Kratom and Caffeine: Should You Mix the Two

Coffee is extremely popular; it’s actually one of the world’s most popular drinks. For many, it has become a staple of their everyday life. As a matter of fact, in the USA, people drink more coffee than any other type of drink. Even bottled water and soda.

Chances are that you are one of the numerous American coffee lovers. And you also love kratom. So, what can you do about it? Can you combine your two favorite drinks and mix kratom and caffeine?

Let’s take a closer look at both first.

The Similarities between Kratom and Coffee

Origins                                                

Both kratom and coffee come from the Rubiaceae (coffee) family, basically, making them cousins. That is largely the reason why kratom and caffeine can have similar effects.

Bitter Taste

Both are frequently described as bitter. Therefore, people usually prefer mixing them with something else, such as milk and sweetener with coffee or lemon and sweetener with kratom.

Effects on the Body

Coffee has positive effects on the body. And there are multiple studies to back that up. Moderate intake of coffee has the potential to lower the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and heart disease, as well as Type 2 Diabetes and liver cirrhosis.

Coffee drinkers are less likely to suffer from depression or commit suicide, as well as have an easier time to recover from workouts. They also have stronger DNA, live longer, and are even easier to work with.

These are excellent reasons to add coffee to your everyday diet. But how about kratom?

While studies on kratom are not nearly as extensive, it too has a wealth of health benefits. Existing research proves kratom more effective against opium addiction than medicinal drugs. It also has strong anti-inflammatory properties, enhances immunity, and helps manage pain.

Both Are Claimed to Be Addictive

Both are frequently labeled as addictive. Kratom is even claimed to be by some an addictive drug. However, studies show that kratom is no more addictive than coffee.

While coffee is often labeled addictive, it’s more habitual than anything else. People often socialize while drinking coffee which is pleasurable and may encourage them to have another cup.

Coffee also contains substances that enhance the flavor of anything else that it is consumed with which often are sugar, milk, and pastry. So, if you’re eating a chocolate muffin along with a cup of coffee, it’ll taste better.

This makes the whole coffee drinking experience even more pleasurable. And who doesn’t like pleasurable things?

Do, however, keep in mind that both kratom and caffeine can result in an alkaloid buildup in the system. It can happen if you consume them regularly and not leave enough time between intakes to let the alkaloids leave the system. This may cause tolerance. Yet, tolerance and addiction are not one and the same.

Side Effects

It’s possible to experience side effects when taking both kratom and caffeine. With coffee, these can be insomnia, agitation, nervousness, as well as nausea, vomiting, and faster or irregular heartbeat.

Whereas kratom can cause an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, and disrupt your sleep cycles. When it comes to kratom, the nature of the side effects will also depend on individual strains.

The Differences between Kratom and Coffee

Varieties and Different Effects

There are over 100 different species of coffee, Arabica and Robusta being the two most popular ones. However, they all have the same effect – stimulant.

It’s slightly different with kratom. There are three main vein types that are natural – red, green, and white. But kratom also comes in a variety of strains. Each vein type is responsible for different effects, and even the effects of each strain in the same vein category can be different.

There are also other trees in the Mitragyna family that are similar to kratom, yet do not produce the same effects.

Potency

The strength of kratom effects by far surpasses those of coffee. When it comes to their length, then they are similar on average. The effects of caffeine usually last 4-6 hours while those of kratom – 5-6 hours. However, there are strains such as Red Sumatra kratom that can last up to 10 hours.

Legality and Availability

While coffee is legal and widely available anywhere in the world, kratom is not. It’s banned in multiple countries such as New Zealand and Australia and listed as a controlled substance in others, such as Russia and Sweden.

In the United States, with the exception of certain states and countries, kratom is legal. You can view our kratom legality map here.

However, kratom legality in the US comes with restrictions. It can only be sold if it’s not labeled as a dietary supplement. What does that mean? That you can legally sell it for making products such as soap and body butter, but not as a dietary supplement.

Yet, it’s worth pointing out that coffee has gone through similar scrutiny in the past. It was banned for periods of time in certain locations such as Italy and Mecca. So, possibly (and hopefully), kratom will be properly regulated and freely available in the future. Same as coffee is today.

Dosage

While you shouldn’t take too much coffee, it’s easier to measure the right dose of caffeine. In places like coffee shops, coffee doses are standard.

On the other hand, kratom is a lot more sensitive in that regard. Not every dose will suit everyone, nor will it affect everyone in the same way. You need to carefully measure your dose using a sensitive scale or you risk experiencing kratom side effects.

Can You Mix Kratom and Caffeine?

There is no definite answer to whether you can mix kratom and caffeine or not. You can, and many people swear by it. But it will ultimately depend on you, your needs, and how your body responds to it.

How to Take Kratom and Coffee?

The method that works best or you will too depend on your lifestyle and preferences. There are a few ways of combining kratom and caffeine.

Mixing Kratom and Coffee

Some users prefer mixing them both together into one drink. To do so, brew coffee and make kratom tea. Then, strain the kratom tea and mix it into your coffee. If the taste is too much for you, try adding a sweetener to the mix. Many users suggest stevia.

Keep in mind though that you should not be using your regular kratom dose for that. Especially if you take the fast strains, e.g., white vein kratom. It may make you jittery and the whole experience may be unpleasant.

Lower your usual dose by approximately half. If that does not deliver the desired results, try gradually upping it.

Taking Kratom and Caffeine Separately

Another popular way is taking them both separately. Users take kratom tea or toss and wash and about 30 minutes later drink coffee. Though less common, some prefer taking coffee before kratom. Experiment and see what feels best for you.

Alternating Kratom and Caffeine

If you take white or green vein kratom for stimulating effects, you can use coffee as a substitute for kratom. For instance, you can take kratom on one day and coffee on another, or skip a day of kratom a few times a week and take coffee instead.

Coffee may not provide the same effect as kratom, but it will help you to keep your tolerance down. You’ll be able to give your body some time to reset and expel kratom alkaloids out of your system.

Which Strains of Kratom to Take with Coffee?

Taking Coffee and Fast Strains

White vein kratom and green strains are stimulating. And so is coffee. Taking both together may result in too much stimulation. You may feel your heart rate go up or become irregular. You may feel jittery, restless, or nauseous.

To avoid that, lower your usual kratom dose. I advise starting with half of what you usually take. You can always adjust the dose later if you feel that that’s not enough.

Taking Coffee and Slow Strains

Slow strains, such as most red vein ones, are usually taken in larger doses. They have relaxing and painkilling effects. However, larger doses can be sedative and put you to sleep. If you need strong pain relief in the morning, you may be feeling sleepy during the working hours.

How can you keep your productivity up? By taking coffee. Some users like to use slow kratom strains with coffee because they get the potency of the slow strains yet stay alert because of the coffee.

Are you taking kratom and caffeine? Which method do you prefer? Is your method not included? Feel free to share it with us.