Coffee has been proven to lower your risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Drinking one to two cups of coffee daily is linked with protection against heart failure. And, the antioxidant content of coffee has been proven to fight against oxidative stress that leads to DNA damage, tumors, and cell death.

Regular and decaf coffee has been shown to improve liver health, even reducing scarring from liver cirrhosis.

Regularly drinking coffee may aid in proper weight management, and it’s proven to boost energy levels.

And, studies also show drinking coffee can reduce your risk of depression, prevent cognitive decline, and reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's diseases.

2- Avocado

Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins C, E, K, B6, riboflavin, magnesium, fatty acids, and more, avocados have been proven to protect against stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

The vitamin content of avocados works to minimize damage to your vision from UV rays.

And, avocados may also protect your bones, increasing calcium absorption and decreasing your risk of osteoporosis.

The plant sterols in avocados may keep your cholesterol levels healthy, protecting your heart.

And, research shows compounds in avocados may prevent the onset of some cancers.

The folate and fatty acids in avocados have long been thought to provide benefits to pregnant mothers, these reducing the risk of miscarriage and promoting fetal health.

The high fiber content of avocados can help prevent constipation and reduce the risk of colon cancer. This also works to decrease inflammation in the gut, promoting bacterial balance and improving overall digestive health.

3- Red raspberries or black cherries

In this recipe you can choose to use fresh or frozen red raspberries or black cherries.

If you choose raspberries, you’ll be making a small but mighty choice, as these tiny fruits are filled with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that work together to provide the following benefits:

• Lowered blood pressure (in those with high blood pressure)
• Heart disease and stroke prevention
• Blood sugar regulation
• Improvements in bone and skin health
• Diabetes prevention
• Free radical damage protection (protecting against arthritis, cancer, cognitive decline, and more)

Black cherries make an equally great choice as this fruit is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants.

Studies show the nutrients in black cherries are linked to decreased inflammation, boosts in heart health, and improvements in sleep health in the following ways:

• One study found both tart and sweet cherries to be effective at decreasing inflammation, even concluding these fruits to be beneficial as a part of an anti-inflammatory diet.

• The blood pressure lowering effects of cherries make them effective at both diabetes and heart disease prevention.

• And, a study in 2013 found the melatonin component of cherries to be useful for those individuals suffering from insomnia, with participants in the study showing improvements in both sleep and nocturnal rest.

4- Plain kefir or Greek yogurt

In this smoothie you’ll also have the option to choose between plain kefir or plain Greek yogurt.

If you choose kefir, know that this choice is rich in probiotics that provide beneficial bacteria needed to balance your gut.

These probiotics, and your balanced gut, can boost immunity, reduce oxidative stress within the body, improve allergies, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Kefir is also a healthy source of calcium, vitamin K2, potassium, and magnesium, and phosphorus which brings benefits to your bones.

Some studies even link kefir to an ability to keep cancer cells from spreading, with many benefits here evidenced in regards to breast cancer.

If you’re using plain Greek yogurt in the following smoothie, this creamy component contains calcium, protein, probiotics, iodine, and vitamin b12.

The protein content of Greek yogurt makes it a satiating choice, potentially aiding in weight management, reducing both appetite and hunger.

Greek yogurt is also linked to improvements in bone, brain, and gut health, and it’s known to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

5- Kale

Kale is one of the most popular leafy greens, and it’s no wonder. This easy smoothie add-in aids in digestion due to its fiber content.

The iron content of kale is often linked to proper oxygen transportation throughout the body, cell growth, and optimal liver function.

And, some vitamins in kale are protective against heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

The antioxidant properties of kale are sensitive to heat, therefore using kale in smoothies is a perfect choice, allowing your body to fully benefit from these anti-inflammatory disease fighters.

6- Vanilla protein powder

Protein powders pair well with coffee and they make great smoothie additives as they contain high concentrations of amino acids, beneficial to muscle growth, as well as providing satiety and curbing cravings which aids in weight management.

Whey protein can also provide needed nutrition for those who struggle to get enough protein in their diet.

7- Chia seeds

Chia seeds are a common smoothie ingredient as they won’t alter the flavor of your drink, but they will provide satiety, keeping you feeling full longer.

This aids in weight management, but these tiny seeds also have been found to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. And, their fiber content prevents constipation while improving overall digestive health.

8- Cinnamon

Cinnamon makes a great addition to any smoothie, especially when coffee is involved. Cinnamon pairs perfectly with your brew flavor-wise, but this spice, like coffee, also contains a wealth of antioxidants.

Research shows the antioxidant content of cinnamon helps to reduce inflammation, protect against heart disease, and properly control blood sugar while improving insulin sensitivity.

On top of its antioxidant benefits in regards to inflammation, cinnamon is also antifungal and antibacterial.

Healthy Avocado-Coffee Smoothie

Ingredients

• ½ cup brewed and cooled (or chilled) Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
• ¼ cup avocado
• ½ cup frozen or fresh red raspberries or black cherries
• ½ cup plain kefir or plain greek yogurt
• ½ cup kale
• ⅓ cup vanilla whey protein powder
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup water
• 4-5 large ice cubes

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a blender.
• Blend on high until smooth and creamy.
• Pour into a glass, and enjoy immediately!

Avocado Alternative To Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof coffee can get a bad reputation as it contains saturated fats, but it is important to note that the original bulletproof coffee recipe calls for grass-fed unsalted butter.

Grass-fed butter, as opposed to regular butter, contains a greater amount of healthy unsaturated fats. So truly, if you’re using quality grass-fed butter, saturated fats aren’t as big of an issue.

However, if you’re still looking for a somewhat healthier alternative to bulletproof coffee, a brew that’s rich in healthy fats, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals, then you should give this delicious avocado-coffee recipe a try!

While this isn’t technically a smoothie, lacking the smoothie-typical list of other ingredients to pack into one tasty drink, this recipe still yields a thick, creamy, delicious brew for those looking for a high-fat, low carb avocado-coffee option.

Since we’ve already gone over the health benefits of both avocado and coffee, we’ll skip those here and simply take a quick look at the other ingredients:

MCT oil or Coconut oil - Both MCT oil and coconut oil are a source of medium chain triglycerides, or fatty acids.

They are easily digested and able to be sent straight to your liver where they can have a positive effect on your metabolism.

Since they aid in your body’s ability to use energy, burn fat, and reduce weight, both are deemed beneficial in both weight loss and weight management.

MCTs, through animal studies, have also shown protective benefits on the heart, and they are thought to be able to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and all general mortality (linked to obesity reduction).

Both coconut oil and MCT oil have been shown to improve energy and mood levels, even proving to boost athletic performance (linked to energy improvements).

And, these are both beneficial for balancing gut bacteria, supporting healthy digestion and proper absorption of nutrients.

These are antibacterial, antiviral, anti inflammatory, and antifungal as well!

Stevia - Stevia is a popular natural sugar alternative, but is it all it’s cracked up to be? Short answer, yes!

Stevia isn’t just a no-calorie sugar substitute, it’s actually beneficial for your health.

Derived from the stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, stevia has been found to improve blood pressure levels as it increases urine output, helping your body excrete excess sodium.

Stevia contains sterols and antioxidant compounds associated with cancer prevention, specifically pancreatic cancer.

This sweetener is considered safe to use by diabetics as studies show it has no effect on blood sugar or insulin.

Stevia has also been shown to have satiating effects, keeping you feeling full for longer periods of time, and it keeps the bacteria in your gut balanced for optimal digestion and immune health.

Creamy Avocado Coffee

Ingredients

• 8 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
• 1 small Hass avocado
• 2 tablespoons MCT oil, or coconut oil
• Optional: stevia to taste

Instructions

• Blend all ingredients together in a blender on high until smooth and creamy.
• Pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!

*If you’d prefer an iced option, you can follow the same instructions above, but allow your coffee to cool slightly before blending with the other ingredients.

Once blended, allow the mixture to cool slightly, then either serve over ice, or add ice to the mixture in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

(If adding ice, roughly 5 large ice cubes is recommended.)

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Embolden Dark Roast.

Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

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