Some CBD Coffee Products May Contain Far Less CBD Than Advertised – CoffeeTalk

UConn student researcher Colby LeGault ‘27 (CAHNR) conducted a study on two commercially available brands of CBD coffee to determine the amount of CBD in a brewed cup. The results showed that the brewed coffee contained 70-80% less CBD than the labels claimed. This is due to the fact that CBD is not a bioavailable form upon brewing, as it is made by adding CBD oil to coffee grounds. CBD oil is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water, and brewing cannot extract CBD to make it available for the body to process. Additionally, the CBD oil may not be evenly distributed throughout the bag, which accounts for some of the sample-to-sample variation LeGault observed.

LeGault believes these issues are likely present in other kinds of CBD products as well. He points to potential issues of consumer protection, both related to human health and inaccurate marketing taking people’s hard-earned dollars. If a company isn’t directly sending their products to food scientists and third-party testing labs, it is extremely likely that consumers will have inconsistencies in products. LeGault emphasizes the importance of quality control for these products, especially as people are putting them in their bodies.

LeGault intends to continue cannabis research in Berkowitz’s lab by identifying cannabinoids with antimicrobial properties. The cannabis industry is new, and due to the prohibition, there is so much research to be catching up on. He values having the opportunity to do this kind of hands-on research as an undergraduate and believes that the work at UConn is extremely valuable, giving students an opportunity to get early hands-on experience testing cannabis-derived products.

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

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