Adaptogens vs CBD: What Belongs in Your Morning Cup?

The functional beverage revolution has transformed how we think about our morning ritual. No longer satisfied with just a caffeine jolt, coffee enthusiasts are seeking brews that deliver energy and wellness benefits. Two contenders have emerged at the forefront of this movement: CBD coffee and adaptogenic beverages. But which one deserves a permanent spot in your morning routine?

If you're standing at the trailhead of functional coffee, wondering which path to take, this guide will help you navigate the terrain of hemp coffee, adaptogen drinks, and everything in between.

Understanding the Players: CBD vs Adaptogens

What is CBD Coffee?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound extracted from hemp plants. Unlike its cousin THC, CBD is completely non-psychoactive—it won't get you high, but it does interact with your body's endocannabinoid system (ECS) to promote balance and homeostasis.

Hemp coffee or CBD coffee infuses premium coffee beans with broad-spectrum or full-spectrum hemp extract during the roasting process. This creates what many describe as an "entourage effect" where CBD's calming properties balance caffeine's stimulating effects, delivering focused energy without the jitters or afternoon crash.

Key Benefits of CBD Coffee:

• Reduces caffeine-induced jitters
• Supports natural inflammation response (ideal for post-workout recovery)
• Promotes sustained, balanced energy throughout the day
• May improve focus and mental clarity
• Supports stress resilience and mood balance

Learn more about the comprehensive benefits of CBD coffee and discover why so many people are making the switch.

What Are Adaptogenic Beverages?

Adaptogens are herbs, roots, and mushrooms traditionally used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. These natural substances help your body adapt to stress by modulating cortisol levels and supporting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—your body's central stress response system.

Popular adaptogens in functional coffee include ashwagandha, rhodiola, lion's mane mushroom, cordyceps, reishi, and chaga. Rather than providing quick fixes, adaptogens work gradually to build stress resilience over time. (Curious how CBD coffee compares to mushroom varieties? Check out our detailed CBD vs. mushroom coffee comparison.)

Key Benefits of Adaptogen Coffee:

• Helps body manage stress response
• May reduce cortisol levels
• Supports cognitive function and memory
• Provides immune system support
• Promotes overall homeostasis

The Science: How They Work Differently

While both CBD and adaptogens aim to reduce stress and promote balance, they operate through distinct biological pathways.

CBD's Mechanism: CBD works by interacting with your endocannabinoid system—a complex network of receptors throughout your nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. The ECS helps regulate everything from mood and sleep to pain perception and inflammation. When you drink CBD coffee, the cannabidiol supports your body's natural ability to maintain equilibrium, particularly under the stress of caffeine consumption.

Research suggests CBD may help regulate serotonin receptors and support neurotransmitter function, which explains its reputation for promoting calm focus. Want to dive deeper into the research? Discover how CBD coffee actually works and what the science says.

Adaptogens' Mechanism: Adaptogens work primarily by regulating your stress hormones, particularly cortisol. They don't eliminate stress responses but help normalize them—bringing cortisol down when it's too high and supporting healthy levels when you need energy. The effects are typically more subtle and cumulative, building over consistent daily use.

Different adaptogens target different systems. For example, lion's mane supports nerve growth and cognitive function, while cordyceps enhances physical stamina and oxygen utilization.

The Real-World Experience: What to Expect

CBD Coffee in Action

When you reach for your morning cup of hemp-infused functional coffee, the experience is immediate and noticeable. The caffeine kicks in as expected—alertness, focus, mental clarity—but without the anxious edge that often accompanies strong coffee. Many CBD coffee drinkers report feeling "calm but awake" or describe it as having "clean energy."

The balanced feeling continues throughout your day. You avoid the mid-morning crash because CBD helps regulate your body's stress response to caffeine. You're alert for your morning meetings, focused during your afternoon work session, and still able to wind down naturally when evening arrives.

For active individuals and outdoor enthusiasts, CBD coffee offers the additional benefit of inflammation support. Whether you're trail running, hitting the slopes, or crushing a gym session, the combination of caffeine for performance and CBD for recovery creates a powerful one-two punch. Still skeptical? Read what the research says about whether CBD coffee actually works.

Adaptogenic Beverages in Action

The adaptogen experience is more subtle and gradual. You might not feel dramatic effects from your first cup of mushroom coffee or ashwagandha blend. Instead, the benefits accumulate over days and weeks of consistent consumption.

Many people report that after several days of drinking adaptogenic coffee, they notice they're handling stress better overall. The midday panic about deadlines doesn't hit as hard. Energy levels feel more consistent throughout the day. Some users notice improved mental clarity or better workout recovery over time.

The challenge with adaptogens is patience—and identifying which specific adaptogens work best for your unique body chemistry. Ashwagandha might work wonders for one person's stress levels while rhodiola is another person's go-to for mental performance.

Can You Combine CBD and Adaptogens?

Here's where things get interesting: CBD and adaptogens aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, many functional beverage enthusiasts combine them for synergistic effects.

Both work to support stress balance but through different biological pathways. CBD provides more immediate regulation through the endocannabinoid system, while adaptogens build long-term stress resilience through hormonal modulation. Together, they can create comprehensive stress support that addresses both acute responses and chronic patterns.

Some premium functional beverages are now formulated with both CBD and adaptogenic mushrooms or herbs, offering a "best of both worlds" approach to wellness coffee.

Which One Belongs in YOUR Morning Cup?

The answer depends on your specific wellness goals, lifestyle, and what you're seeking from your functional beverage.

Choose CBD Coffee If:

• You experience jitters, anxiety, or crashes from regular coffee
• You're an active individual seeking post-workout inflammation support
• You want immediate, noticeable effects from day one
• You prefer a single-ingredient approach with well-studied benefits
• You value consistent dosing and bioavailability
• You're looking for sustained energy without the rollercoaster

Compare this to how CBD coffee stacks up against regular coffee to see the full difference.

Choose Adaptogenic Beverages If:

• You're managing chronic stress and want to build long-term resilience
• You prefer caffeine-free or low-caffeine options
• You're interested in targeting specific wellness goals with different adaptogens
• You don't mind a longer timeline to see results
• You enjoy experimenting with various herbs and mushrooms
• You want immune system support alongside stress management

Consider Both If:

• You're serious about comprehensive wellness optimization
• You experience both acute stress (jitters, anxiety) and chronic stress
• You're willing to invest in a more complete functional beverage routine
• You want maximum stress support through multiple biological pathways

The Strava Difference: Why Our CBD Coffee Stands Out

At Strava Craft Coffee, we chose CBD as our functional ingredient for a reason: it delivers what mountain athletes, outdoor adventurers, and everyday wellness seekers need most—balanced, focused energy that feels as good as it works.

Our Approach:

• 100% Arabica beans from sustainable, non-GMO farms—because exceptional functional coffee starts with exceptional coffee
• Organic broad-spectrum hemp extract infused during roasting for consistent dosing and maximum bioavailability
• InBalance™ infusion process ensures every cup delivers precise CBD content
• Three strength levels (10mg, 20mg, or 30mg per serving) to customize your experience
• Full-bodied flavor that tastes like premium coffee—because wellness shouldn't require sacrifice

Unlike powder additives or instant mixes that change your coffee's taste and texture, our CBD is infused directly into the beans during roasting. You get smooth, rich coffee that happens to support your wellness goals—not a "functional beverage" that tastes like a supplement. Learn more about what makes functional coffee different from regular coffee.

The Functional Beverage Market: Where We're Heading

The functional coffee market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to expand from $4.48 billion in 2025 to $7.71 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, the adaptogenic beverages market is growing at 7.1% annually, reaching an estimated $2.8 billion by 2034.

This isn't a passing trend—it's a fundamental shift in how we think about our daily rituals. Modern consumers are "pill-fatigued" and seeking natural, convenient ways to incorporate wellness into existing routines. Coffee, as the world's most consumed functional beverage (yes, coffee itself is functional), serves as the perfect delivery vehicle.

Ready-to-drink formats dominate with nearly 70% market share, but whole bean and ground CBD coffee appeals to enthusiasts who value the ritual of brewing and the assurance of fresh, premium ingredients.

Making Your Choice

Both CBD coffee and adaptogenic beverages have earned their place in the functional beverage landscape. They're both natural, generally well-tolerated, and supported by centuries of traditional use and emerging modern research.

The question isn't which is objectively "better"—it's which aligns with your body's needs, your wellness goals, and your morning routine preferences.

For those seeking immediate, balanced energy with stress support and inflammation benefits, hemp coffee offers a compelling solution. For those prioritizing long-term stress resilience building and cumulative wellness benefits, adaptogenic beverages provide a time-tested approach. And for the wellness maximalists, combining both creates a comprehensive functional beverage strategy.

The most important factor? Consistency. Whether you choose CBD, adaptogens, or both, the key to experiencing benefits is making functional beverages a regular part of your routine.

Ready to experience the balanced energy of CBD coffee? Start your journey with Strava Craft Coffee and discover what happens when premium beans meet precision hemp infusion. Your morning cup will never be the same.