Kratom and Coffee: Is This a Good Combo?

Many people take kratom in the morning, and probably, even more, drink coffee. It is likely that many kratom users also like coffee and are curious about how kratom and caffeine interact. After all, kratom is often used to kickstart some energy, though it is also sometimes meant for relaxation. People primarily drink coffee to wake up, though its delicious flavor is also relaxing in nature.

Mixing kratom with coffee will definitely improve the experience in terms of taste alone since kratom by itself can be hard to stomach. Since kratom tea is often made by dissolving powdered leaves in hot water, mixing kratom with coffee is straightforward. Think of it as kratom tea with added coffee.

Kratom and coffee contain the alkaloids mitragynine and caffeine, respectively. There isn’t extensive research on the interaction of both, but they are each deemed safe, even in large amounts. As with anything new, your best approach will be to start slow to determine how mixing caffeine and kratom suits you. Like most people, you will likely enjoy the combination of flavors and effects from kratom and coffee.

 

Relatedness of Kratom and Coffee

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Beyond being part of many folks’ daily routines, kratom and coffee are intimately related in many ways. As mentioned, both impart effects on people by way of alkaloids. Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing chemicals found throughout nature, and you can recognize them by the suffix “-ine.” Caffeine is coffee’s alkaloid. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are alkaloids made by kratom.

Besides chemistry, kratom and coffee are genetically and botanically related. To start, both plants are exclusively native to tropical regions. Because kratom and coffee thrive in humid, hot climates with nutrient-rich volcanic soil, they are evergreen trees. The primary difference between them is that the kratom grows tall while coffee is more bush-like.

Coffee and kratom also share some genetic characteristics. Each belongs to the Rubiaceae family of plants. That means that they share a closer common ancestor than most plants. However, coffee and kratom belong to different genera of plants. Coffee plants include Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica. The Coffea genus contains some plants that produce no caffeine and others that are self-pollinating.

More science about coffee keeps getting discovered, including new species. Interestingly, coffee uses different genes to create caffeine than other caffeine-bearing plants like tea and cacao.

Meanwhile, kratom specifically refers to Mitragyna speciosa. There are plants in the Mitragyna genus like kratom, including Mitragyna hirsuta, but none are called kratom. As one step more general than the genus is family, you can see how closely related coffee and kratom are.

Kratom and caffeine also have long histories of use in their native ranges. Ancestrally, people chewed kratom and coffee leaves. Today, people prepare kratom and coffee in all sorts of manners. Energy drinks are made with the caffeine taken from coffee and tea during decaffeination.  There are also beverages made out of kratom’s alkaloids. Overall, kratom and coffee have distinct but similar histories.

 

How Kratom and Coffee Interact

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Kratom and coffee both interact with the body by way of alkaloids. Alkaloids like caffeine and mitragynine are named for the plants they come from, coffee and Mitragyna speciosa. You can also find caffeine in other plants throughout the plant kingdom, leading biologists to believe it is an adaptive trait. There are also alkaloids similar in structure to mitragynine, like those found in the akuamma plant.

Because kratom and caffeine can create invigorating effects in users, you can mix them to accentuate each other. That said, red vein kratom can be more relaxing than coffee. Sometimes users like the balance between the two, just as others enjoy coffee with other relaxing activities. For example, people that like the energy that comes with caffeine but not the jitters might enjoy it with a more somnolent red vein kratom. People that want to bring out the natural energizing abilities of coffee might take it with white vein kratom.

Kratom and coffee also go well together because the unique taste of coffee masks the bitterness of kratom. You can also add chocolate or milk to the concoction for the best flavors. When taking coffee with kratom, you should start with small amounts of both, especially if you find you have a strong reaction to caffeine.

 

Potentially Negative Side Effects of Mixing Kratom and Caffeine

Kratom and caffeine both affect the body and can cause potentially negative side effects in certain users at certain doses. For example, even the daily coffee drinker will find discomfort if they overdo it one morning. By combining coffee and kratom, you might crash and have less energy. Also, consuming too much of anything could lead to a stomach ache.

For these two reasons, you should start slow when mixing coffee and kratom. By taking it easy, you can avoid overdoing it. Most users say that they get the most out of kratom by starting with a small amount and working up to something much larger.

 

Kratom and Coffee Recipes

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To make great coffee and kratom, you might want to explore different types of coffee. Darker roasts tend to have more chocolate and toast notes. Lighter coffee can taste fruitier or winelike. People often prefer dark roasts when mixing with kratom because the coffee masks the flavor of kratom more.

For a similar reason, you might want to try a strong-flavored black tea like earl grey or lapsang souchong. Black tea can be another tasty way to mix caffeine with kratom. If you desire something sweet, you can add sugar to your mix or mix kratom with an energy drink.

Coffee and kratom can be brewed separately than mixed. You can also dissolve kratom powder into coffee or combine it with the grounds before brewing. Coffee and kratom both like water that is just below boiling, around 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether you use a French press, coffee pot, or pour-over device, this temperature is ideal.

You can also brew kratom tea ahead of time to mix with cold brew. Cold brewing kratom is also possible, though it takes time. Experiment with different preparation methods until you find the best way to mix coffee with kratom for you.

 

Best Kratom to Mix with Coffee

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As mentioned, different kratom types will work differently with coffee. White vein kratom is more uplifting and can pair well with caffeine’s restorative properties. If you like morning coffee to get your day started, try adding a bit of white vein kratom. If you take coffee to relax, you might want to use red vein kratom to attenuate some of the jittery feelings.

You can also use decaf coffee to mask kratom’s flavor if you are not interested in the effects of caffeine. There are as many ways to have kratom as there are methods to prepare coffee, and there are many more ways to mix the two.

 

Proper Amount of Kratom and Coffee

When you start mixing kratom and caffeine, you want to use small amounts of coffee and kratom. Both of these beverages can create strong effects in their own right, so it is best to start with small amounts. You do not want to risk serious side effects of either caffeine or kratom. Though both seem like mild options, anything can be done in too much excess.

 

Kratom and Coffee Conclusion

Kratom and coffee are popular botanical products today. Each has a long history of use by people and belongs to similar biological families. If you want to make the most out of your kratom experience, masking the flavor and attenuating the effects with coffee is a great way to do so. Be sure to take things slow when mixing kratom and coffee.

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