I tried all of the CBD coffee in Oxford - is it a gimmick?

Somebody who claims to never drink instant coffee, loves a flat white and knows the difference between all of the beans and their origin.

I’m not one of those people.

Don’t get me wrong. I do like a coffee but if I order one out, I’m guaranteed to get the sweetest thing on the menu – the caramel syrups, the pumpkin spiced latte, and if it comes down to it – extra chocolate sprinkles on my cappuccino. 

So, when I saw a few advertisements for CBD coffee in Oxford shops – I thought I’d give it a try. Why would somebody order this? Does it even taste nice? 

Recreational marijuana is not legal in the UK. What these shops are selling is CBD – the shortened word for cannabidiol – the non-psychoactive element in the cannabis plant.

From my Google searches, some people claim to feel calmer, less anxious and in some cases, have no pain, when they use CBD drops, powder and pastes. 

But what’s the point of adding something that is supposedly relaxing, into coffee – which literally exists to do the opposite?

I’m curious to see if there are any side effects.

My tour of Oxford’s coffee shops starts on George Street at the Black Sheep.

It’s a Sunday morning – I’m not hungover, I had a good night's sleep and I even walked into town. I’m feeling great.

I go into the shop – at this point, we weren’t allowed to sit inside. So, it’s takeaway only.

Inside, it’s fun. Graffiti and neon lights on the exposed brick wall, dark and moody lighting. It’s the perfect spot for an Instagram picture.

The staff were equally as nice. I told them I’d come to try the CBD – they talked me through my options.

They use drops here, which apparently taste like peppermint so works best in a hot chocolate – mint chocolate. 

But it’s still early morning so I go for an iced espresso – the barista’s other recommendation. He said ‘most people’ get this option.

I’ve had an iced latte, but never an iced espresso. This is like three shots of coffee, so I get a dash of milk added in to curb the bitterness. I pay £4.50. The CBD is 99p and the coffee is about £3.50.

What am I supposed to taste? I can’t taste any peppermint flavours – but maybe the coffee is too strong. To me, it looks, smells and tastes like normal cold coffee.

My housemate, who does usually order a flat white, has joined me for the first leg of my tour. He’s got himself some CBD in a cappuccino and reassures me he can’t taste anything other than coffee either.

The cup for the cappuccino is completely compostable

I’m guessing that is good? Now…we wait?

We walk around the city. Pit stopping at the Radcliffe Camera. I’m still not feeling any different.

So, we loop back round to High Street. I walked here last week and noticed a neon sticker on a sign saying ‘CBD coffee’ outside of a newsagent.

Let’s give this a go.

It’s Tim’s, by the way. When I walked in, I was greeted by the manager cleaning the fridge. I asked him about the CBD coffee and he explained everything.

Here, unlike at the Black Sheep, you buy a sachet of CBD powder for £4 at the till and then mix it into a takeaway coffee.

Some people apparently take the powder away as a souvenir.

But I buy it to pour into my coffee. When I rip the packet open I notice there isn't very much inside and when I pour its very fine - like dust and bright white. 

I buy a coffee from the machine – the owner spent weeks researching before he chose this one, which unlike an instant coffee machine, grinds beans from Africa, Asia and Columbia. You can choose any of the coffees on the list for £1.50. Bargain. I get a latte.

I take a sip – it’s really hot but my first impression is…that it tastes like coffee.

I can’t taste the powder at all.

Coffee number two from Tim's

We sit on a bench on High Street watching the traffic go by. I’ve now had two coffees – I usually have one to start the day. I don’t feel any different. I am still waiting.

At one point, The Organic Deli Café in Oxford claimed to the only shop selling CBD coffee. So, I head back there the next day when it opens.

In between making a green juice and serving customers, the barista makes me a cappuccino. 

Here they use a dark green CBD paste mixed with coconut oil. He describes how he uses the back of a teaspoon to get a slither inside my cup which he then mixes until it's melted. 

This shop smells like what I imagine an organic shop to smell like. All the best bits of being on a farm. I’ve never been in here, but they sell vegan mayo from a jar for £2.50 which I think is a bit of a bargain.

My coffee is ready.

This time, I take a sip and it doesn’t taste like coffee usually does. 

I can’t describe the exact taste but it reminds me of camping. It’s earthy. Almost wood-like and hemp-y.

I’m not sure if I like it yet so I take a few more sips. I also take the lid off to have a look.

There’s frogspawn looking green dots floating around the top with oily green residue on my lid. It does look…questionable.

And despite all of that, I still feel…nothing. I feel like I’ve had a coffee but I get on with my day as normal.

I’m yet to be convinced about CBD coffee.

Some people probably get the genuine goodness of CBD in their drinks but I’m not sure one, two or three coffees will reap the benefits.

I think it’s a gimmick.

I think shops have got the CBD to pull in customers looking to try something new and get an experience. It is something that sets these three places apart from the rest of the coffee shops.

However, saying that, I think there are worse things you could spend 99p on than a shot in your coffee.

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