CBG Coffee vs Regular Coffee: What's the Difference?
CBG coffee starts with the same specialty-grade beans used in conventional premium coffee. Buddha Beans sources single-origin lots scored 84 or above on the Specialty Coffee Association scale, then infuses them with hemp-derived CBG during a proprietary process that preserves both the coffee flavor profile and the cannabinoid potency through roasting.
Written by Marc Narrie, founder of Buddha Beans Coffee Co. and specialty coffee roaster since 2019. Buddha Beans has been infusing coffee with CBG since launch, making it one of the first CBG coffee brands in the US.
The average American drinks 3.1 cups of coffee per day, according to the National Coffee Association 2024 survey. CBG coffee replaces zero of those cups: it brews, tastes, and caffeinated identically to regular specialty coffee, with the addition of 10 to 25mg of cannabigerol per serving depending on the product strength.
CBG coffee is specialty coffee infused with cannabigerol (CBG), a non-intoxicating hemp compound, and in our case an equal amount of CBD. It brews and tastes like regular coffee and carries the same caffeine, but it adds CBG and CBD that many people drink for calmer, steadier energy. It will not get you high.
That's the short version. Here's how CBG coffee actually compares to a regular cup, from caffeine to taste to how it feels.
What is CBG coffee?
CBG coffee is whole-bean or ground coffee with cannabigerol added to it. We infuse the CBG and CBD into the beans during production rather than spraying it on afterward, so it's built into the coffee you brew. CBG is short for cannabigerol, the compound a hemp plant uses to build its other cannabinoids, which is why it's nicknamed the mother of all cannabinoids. Like CBD, it's non-intoxicating. Our Colombia CBG coffee and stronger Black Label both pair CBG with CBD in a 1:1 ratio.
Does CBG coffee still have caffeine?
Yes. CBG coffee is real coffee, so it has the same caffeine as the same beans without infusion. You're not trading caffeine for CBG. You're adding CBG and CBD on top of your normal cup. That's the whole idea: the caffeine of coffee, plus CBG and CBD in the same brew.
How is it different from regular coffee?
The bean, the roast, and the brewing are the same. The difference is what's infused into it. Regular coffee gives you caffeine and nothing else. CBG coffee gives you caffeine plus CBG and CBD. People who find that straight coffee leaves them wired or jittery often reach for CBG coffee for a smoother, more even lift. We can't make medical claims about that, and we won't, but it's the most common reason our customers switch.
Does CBG coffee taste different?
Not in a way most people notice. At the doses we use, CBG and CBD are close to flavor-neutral, so a good single-origin still tastes like a good single-origin. Our CBG coffees start from the same Colombian beans we'd be proud to sell with no infusion at all.
CBG coffee vs regular coffee, side by side
| CBG coffee | Regular coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | Yes, same as the beans | Yes |
| CBG and CBD | Yes, infused in the bean | No |
| Gets you high | No, non-intoxicating | No |
| Taste | Same single-origin coffee | Same |
| Why people choose it | Calmer, steadier energy | Caffeine alone |
Is CBG coffee right for you?
If you love coffee but want something gentler than a straight espresso jolt, it's worth a try. Start with our Colombia CBG coffee (150mg CBG + 150mg CBD) if you're new to CBG, or go with Black Label (300mg + 300mg) if you want a stronger daily dose. You can see both in the CBG coffee collection. Already have a coffee you love? Add CBG to it with our water-soluble CBG tincture instead.
Common questions
Will CBG coffee get me high? No. CBG is non-intoxicating and our coffees contain no detectable THC.
Does CBG coffee have less caffeine? No. It has the same caffeine as the beans it's made from.
What's the difference between CBG and CBD coffee? CBD coffee uses cannabidiol; CBG coffee uses cannabigerol, the rarer precursor compound. Ours uses both. See our CBD vs CBG guide.
Is CBG coffee legal? Our CBG coffee is made with hemp and has no detectable THC. We keep our lab results public on our certificate of analysis page.
What this means for you
CBG coffee isn't a replacement for coffee. It is coffee, with two hemp compounds added that you can't get from a regular bag. Same caffeine, same flavor, plus CBG and CBD. The easiest way to find out if you like it is to start with a 150mg bag and brew it the way you always do.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBG coffee taste different from regular coffee?
No. High-quality CBG coffee uses specialty-grade beans with CBG infused during production. The CBG itself is flavorless and odorless at the concentrations used, so the cup tastes like the single-origin coffee it is. Buddha Beans Colombia CBG tastes like a clean Colombian coffee, not like a supplement mixed into a mug.
Does CBG coffee have more or less caffeine than regular coffee?
CBG coffee contains the same amount of caffeine as regular coffee made from the same beans and brew method. The CBG infusion does not add or remove caffeine. If you brew a 12-ounce cup from CBG-infused beans, expect the same 95 to 120 milligrams of caffeine you would get from any medium-roast specialty coffee.
What does CBG add to the coffee experience?
CBG adds a layer of calm focus that regular coffee does not provide. Users describe feeling alert from the caffeine but without the jittery edge or afternoon crash. CBG interacts with the endocannabinoid system to support balance, so the combination delivers energy with a smoother, more sustained feel compared to caffeine alone.
Do you brew CBG coffee the same way as regular coffee?
Yes. Brew CBG coffee with any method you already use: drip, pour-over, French press, espresso, AeroPress, or cold brew. No special equipment or technique is needed. Use the same water temperature, grind size, and ratio you prefer for regular coffee. The CBG is infused into the beans before grinding, so it extracts naturally during brewing.
Is CBG coffee more expensive than regular specialty coffee?
CBG coffee costs more per bag than standard specialty coffee because sourcing, testing, and infusing the CBG adds production steps. The price difference is comparable to what you would spend buying a bag of specialty coffee plus a separate CBG supplement. With CBG coffee, you get both in one product, which many users find more cost-effective and convenient than buying them separately.
