Homemade Olive Oil Coffee Recipe: Is It Healthy?

Starbucks made waves when it introduced its Oleato™ drinks, coffee drinks made with olive oil, which were designed to deliver a healthier coffee experience. The idea of an espresso topped with golden foam laced with extra virgin olive oil hits all the right notes: the stimulation of a Starbucks brew, the warm flavor of frothed milk and the health benefits of olive oil.

But if you’d rather not pay Starbucks prices, contend with Starbucks added sugar, or languish in a Starbucks line, we’ve got an Oleato copycat recipe that can help you enjoy this oil-infused coffee from the comfort of home.

Is it healthy to add olive oil to coffee?

Yes. Olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is a staple of the Mediterranean diet and is touted for its healthy fats. Extra virgin olive oil is especially beneficial for heart health. The polyphenol compounds in olive oil promote cardiovascular and endothelial health and help maintain already-healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The polyphenols, as well as the antioxidant activity that comes from them, also help fight free radicals and protect cellular health.

The FDA has determined that taking 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil daily improved markers of cardiovascular health. That makes the idea of adding heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil to your daily cup of coffee even more appealing!

Of course, as is always the case when it comes to coffee drinks, all the ingredients can play a positive or negative role in the beverage's healthfulness. So while the EVOO adds health benefits to your daily java, any added sugar (which you'll find in several of the Oleato varieties) may not be such a great thing if you enjoy olive oil coffee on the daily. So, be mindful of the add-ins!

What olive oil should I use?

The source of your olive oil is important, and tests have found many brands of olive oil are diluted with other oils that may not be as beneficial. Starbucks uses Partanna extra virgin olive oil for its drinks: Oleato Golden Foam™ Cold Brew, Oleato™ Caffé Latte with Oatmilk, and Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso with Oatmilk and Toffeenut.

Our recipe uses Life Extension's California Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, an unfiltered, cold-pressed olive oil that comes from olives handpicked at the peak of ripeness and milled within hours of harvest. This gives the olive oil a concentration of over 600 mg/kg of naturally occurring olive polyphenols—that's three times the antioxidant polyphenols of many commercial oils.

We also use Life Extension's Rainforest Blend Ground Coffee, which is made with a special HealthyRoast® process that preserves the beans' potent antioxidants. This coffee is also made with 100% USDA-certified organic Arabica coffee beans for a rich, delicious flavor.

Olive Oil Cold Brew Coffee Recipe: Starbucks Copycat

While a true cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grains in water for 12-24 hours, this recipe uses a much faster technique, pouring fresh-brewed black coffee over ice to achieve the cooled effect.

Ingredients (makes 2):

16 oz Life Extension Organic Coffee
1 tbsp Life Extension extra virgin olive oil
½ cup milk
Dash of vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation:

1. Brew coffee according to directions (or steep in a French press) and let cool.
2. Divide coffee between two glasses and fill with ice.
3. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small cup and froth using a handheld frother. Pour half over each glass, stir and enjoy.

Nutritional Values

Calories: 135
Fat: 11 g
Protein: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 6 g

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes.

Tips for Success

• You can use any type of milk in this recipe, but dairy milk, coconut milk, or oat milk tend to froth the best. Starbucks uses non-dairy oat milk in its Starbucks Oleato™ Iced Shaken Espresso and in its latte. (The golden foam in its Oleato Golden Foam™ Cold Brew is made with sweet cream.)
• To make a hot latte version of this drink using espresso, similar to the Starbucks Oleato™ Caffé Latte with Oatmilk, swap the coffee for a shot of espresso and use the remaining ingredients as described above to make a single beverage.
• If you have an at-home cold brew maker, you can use that instead of making hot coffee and waiting for it to cool.
• If you don't have a frother, you can hand-whisk the milk and olive oil together. It won't be as foamy, but it will still be delicious! Note: Mixing the extra virgin olive oil with milk or oat milk before adding it to your coffee will help to lighten the olive oil flavor and enrich the texture of your cold foam.
• You can adjust how much olive oil you use in this recipe to achieve the coffee taste you prefer.
• You can also add spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon to top off the oil-infused foam in this recipe.

Can olive oil coffee upset your stomach?

If coffee is generally too acidic for you, adding olive oil may not be the best way for you to enjoy its health benefits. But using a cold brew process or switching to Life Extension's Rainforest Blend Ground Coffee may help. The HealthyRoast® process of Rainforest Blend coffee retains the natural compounds found in the coffee beans that protect the stomach from distress.

Those who will benefit the most from changing to olive oil are regular coffee consumers who replace the spoonful of sugar in their regular brew with a tablespoon or two of high-polyphenol, antioxidant-rich olive oil.

Other ways to add olive oil to your diet

Olive oil is a star in the kitchen and can add healthy fats and yummy flavor to a range of dishes, from pastas and salads to baked goods. Extra virgin olive oil adds smooth texture and flavor to condiments such as salad dressings and pesto sauce.

But olive oil isn't just good for a buttery flavor. It can also be used as a healthy fat alternative for high-heat cooking—such as replacing the butter in pan-fried dishes like sauteed mushrooms. It makes an amazing replacement for butter on crusts of bread as well.

References

• Lanza B, Ninfali P. "Antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil and table olives: Connections between agriculture and processing for health choices." Antioxidants (Basel). January 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023406
• LeWine, Howard E. "Is extra-virgin olive oil extra healthy?" Harvard Health Publishing. November 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/is-extra-virgin-olive-oil-extra-healthy
• "FDA completes review of qualified health claim petition for oleic acid and the risk of coronary heart disease." U.S. Food and Drug Administration. November 2018. https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-completes-review-qualified-health-claim-petition-oleic-acid-and-risk-coronary-heart-disease
• "9 reasons why (the right amount of) coffee is good for you." Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you