Featured image via Buddha Beans Coffee
CBD coffee brings together two worlds with very different priorities. Specialty coffee values origin, roast quality, and flavor, while CBD products focus on precise dosing, lab testing, and regulatory standards. Buddha Beans has found a way to create a product that doesn’t compromise on any front.
A Little About the Company
Founded in Los Angeles in 2018, Buddha Beans is a small-batch roaster that sources fair trade, single-origin beans. It started as a personal experiment in a hot-air popcorn roaster and quickly became a serious passion project combining coffee and cannabis.
By keeping the roasting and CBD infusion processes in-house, the team controls every detail of the coffee. Every batch is lab-tested to ensure the CBD content is accurate, and the coffee tastes as intended.
Their offerings include single 2-ounce bags starting at $10, 12-ounce bags for $29, and sample flights that let you try multiple roasts at once. The three-coffee flight features their Mexico, Colombia, and Ethiopia roasts, while the five-coffee flight adds Burundi and Costa Rica. Subscriptions are also available for those who want regular deliveries at a discount.
Flavor and Roast Breakdown
The appeal of CBD coffee lies in the balance it aims to strike. Caffeine stimulates alertness by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain, while CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in stress regulation. For some consumers, the pairing is intended to deliver focus with a softer edge than coffee alone.
I tried three of their roasts—Colombia, Burundi, and Mexico—each infused with 50 mg of CBD per 2-ounce bag, using organic hemp grown on a family farm in Southern Oregon. They recommend one to three cups per day, making it easy to enjoy regularly. Here’s what I thought of each.
Colombia: Balanced and Familiar
7 mg of CBG and 7 mg of CBD per cup
$25 per 12-oz bag
The Organic Colombia Artisan CBD Coffee is definitely the most immediately familiar of the trio. Notes of white chocolate, caramel, and hazelnut show up early and stay consistent through the cup, giving it a comforting, well-rounded character. The dark roast adds weight without veering too bitter.
Burundi: Bright Without Being Sharp
7 mg of CBD per cup
$33 per 12-oz Bag
The Burundi roast is a flavor trip in a cup. Fruity and nutty with low acidity, it hits notes of cinnamon, honey, blueberry, and caramel that linger pleasantly on the tongue. Smooth and rich, it’s the kind of coffee that made my mornings feel extra indulgent. This is the one I chose to share with my friends.
Mexico: Muted and Earth-Forward
7 mg of CBD per cup
$30 per 12-oz bag
The USDA Organic Mexico CBD Coffee lands heavier than the others. Notes of dark chocolate and hazelnut are present, but the cup leans more earthy and subdued overall. While the low acidity makes it gentle on the palate, the flavor profile feels flatter by comparison. I liked it, but it did lack the depth found in the Colombia and Burundi roasts. It may appeal to those who prefer darker, grounding coffees with minimal brightness, though within this trio it feels like the least expressive option.
Test Results and Lab Transparency
Buddha Beans’ CBD coffee is supported by third-party testing conducted by SC Labs, a California-based laboratory, with a Certificates of Analysis dated July 29, 2024. The tested sample was listed as a 12-ounce unit (342 grams) of infused coffee. The COA shows a total CBD content of 320.112 mg per unit, which means that a standard 2-ounce bag contains roughly 50 mg of CBD, consistent with the brand’s labeling.
The analysis also detected minor cannabinoids, including 38.646 mg of CBG per full unit, contributing to a broader cannabinoid profile without introducing psychoactive effects. Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, THCa, THCV, and CBC were not detected, confirming the product’s compliance with hemp-derived legal limits. Safety testing further showed no pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, residual solvents, or foreign materials. Overall, the COA supports Buddha Beans’ focus on dosage accuracy, transparency, and product safety.
Final Assessment
Buddha Beans succeeds where many CBD coffees fall short by prioritizing restraint and consistency. The brand’s proprietary infusion process preserves roast integrity and alloww the coffee to shine on its own rather than leaning on the novelty of CBD.
While not every roast in the trio hits the same note, the Colombia and Burundi selections stand out. Both prove that CBD can be integrated without diminishing the beans’ origin character.
Beyond flavor, Buddha Beans demonstrates a commitment to transparency and quality by sourcing fair trade, single-origin beans and lab-testing every batch of infused coffee.
For consumers who value process, care, and a mindful approach to functional coffee over gimmicks, Buddha Beans delivers a thoughtful, carefully curated lineup.
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