Innovation in the coffee industry is a never-ending cycle of new, trendy products, with some of them eventually becoming coffee shop standards, and others fading into obscurity. The latest hot product poised to break through into the mainstream is CBD coffee, which is rapidly gaining popularity both in the UK and the US.

CBD infused products have become wildly popular over the last year or so, and with CBD chocolate, lotions and bath bombs on the market, it was only a matter of time before someone started putting it in coffee.

What is CBD and how does it work?  

CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is one of the main active ingredients found in cannabis and hemp. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t cause you to feel “high” at all, and rather is used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and relaxation properties. It has also been shown to be an incredibly helpful tool for dealing with seizures brought on by epilepsy and can also be helpful for dealing with pain for cancer patients.

CBD is generally found in oil form, which is extracted from hemp plants that are bred specifically to have a very high CBD content. Oil can then be administered orally in drops or capsules, and is also used in lotions, balms, and can be infused in food.

Is it legal?

Despite being derived from cannabis plants, CBD is completely legal as it contains no psychoactive THC, and this can’t be used to get “high”. It has been around for some time now and has recently started being sold in big high street stores like Holland & Barrett and Boots. Any stigma from the association with cannabis has gone entirely, and now CBD is a popular supplement for people of all ages for a wide variety of issues.

How is it added to coffee?

CBD is generally added to coffee in one of 2 ways, either by infusing the beans or by adding it directly to the drink. There are a handful of brands in the UK producing CBD infused coffee beans, where the CBD oil has been added directly to the beans themselves and left to dry before being packaged. This is a great choice if you’re wanting to try CBD coffee at home and don’t want to have to fuss around with adding it in yourself.

Most coffee shops however will simply add a few drops of CBD oil directly to your coffee, either with the espresso or in the milk to make sure it’s evenly mixed through. CBD oil has an earthy flavour that is barely detectable at all underneath all those delicious coffee flavours, making it a fantastic match. The relaxing, anti-anxiety effects of the CBD are a great combination with the stimulating effects of caffeine.

If you’d like to experiment with adding CBD to your coffee, you need to make sure you’re starting with the best product possible. WMF coffee machines feature cutting edge automation technology to give you amazing tasting drinks every time, with no need for a trained barista. Download a brochure to see our full range.