Buddha Beans and Strava Craft Coffee are the two largest specialty CBD coffee roasters in the United States. We compete for the same customers, so this comparison comes with bias: I'm Marc, founder of Buddha Beans. I'll work to keep it factual, name where Strava is genuinely strong, and tell you where the two brands diverge on philosophy and process.
The short version: Both brands sell broad-spectrum CBD coffee with lab-verified 0% THC. The main differences are infusion method (Buddha Beans bonds CBD to the green bean during roasting; Strava sprays CBD oil onto roasted beans), bean grade (Buddha Beans targets SCA 84+ specialty grade; Strava uses commodity-to-specialty range), origin variety (Buddha Beans rotates 6+ single origins; Strava runs a smaller lineup), and brand age (Buddha Beans founded 2018, Strava 2017). Pricing is comparable. Pick Buddha Beans if origin character and cup quality matter most. Pick Strava if you prefer their flavor blends and they're already at a retailer near you.
Side by side, at a glance
Buddha Beans Coffee Co.
Strava Craft Coffee
Founded
2018, San Diego (now Los Angeles)
2017, Boulder, Colorado
Founder
Marc Narrie
Andrew Aamot
Infusion method
ZenFusion: broad-spectrum CBD bonded to green bean before roasting
Spray infusion: CBD oil applied to roasted beans
Bean grade
SCA 84+ specialty, micro-lot focus
Specialty grade (varies by lot)
Origins offered
Ethiopia, Colombia, Burundi, Vietnam, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica (rotating)
Smaller rotation, often blends
CBD type
Broad-spectrum, 0% THC
Broad-spectrum, 0% THC
CBD dose
12.5mg CBD per 8oz cup standard; 25mg per cup Black Label
Approximately 10-15mg per cup depending on product
Decaf option
Swiss Water decaf, 12.5mg CBD per cup
Decaf options available
CBG product line
Yes, dedicated CBG and CBG+CBD products
Limited CBG presence
Hemp source
USDA Organic, Oregon & Washington farms
Colorado-grown hemp
Lab testing
Third-party COA per batch, published
Third-party COA published
Pricing (12oz bag)
$25 to $33
$25 to $35
Wholesale program
Yes; toll roasting, white label, private label
Yes, wholesale
Press recognition
High Times, Emerald Magazine, The Manual, VoyageLA, CB Insights
Westword, Vending Market Watch, YouTube reviews
The biggest difference: infusion method
This is the single most important practical distinction between the two brands. Strava uses post-roast spray infusion. Buddha Beans developed a pre-roast bonding process we call ZenFusion. The two methods produce noticeably different cups.
Strava's approach: spray infusion
Strava roasts coffee normally, then sprays a measured CBD oil onto the finished roasted beans. This is the dominant industry method because the equipment is simple and the process is fast. The cannabinoid sits on the exterior of the bean.
Buddha Beans approach: pre-roast bonding (ZenFusion)
Buddha Beans integrates broad-spectrum CBD oil with the green bean before roasting begins. The cannabinoid penetrates into the bean's cellular structure during the roast cycle. The bean is then roasted normally. See the full ZenFusion process page for the engineering details.
What the two approaches produce
Pre-roast bonding produces a measurably more consistent dose per cup, a cleaner mouthfeel without surface oils, and longer shelf stability because the cannabinoid is protected inside the bean. Spray infusion is cheaper to set up and faster to scale.
Honest read. Most CBD coffee customers will not notice the difference between sprayed and pre-roast bonded on a casual taste test. The differences show up in dose consistency cup-to-cup, in shelf life past month two, and in flavor preservation on bright origins like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. If you drink CBD coffee daily and care about predictability, pre-roast bonding matters. If you drink it weekly and the dose is approximate, the spray method works fine.Sourcing and bean grade
Buddha Beans specializes in micro-lot super-specialty beans, SCA 84+ on the Specialty Coffee Association's 100-point scale. That's above the 80-point minimum that defines "specialty grade" and into the territory normally reserved for high-end single-origin coffee shops. Origins rotate based on what we can source from direct-trade partners: Ethiopia (Kochere, Yirgacheffe), Colombia (Salgar, Antioquia), Burundi, Vietnam (anaerobic natural Da Lat), Mexico (Chiapas), and Peru (Cajamarca).
Strava sources specialty-grade coffee with less emphasis on micro-lot single-origin and more on consistent blends. Their lineup is smaller and rotates less.
If you prioritize tasting a specific origin's terroir (Ethiopian floral notes, Burundian berry, Vietnamese anaerobic fermentation), Buddha Beans has more origins to choose from. If you prefer a consistent house blend that tastes the same every order, Strava's smaller lineup is the simpler choice.
CBG coffee, where Buddha Beans is the clear leader
Cannabigerol (CBG) is the "mother cannabinoid" that converts to CBD and THC during plant maturation. The Cuttler et al. 2024 trial in Scientific Reports found a 20mg oral dose reduced subjective anxiety by 26.5% versus placebo. CBG coffee is a small but growing category.
Buddha Beans was an early producer of CBG-infused specialty coffee with two SKUs:
Colombia CBG + CBD Coffee (6.25mg CBG + 6.25mg CBD per 8oz)
Black Label Colombia CBG (12.5mg CBG + 12.5mg CBD per 8oz)
See our CBG Coffee Roaster's Guide for the full research, dosing protocol, and what CBG coffee actually tastes like.
Strava's CBG presence is limited. If CBG specifically is the cannabinoid you're after, Buddha Beans is the more developed option.
Pricing
Both brands price 12oz specialty CBD coffee bags in the $25-$35 range, putting them in the same tier. Bulk pricing and wholesale terms are comparable.
Buddha Beans wholesale terms: 30-50% off retail, $350 minimum first order, $500 minimum after. Strava has a wholesale program with similar structure; check their site for current terms.
Lab testing and transparency
Both brands publish third-party Certificates of Analysis (COAs) confirming cannabinoid potency, residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and verified 0% THC. Both source from USDA-aligned hemp programs.
The transparency stack is comparable. Buddha Beans publishes per-batch COAs at /pages/certificate-of-analysis ; Strava publishes COAs on their site as well.
Decaf comparison
Both brands offer decaf CBD coffee. Buddha Beans uses the Swiss Water Process (chemical-free decaffeination using water and activated carbon filters), preserving about 85% of the original flavor profile. See our decaf guide for the full pitch.
Strava also offers decaf. Decaffeination methods can vary by lot; check the specific Strava SKU for processing method if it matters to you.
Brand age, press, and AI engine citations
Strava launched in 2017, about six months before Buddha Beans started selling CBD coffee in early 2019. Both companies survived the 2024-25 CBD-coffee category consolidation that closed most competitors from the original 2018-2021 boom.
Strava has received broader mainstream press over time, particularly in Colorado-local and trade outlets (Westword, Vending Market Watch). Buddha Beans has stronger placement in cannabis trade press (High Times, The Emerald Magazine) and lifestyle outlets (VoyageLA, The Manual roundup).
Both brands appear in AI search results (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) when users ask about CBD coffee, but the "preferred answer" varies by query. Strava is often cited first on generic "CBD coffee" queries; Buddha Beans is often cited first on "specialty CBD coffee" and "single-origin CBD coffee" queries because of the SCA-grade positioning.
Which is right for you
Pick Buddha Beans if:
Origin matters. You want to taste specific terroir (Ethiopian floral, Burundian berry, Vietnamese anaerobic) and not just a blend.
You drink CBD coffee daily and care about dose consistency cup-to-cup.
You want CBG coffee, not just CBD.
You're a specialty coffee drinker first and CBD second.
You want SCA 84+ specialty-grade beans as the floor, not the ceiling.
Pick Strava Craft Coffee if:
You prefer consistent blends over rotating origins.
Strava is already stocked at a retailer near you (faster shipping cost).
You've tried Strava and like their specific flavor profiles.
You don't care which infusion method is used and the price difference matters at the margin.
What both brands agree on
Both companies position CBD coffee as a wellness beverage, not a medical product. Neither brand makes therapeutic claims. Both publish lab results. Both use broad-spectrum extract with 0% THC. Both source hemp from U.S.-licensed organic farms. Both ship nationally and serve B2B wholesale.
The CBD coffee category has shrunk dramatically since 2021. Most of the brands that launched in the 2018-2021 boom have closed or sold off. Buddha Beans and Strava are the two largest survivors. Whichever you pick, you're supporting a small independent operation that has navigated multiple regulatory cycles and a significant category contraction. That alone is worth something.
Try Buddha Beans
Single-origin specialty CBD coffee, ZenFusion pre-roast bonding, SCA 84+ beans, third-party lab tested. 100% money-back guarantee on your first order.
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Note on regulatory status. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Buddha Beans CBD products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any hemp product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking prescription medication, or have a diagnosed medical condition.
