Coffee is definitely the world’s favourite hot beverage. Most people cannot start the day without it. The big question that has been asked many times is, can coffee assist in losing weight?

Marco Van der Walt, manager at SLOUW Café in Potchefstroom, says he is very passionate about coffee and it is the delicacy of the coffee making process that is vey fulfilling for him. “The origin of the coffee and how it is made, will definitely make a difference in how it tastes. I enjoy the process of making coffee more than I enjoy coffee itself sometimes.”

He says people drink coffee for different reasons. “People drink coffee because it tastes good. They drink coffee to wake them up in the morning and sometimes it just becomes a habit to drink coffee.”

He goes on to say that coffee in moderation can be beneficial to your health. “Too much of a good thing can easily turn into a bad thing, but a cup or two a day cannot hurt. Obviously taking into consideration each person’s health and susceptibility to caffeine.”

“Coffee can aid in weight loss, all depending on how you drink it. Do you drink it black, with no sugar? Or do you take it with milk and sugar? Coffee can definitely give you that boost you need in the morning before you go to the gym.”

A lot of people swear the answer to coffee assisting in weight loss is Bulletproof coffee, while many others swear by Lemon (juice) coffee. But how do you know which one will work for you and when to drink it for the best results?

Let’s discuss the pro’s and con’s of both.

Bulletproof coffee

Bulletproof coffee is essentially a high calorie coffee that a person drinks in the morning in order to skip breakfast.

The recipe consists of mixing a steaming cup of strong, black coffee, without sugar, with a tablespoon of grass-fed butter or a tablespoon of coconut oil. This is to be taken on an empty stomach and the aim is to skip breakfast, thus having you consume less calories than you would if you had a full breakfast.

Bulletproof coffee is popular among those who do low carb diets, Banting, Keto and Intermittent fasting.

Pro’s:

• Less calories than a full breakfast
• Can curb appetite and hunger
• Gives energy
• May result in weight loss
• Supports digestive health
• Manage blood sugar levels
• Improves bone health
• Increases mental focus

Con’s:

• Can increase the risk of heart disease
• May raise cholesterol levels
• High in saturated fat
• Low in nutrients
• Not everyone likes how it tastes

Lemon juice coffee

Lemon juice coffee is very popular for its great source of vitamin C, antioxidant as well as promoting weight loss. This way of drinking coffee has been used for their medicinal properties for centuries.

The recipe is one cup of strong, black coffee (without sugar) mixed with the juice of one lemon or a tablespoon of lemon juice. This is to be taken before breakfast on an empty stomach.

Pro’s:

• High in vitamin C
• High in antioxidants
• Can assist with weight loss
• Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes
• Energy boosting
• Increases the number of calories you burn
• Eases headaches

Con’s:

• Citric allergy
• Contributes to dental erosion
• Can increase heartburn
• Not safe for people with stomach ulcers

The best way to decide which of these popular coffee trends will work for you, is to give each one try. Although many people swear by it, there is no guarantee that it will work for you. Each person has individual needs and it is best to find what works for you.