If you’re following the keto diet and love coffee more than ever, an olive oil latte could be what you need. The beverage has recently become very popular that Starbucks even came up with its version.
Related reading: What Is Keto Coffee and Should You Drink It?
As the name suggests, the olive oil latte combines the rich flavor of olive oil with the creamy texture of a latte. While the combination might sound odd to many, the exciting flavor combination will surprise your taste budsyour while elevating your usual cup of joe.
So, let’s find out more about olive oil coffee, its benefits, and whether it’s good for the keto diet.
What is An Olive Oil Latte?
The olive oil latte is a unique and delicious beverage made with espresso, extra-virgin olive oil, and milk, giving it a smooth and creamy taste.
Even though adding olive oil to coffee is not new, Starbucks’ recent announcement that they are adding olive oil to their various coffee beverages has piqued the interest of coffee lovers, especially those on the keto diet.
Related reading: Is Coffee Keto? Get the Answer Here
As you no doubt know, olive oil is one of the most popular ingredients for keto-friendly recipes. It has zero carbs and is an excellent source of healthy fats.
Related reading: Is a Zero Carb Diet Good for Weight Loss?
By adding olive oil to their favorite latte, keto dieters believe they can easily reach their daily fat requirement to maintain ketosis. But even if you’re not following the keto diet, adding olive oil to your latte can provide many health benefits.
Related reading: How Ketosis Works for Burning Fat Faster
Ingredients In Olive Oil Latte
What’s great about the olive oil coffee is that it’s super easy to prepare, and the ingredients are readily available. You don’t have to go to Starbucks to give it a try. Here are the only things you need:
• Espresso – you can use any espresso coffee of your choice. But if you want to mimic the olive oil latte from Starbucks, you can use their blonde espresso roast.
• Oat milk – you can use any oat milk of your choice so long as it does not contain sugar. However, the barista version is the best since it will froth better, giving the latte a longer-lasting foam, similar to your favorite latte from Starbucks.
• Olive oil – for the best flavor, use high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil undergoes minimal processing, so it’s the most natural version of olive oil. It’s also more pleasant to taste and will not make your coffee bitter.
Make sure that it is pure olive oil. There are some on the market that have been shown to have been adulterated with sunflower oil.
Health Benefits of Olive Oil
The Greeks call olive oil the “elixir of youth and health.” Indeed, several studies offer evidence about the health benefits of olive oil.
According to a 2020 study, consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil daily lowers your risk of heart disease. Further studies published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed that people who consume more than half a tablespoon of olive daily have lower premature death rates due to cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other illnesses than those who never or rarely consumed olive oil.
According to Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston,
“Olive oil is the hallmark of the Mediterranean diet, and its link to lower mortality is well established in southern European countries.”
Among all plant oils, olive oil contains the highest percentage of monounsaturated fats, which lowers the bad cholesterol level and increases the good cholesterol level.
Benefits of Adding Olive Oil to Coffee
Adding fats to coffee has become a trend, thanks to high-fat diets like keto. Since it’s a growing trend, even those who don’t follow any diet have joined the bandwagon. Whether you’re on the keto diet or not, here are some benefits of adding olive oil to coffee.
1. Great Option for a Healthy Breakfast
The olive oil and coffee combination is a healthier substitute for carb-heavy American breakfasts. Instead of filling up on pancakes and toast, you can fuel up with the nutritional fats from olive oil.
2. Sustained and Long-lasting Energy
Consumable fats slow down the digestion of foods and beverages you consume. So, if you have olive oil in your coffee, it can slow down the absorption of caffeine in your body, prolonging its effects, leaving you with long-lasting energy.
3. Fats Can Neutralize the Acidity in Coffee
Coffee is acidic and may harm your gut health or overall digestive system. Adding fats to your coffee can help neutralize acidity, which minimizes your risk of symptoms associated with an unhealthy gut, such as heartburn, rashes, and acid reflux.
4. Reduces overall caffeine intake
Studies show that many people are over-consuming caffeine which can have damaging effects on health, hormones, and energy. Healthy fats like olive oil can prolong the effects of caffeine in your coffee, so you will not find yourself reaching for another cup as quickly.
Olive Oil Latte Recipe
If you’re ready to give the olive oil latte a try, here’s the recipe you can follow:
Ingredients
- one blonde espresso shot
- ¾ cup oat milk
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions
1. Begin by combining the olive oil and oat milk.
2. Steam the milk together with the oil until they are nice and foamy.
3. Brew the blonde espresso shot using your coffee brewer.
4. Slowly pour the steamed milk and oil into a glass.
5. Finally, pour the brewed espresso over the top. It should create a nice texture, leaving your olive oil latte looking great.
6. Stir well, and enjoy!
Should You Give the Olive Oil Latte A Try?
If you are on the keto diet and looking for a change from your usual butter coffee an olive oil latte is worth giving a try. Extra virgin olive oil is high in healthy fats that can help you maintain ketosis.
Even if you are not following any diet, trying olive oil coffee can add a new dimension to your daily coffee routine. The combination of smooth olive oil with the richness of espresso creates a unique flavor profile that can delight your taste buds. In addition, incorporating healthy fats into your diet can have numerous health benefits.
If you’ve tried it let me and my readers know in the comments what you think of it. It may not be to everyone’s taste and it certainly takes a bit of getting used to!
