CBG coffee: what it is, and why we were the first to make it
I started Buddha Beans in my kitchen with a tiny roaster and a simple problem. Coffee gave me the jitters. CBD helped, so I put the two together. Years later we did something almost nobody else in coffee had done. We added CBG.
Most people have never heard of CBG. That is exactly why I want to explain it plainly, without the hype you usually get around hemp.
What CBG actually is
CBG is short for cannabigerol. It is a compound found in hemp, the same plant as CBD. Like CBD, it will not get you high. It is non-intoxicating.
People call CBG the "mother cannabinoid," and there is a real reason for the name. In the hemp plant, the acid form of CBG is the starting point that becomes CBD, THC, and the other cannabinoids as the plant grows. CBG comes first, then turns into everything else.
Because the plant converts most of it while it matures, mature hemp usually holds only about 1% CBG. That scarcity is part of why CBG products are rare, and why we treat it as something worth doing right rather than a gimmick.
CBG vs CBD: the short version
They are cousins, not twins.
CBD is the well-known one. It has been studied more, and most people in wellness have tried it.
CBG is the lesser-known one, with research still in early days. People who use it often describe a clear-headed, steady kind of calm. I want to be careful here: the science is young, and I am not going to pretend otherwise.
The honest summary is this. CBD has more research behind it. CBG is the newer frontier. The two seem to work well together, which is why we blend them.
Why we blend CBG with CBD
Our CBG coffees are not CBG on its own. They pair CBG with CBD in the same cup.
There is an idea in hemp research called the entourage effect: cannabinoids may do more together than in isolation. It is still a theory, not settled science. But it matches what our customers tell us, and it is how we chose to build these blends.
If you want to taste the pairing, start with our Colombia CBG+CBD coffee. If you want a stronger pour, the Black Label with 300mg CBG and 300mg CBD doubles up.
What the research actually says
I would rather undersell this than oversell it.
CBG research is early. Most of it so far has happened in labs and animal studies, not large human trials. Those early studies point to anti-inflammatory and other properties, but "early" is the key word, and more research is needed.
There is one bright spot worth knowing. In 2024, a human trial published in Scientific Reports found that a single 20mg dose of hemp-derived CBG lowered anxiety and stress compared with a placebo, with no intoxication. It is one study, and one study is not the final word. But it is a real step, and it matched what a lot of people already felt.
None of this is medical advice, and CBG is not a treatment for any condition. If you take medication, talk to your doctor first, because cannabinoids can affect how some drugs are processed.
Is CBG coffee legal?
Yes, when it is made from hemp and tested properly.
The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp and its compounds, including CBG, federally legal as long as the finished product holds no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight. Ours is made from compliant hemp, it is broad-spectrum, and every batch is third-party lab tested with a Certificate of Analysis you can read.
Two honest caveats. A few states add their own rules, so check yours. And hemp regulation is shifting: a federal update is scheduled for late 2026 that changes how THC is measured. Naturally occurring CBG like ours should stay covered, but we follow it closely so you do not have to.
How we make it, and why it is not sprayed on
This is where most CBD and CBG coffee falls down. Many brands spray the cannabinoid onto finished beans. It is cheap, it is uneven, and it tastes like it.
We do the opposite. Our ZenFusion process bonds the CBD and CBG to the bean during roasting. That means a steadier amount in every cup and no grassy hemp aftertaste. The coffee tastes like coffee. Good coffee, because we start with single-origin beans scored 80+ by the SCA. You can read more about how we roast.
What a cup feels like
I will describe it the way I would to a friend, not the way a label would.
It is calmer. The caffeine is still there, so you stay awake and focused, but the edge is softer. Less of that wired, anxious push. A lot of our customers say they reach for fewer cups through the day. Your experience may be your own, and that is fine. Coffee is personal.
Our CBG coffees
We keep it simple. Two blends, both built on Colombian beans:
- Colombia CBG+CBD Coffee, 12oz: our everyday CBG pour.
- Colombia CBG+CBD Black Label, 300mg CBG + 300mg CBD: the same coffee, a bigger dose.
Both are USDA Organic, broad-spectrum, and third-party lab tested.
CBG coffee FAQ
What is CBG?
CBG (cannabigerol) is a non-intoxicating compound from hemp. It is called the "mother cannabinoid" because the plant uses it to make CBD, THC, and the rest.
Will CBG coffee get me high?
No. CBG is non-intoxicating. Our coffee is broad-spectrum and tested to contain no more than 0.3% THC.
How is CBG different from CBD?
They are related hemp compounds. CBD has more research behind it. CBG is newer and less studied. We blend the two because many people find they complement each other.
Is CBG coffee legal?
Hemp-derived CBG is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill when the product stays under 0.3% Delta-9 THC. Some states add their own rules, so check locally.
Could CBG coffee affect a drug test?
Our coffee is broad-spectrum and verified to contain no more than 0.3% THC, but no hemp product can promise a clean test for everyone. If you get tested, be cautious.
How much CBG is in a cup?
It depends on the blend and how you brew. Our Black Label carries 300mg CBG plus 300mg CBD per 12oz bag, a meaningful amount per cup.
A note on wellness: this article shares our perspective and links to public research. It is not medical advice, and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to a healthcare provider before adding CBG to your routine, especially if you take other medications.
