DOHA: As coffee days are being marked in various parts of the world nowadays, some Western expats in Qatar are looking for one ready-made cup of bulletproof coffee but to no avail.
Owing to a lack of consensus, various countries across the globe mark ‘Coffee Day’ on different dates with the majority marking it in the month of September from 12 to 29 while some nations like Japan, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Pakistan will celebrate it today (October 1).
Some residents of Doha, especially those hailing from the US and Europe, are lamenting the fact that no café in the town offers bulletproof coffee to coffee lovers. “I have searched a lot for it at various routine or high-end cafes but to no avail. Everyone advises to try making it at home,” said Katherine, an expat from Canada after being disappointed on getting a No reply from the waiter at a cafe.
Bulletproof coffee recipe was created by Dave Asprey and first posted on his blog “Bulletproof Executive” in 2009. Asprey claims that this recipe of mixing butter and coconut oil with coffee boosts cognitive performance and weight loss, and it has been consumed by sportspeople and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
Barry Shiels, a Carlow Institute of Technology graduate who lives in Qatar, is also looking for a café that can appease his palate with a cup of bulletproof coffee. “Hi folks! Do any coffee shops here sell bulletproof coffee?” he asks but finds no place except pieces of advice from other residents on how to make a cup for himself at home.
Syed Arshad Hussain, in response to the query of Shiels on a social media forum, wrote: “I am not aware of any coffee shop selling bulletproof coffee.” Another resident Charle Punt advised, “Best and easiest way is to make it at home. Why don’t you buy an American coffee or espresso from one of the coffee shops, heat it up at home, add to the blender with butter and try. Best of both worlds then!”
David Asprey developed his Bulletproof Coffee recipe after travelling to Tibet and tasting yak-butter tea drinks. Asprey has claimed that when used in combination with other “health hacks,” the coffee helped to boost his IQ score by more than 20 points.
The bulletproof coffee buzz touched the skies when celebrities like Harry Styles, Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran announced that the secret of their lasting energy, perfect skin and prolonged focus was a mix of coffee, butter and oil. In 2014, Bulletproof Coffee was featured on shows such as Good Morning America, Today and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and had a following of over three million consumers. The stand-alone Bulletproof Cafe opened in Los Angeles that same year.
Coming back to Barry’s worries over failure in finding a café offering bulletproof recipe, Ron Taylor advised the impatient coffee lover: “It is easy to make. I make it with a hand blender”, while another expat, Emma Greenwood added: “I personally don’t add butter as the coconut oil makes it creamy and I find adding butter makes it greasy.”
