CBD Coffee Glossary, 38 Terms You Need to Know

A working glossary of cannabinoid, coffee, and hemp-industry vocabulary used in specialty CBD coffee. Organized by topic. Linkable by anchor.

Cannabinoids

CBD

Cannabidiol. A non-intoxicating cannabinoid in hemp. Acts on the body's endocannabinoid system. Researched for anxiety, sleep, and inflammation. Buddha Beans uses broad-spectrum CBD with all THC removed.

CBG

Cannabigerol, the 'mother cannabinoid'. The plant produces CBGA first, which converts to THC, CBD, and CBC during maturation. Adult plants retain only trace amounts. Early research suggests CBG produces calm, focused alertness distinct from CBD's relaxing effect.

CBC

Cannabichromene. A minor cannabinoid present in trace amounts in hemp. Studied for potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Retained in broad-spectrum extracts.

CBN

Cannabinol. Forms as THC degrades over time. Studied for sleep support. Not used in Buddha Beans CBD coffee (we infuse with broad-spectrum CBD, not CBN-specific extracts).

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol. The cannabinoid that produces a high. Federal law caps hemp products at 0.3% THC. Buddha Beans uses broad-spectrum extract with non-detectable THC, verified per-batch by third-party lab.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

Hemp extract containing multiple cannabinoids and terpenes with THC removed entirely. Preserves the entourage effect minus THC. Buddha Beans' standard extract type.

Full-Spectrum CBD

Hemp extract containing all cannabinoids found in the source plant, including trace THC up to 0.3%. Strongest entourage effect but carries minor drug-test risk.

CBD Isolate

Pure cannabidiol with all other compounds removed. White crystalline powder. No entourage effect because supporting cannabinoids and terpenes are absent. Buddha Beans does not use isolate.

Entourage Effect

The proposed synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes that may make whole-plant extracts more effective than isolated compounds. Why broad-spectrum and full-spectrum often outperform isolate in user reports.

Terpenes

Aromatic compounds in cannabis and many plants that contribute scent, flavor, and physiological effects. Examples include myrcene, limonene, and linalool. Preserved in broad-spectrum extracts.

Endocannabinoid System

A network of receptors (CB1, CB2) throughout the body that regulates mood, sleep, appetite, immune response, and pain. Cannabinoids interact with this system. Discovered in the 1990s.

Coffee processing

Washed Process

Coffee processing method that removes the cherry pulp before drying the bean. Produces cleaner, brighter cups with pronounced acidity. Standard for high-elevation Latin American coffees.

Natural Process

Coffee processing where the cherry dries on the bean before depulping. Produces fruit-forward, heavier-body cups with berry and chocolate notes. Common in Ethiopia and Burundi.

Honey Process

A hybrid method between washed and natural. The bean dries with some of the sticky mucilage still attached. Produces medium-body cups with caramel and stone fruit notes.

Anaerobic Fermentation

Coffee processing method using oxygen-free fermentation tanks. Produces unusual, intense flavor profiles including wine, tropical fruit, and spice notes. Buddha Beans' Vietnam Black Lotus uses this method.

Swiss Water Process

Chemical-free decaffeination using only water and activated carbon filters. Preserves about 85% of original flavor. The cleanest decaf method. Used for Buddha Beans Decaf Colombia.

Coffee quality

Specialty Coffee

Coffee that scores 80 or higher on the Specialty Coffee Association's 100-point scale. Represents the top ~10% of global production. Buddha Beans sources at SCA 84+.

SCA Score

A 100-point quality grade from the Specialty Coffee Association. Above 80 is specialty grade. Above 85 is exceptional. Above 90 is rare.

Micro Lot

A small batch of coffee from a single farm, often a single plot, producing distinctive cup characteristics. Higher quality and traceability than commodity blends.

Single Origin

Coffee sourced from one country, region, or farm. Allows the unique terroir of that location to show in the cup. Contrast with blends that mix multiple origins.

Direct Trade

A sourcing model where roasters buy beans directly from farmers, bypassing brokers. Typically pays farmers above commodity prices and supports relationship-based trade.

Cupping Score

A standardized tasting evaluation following SCA protocols. Trained graders score aroma, flavor, acidity, body, balance, and aftertaste on a 100-point scale.

Brewing

Body

The tactile weight of a coffee on the palate. Ranges from tea-like to syrupy. Affected by origin, processing, and brew method.

Acidity

Brightness or sharpness in the cup. Not the same as pH. High-elevation washed coffees often have crisp, citrus-like acidity. Lower-elevation naturals have softer acidity.

Mouthfeel

The texture of a coffee in the mouth: clean, silky, oily, gritty. Influenced by brew method (paper filter vs metal mesh) and roast.

Finish

The taste that lingers after swallowing. Clean, sweet, dry, bitter. A long, complex finish is a marker of quality coffee.

Pour Over

A manual brew method using a paper filter and slow water pour. Produces clean, bright cups. Examples: V60, Chemex, Kalita.

French Press

An immersion brew method using a metal mesh filter. Produces heavy-body, full-flavor cups. Higher cannabinoid extraction than paper-filter methods.

Industry

2018 Farm Bill

U.S. federal law (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018) that legalized hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids containing less than 0.3% THC. The legal foundation for commercial CBD products.

USDA Organic

U.S. Department of Agriculture certification verifying that hemp was grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Buddha Beans' hemp partners are USDA Organic certified.

Certificate of Analysis

A document from an independent third-party lab confirming cannabinoid potency, THC content, residual solvents, heavy metals, pesticides, and microbials in a specific batch. Buddha Beans publishes COAs per batch.

COA

Short for Certificate of Analysis. Independent lab verification published per batch.

Third-Party Lab

A laboratory independent of the producer that tests CBD products for accuracy and safety. The gold standard for verification. Every Buddha Beans batch is tested by an independent lab.

CO2 Extraction

A method of extracting cannabinoids from hemp using pressurized carbon dioxide instead of chemical solvents. Common in food and pharmaceutical processing. Produces clean, solvent-free extracts.

Winterization

A post-extraction process that removes plant waxes and lipids from CBD oil using cold ethanol. Produces a refined, smooth oil suitable for infusion.

Buddha Beans

ZenFusion

Buddha Beans' proprietary process for binding broad-spectrum CBD oil to the green coffee bean before roasting, rather than spraying it on after. Produces more consistent dosing and a cleaner cup.

Black Label

Buddha Beans' high-potency product line. 12.5mg of CBG plus 12.5mg of CBD per 8oz cup (25mg total cannabinoids). The standard line carries 6.25mg of each.

Calm Energy

Buddha Beans' descriptor for the subjective experience of CBD-infused coffee: the focus and alertness of caffeine without the wired physical edge.