We’re in the golden age of weed. Thanks to changing attitudes—there’s been a widespread turn towards the decriminalisation and legalisation of marijuana across Europe and the United States in recent years, as well as reports touting the safety of its non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (or as it is more commonly known as, CBD)—it seems like everyone is scrambling to add some leafy greens to everyday products, from chewing gum to lotion. But like the turmeric latte, bulletproof coffee and the matcha latte before it, it is CBD-infused coffee that has become the latest surprising health trend. So, we sat down with Nico Schack of Café Canna, Berlin’s first cannabis café, serving hemp and CBD food and drinks in Prenzlauer Berg, to find out more about this go-to morning beverage.
Left: Nico Schack of Café Canna by Nadia Morozewicz.
So, what’s the difference between regular coffee and CBD coffee?
If you are having a CBD brew, only a small amount of the active substance goes in there. The taste is a little more bitter, but mostly it just curbs the jitteriness you get from coffee. It won’t make you sleepy, because caffeine and CBD have synergetic effects instead of cancelling each other out.
Will it give me all of the stress reducing, pain relieving and sleep aiding effects of CBD oil?
Usually the starting dose for these types of things is about twice as much as you would put in a coffee. While you can put extra drops in it, the quickest way to get the effects is to just put a couple of drops under your tongue.
Can anyone have it?
Although the World Health Organisation has come out with a report that says it is not addictive and you can’t abuse it, restrictions and stigma in the past have made it so that there are few long-term studies on the effect. We don’t sell it to minors and don’t recommend it for pregnant women.
All photography by Nadia Morozewicz.