Calm, focused energy in every cup. Brain Bean™ Zen Blend Coffee starts with our Smart Roasted™ Brain Bean Coffee, USDA Organic, single-estate and roasted in small batches in our own certified plant, then infuses every bean with Alpha-GPC, L-theanine, Sensoril® ashwagandha and C8 MCT oil. That's an additional 438 mg of our Zen Blend brain-supporting ingredients in every cup, for smooth, lasting energy without the jitters or the crash. Built for your MOOD · MIND · MEMORY.*

Zen Blend is so much more than coffee. It's your daily ritual for balance and clarity: the rich, low-acid, polyphenol-packed coffee you love, upgraded with four ingredients chosen to work with caffeine, not against it. Whether you're powering through a busy day or settling into a calm afternoon, Zen Blend keeps you focused, steady and clear. Upgrade your coffee. Upgrade your day. Stay calm and carry on.*

Why you'll love Zen Blend

• Calm, focused energy with L-theanine, the calming amino acid from tea that pairs perfectly with coffee's natural caffeine*
• No jitters, no crash: smooth, balanced energy that lasts*
• Stress support with Sensoril®, a patented ashwagandha shown in clinical research to lower cortisol by up to 32.6%*
• Focus and memory support with Alpha-GPC, a highly absorbable choline source for acetylcholine*
• Clean ketone fuel from pure C8 MCT oil, the most ketogenic MCT, for sustained mental energy and fewer cravings*
• Built on Brain Bean Coffee: USDA Organic, single-estate, specialty-grade beans, Smart Roasted™ in our own plant for high polyphenols and a low-acid, full-bodied cup

Built on the best coffee we know: ours

Zen Blend isn't made with just any coffee. It starts with the same beans as our flagship Brain Bean Coffee:

• Single estate, volcanic soil: Heirloom Arabica from a single organic estate more than 4,000 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, grown in the nutrient-rich volcanic soil of Guatemala's lush highlands.
• Top 5% specialty grade: USDA Organic and Fair Trade, ranking in the top 5% of specialty-grade coffees worldwide.
• Roasted by us: Small-batch Smart Roasted™ in our own cGMP, USDA Organic–certified plant near Lake Tahoe, with every roast quality checked.
• Polyphenol rich: Smart Roasting™ preserves coffee's chlorogenic acids (CGA), the polyphenols research links to attention, executive function and healthy metabolism. Our Brain Bean Coffee beans tested at 447 mg of CGA per 15 g/cup, 2 to 6 times more than typical coffees.*
• Lab tested for purity: Our Brain Bean Coffee is independently tested for mycotoxins, mold, heavy metals, glyphosate and more.

The Zen Blend difference, by the numbers

Published research shows commercial roasted coffee generally contains just 2 to 7 mg of chlorogenic acid (CGA) per gram, and the darker the roast, the lower it goes. Zen Blend is built on our Smart Roasted™ Brain Bean Coffee, which tested at 447 mg of CGA per 15 g/cup in our independently lab-verified 2026–27 lot. Then every cup delivers an additional 438 mg of our Zen Blend ingredients: Alpha-GPC, L-theanine, Sensoril® ashwagandha and C8 MCT oil.

Chlorogenic acids   Zen Blend ingredients

That's roughly 4 to 6 times the CGA of typical coffees, plus 438 mg of calming, focusing, brain-fueling nutrients that ordinary coffee doesn't have at all: more than 880 mg of brain-supporting compounds in every cup.*

The Zen four: what's infused in every bean

L-theanine: calm focus, the perfect caffeine partner

L-theanine is a naturally calming amino acid found in tea leaves. It crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it helps modulate calming and mood-supporting neurotransmitters such as GABA and serotonin. Paired with coffee's natural caffeine, it creates something neither can do alone: a state of calm alertness.*

Caffeine + L-theanine: how the combination works

Alpha waves: the brain's "calm and alert" rhythm

Your brain produces electrical rhythms that change with your state of mind. Alpha waves are the rhythm of relaxed alertness, the calm, clear focus of a meditator or an athlete "in the zone."

• More alpha, more calm: EEG research published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that L-theanine increases alpha brain wave activity at rest, reflecting a relaxed but alert state of mind, without drowsiness.*
• Sharper, smarter attention: High-density EEG studies published in Clinical Neuropharmacology and The Journal of Nutrition found that L-theanine, alone and combined with caffeine, changes alpha-band brain activity in a way that helps the brain direct attention where it's needed and filter out distractions. With caffeine, this came with faster, more accurate performance on attention tasks.*
• The Zen effect: That's the feeling Zen Blend is built for: the calm, steady focus of alpha-wave balance, powered by coffee's natural energy.*

Key benefits found in research

• Enhanced attention switching: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Nutritional Neuroscience (Giesbrecht et al., 2010), the combination of L-theanine and caffeine significantly improved accuracy on an attention-switching task, increased subjective alertness and reduced susceptibility to distracting information during a memory task, compared with placebo. *
• Faster and more accurate, less distracted: In a placebo-controlled crossover study of 27 healthy adults published in Nutritional Neuroscience (Owen et al., 2008), the combination of L-theanine and caffeine improved both the speed and accuracy of attention switching, increased alertness and reduced susceptibility to distracting information during a memory task, compared with placebo.*
• Less distraction and mind-wandering: The combination helps people ignore external distractions and makes the mind less likely to wander. A study in Nutrition Research found it improved target-specific attention by reducing mind-wandering.*
• Less mental fatigue: A trial published in Biological Psychology found that the combination reduced self-reported mental fatigue and tiredness, and improved alertness, compared with either caffeine or L-theanine alone.*
• Smoother energy: Research published in Psychopharmacology found that L-theanine helped counter the rise in blood pressure caffeine can cause, supporting a calmer, steadier feel.*
• Confirmed by a systematic review: A 2021 systematic review published in Cureus (Sohail et al.) pulled together the human research on caffeine and L-theanine and concluded that the combination enhances attention, cognition and inhibitory control, the ability to stay on task and resist impulses, likely through synergistic effects:*
  • Faster reactions and fewer errors: Studies showed improved reaction times and better performance on demanding cognitive tasks.*
  • A quieter, more efficient brain: Brain-imaging (fMRI) studies showed decreased activity in the brain regions linked to mind-wandering, and more efficient neural activity during attention-demanding tasks.*
  • Focus under pressure: In middle-aged adults, the combination supported attention and work performance during psychological stress better than caffeine alone.*
  • Complementary mechanisms: Caffeine blocks A1 and A2a adenosine receptors, boosting dopamine and acetylcholine activity, while L-theanine acts on GABA-A receptors and helps regulate glutamate, the brain's main excitatory messenger, for a calmer, protected brain.*

Sensoril® ashwagandha: clinically validated stress resilience

Sensoril® is a patented, high-potency ashwagandha extract made from both the root and leaf of Withania somnifera, the revered adaptogen of Ayurvedic tradition. It's standardized for its active compounds, called glycowithanolides, and it has been validated in human clinical research to help lower the stress hormone cortisol, raise DHEA-S and improve overall well-being.*

How Sensoril® works

Sensoril® works by helping regulate the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis, your body's central stress-response system. During chronic stress, the HPA axis can keep the adrenal glands pumping out cortisol long after it's needed. By helping moderate the HPA axis, Sensoril® supports healthy cortisol levels, allowing DHEA-S to rise and mood to stabilize.*

Why Sensoril® belongs in your coffee

Caffeine gives you energy, but it can also nudge cortisol upward. Pairing it with Sensoril® helps balance that effect, supporting a calm, steady stress response while you enjoy your coffee's lift. Together with L-theanine, it's what turns an ordinary cup into a truly Zen cup: energized, focused and unrattled.*

Alpha-GPC: fuel for focus and memory

Alpha-GPC (L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine) is a naturally occurring, highly absorbable form of choline that readily crosses into the brain. There, it supplies the raw material for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter most critical for memory, learning and sustained attention. Paired with coffee, it helps turn raw energy into clear, steady focus.*

Coffee + Alpha-GPC: how the combination works

What the research shows

• Head to head with caffeine: In a placebo-controlled pilot study presented at the International Society of Sports Nutrition, participants taking Alpha-GPC completed a demanding mental math test (serial subtraction) 18% faster than with caffeine and about 10% faster than with placebo. Caffeine alone produced significantly more jitteriness than Alpha-GPC. Alpha-GPC also produced greater gains in vertical-jump peak power than caffeine. The researchers noted large differences between individuals and called for longer studies.*
• Strength and power: A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that Alpha-GPC supplementation improved lower-body isometric strength, making Zen Blend a smart pre-workout cup.*
• Decades of cognitive research: A review in Current Alzheimer Research summarized decades of research on Alpha-GPC as a well-tolerated choline source that supports acetylcholine and cognitive function in adults.*

Together, caffeine's alertness and Alpha-GPC's acetylcholine support give you the best of both: energy and the mental clarity to use it well.*

C8 MCT oil: the most efficient ketone fuel for your brain

Not all MCT oils are equal. Pure C8 (caprylic acid) is the most effective medium-chain triglyceride for brain energy, because it converts into ketones faster and more efficiently than the longer C10 and C12 chains found in most MCT oils and coconut oil.*

How C8 works for brain energy

• Skips the line: Most fats need the carnitine shuttle to get into your mitochondria, a slow, rate-limited step. C8 enters mitochondria directly, without carnitine transport, allowing rapid fat burning (beta-oxidation) and ketone production.*
• Fast fuel for neurons: Your liver rapidly converts C8 into ketone bodies, which cross the blood-brain barrier and give neurons an efficient alternative fuel, especially valuable when the brain's use of glucose begins to decline with age.*
• Outperforms other fats: In a crossover study of healthy adults published in Current Developments in Nutrition, C8 on its own produced a greater ketone response than coconut oil or any of the other MCT oils tested, and a follow-up study in Frontiers in Nutrition confirmed C8 as the most ketogenic MCT.*
• More ketones for the brain: In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, a C8-rich MCT supplement roughly doubled the brain's ketone uptake in older adults with early memory decline, helping fill the brain's energy gap.*

C8 and cravings: naturally curb hunger

C8 is also widely considered the most effective MCT for reducing cravings. Because it turns into ketones faster than other MCTs, it helps quiet the hunger signals that drive between-meal snacking and sugar cravings.*

• Fast ketone production: With its short, 8-carbon structure, C8 goes straight to the liver and is rapidly converted into ketones, with no blood sugar spike.*
• Lower hunger hormone: Research published in Obesity found that raising blood ketones lowered ghrelin, the body's main hunger hormone, along with feelings of hunger and the desire to eat.*
• More fullness signals: In a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adults who had MCT oil at breakfast released more peptide YY and leptin, hormones that signal fullness to the brain, and ate less at their next meal than when they had a standard long-chain fat.*
• Steady energy, fewer cravings: By supplying clean ketone energy without spiking blood sugar or insulin, C8 helps prevent the energy crashes that often trigger sudden sugar cravings.*
• Superior efficiency: Compared with C10 (capric acid) and C12 (lauric acid, the main fat in coconut oil), pure C8 produces significantly higher ketone levels, which is why Zen Blend uses C8.*

A natural synergy: Coffee's own caffeine helps too. A human study in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that caffeine stimulates ketone production, so C8 MCT oil and coffee work together to support your brain's ketone supply.*

Why this combination works

• Caffeine delivers alertness and energy.
• L-theanine smooths it out for calm, focused attention without the jitters.*
• Sensoril® supports a healthy stress response, so you stay steady under pressure.*
• Alpha-GPC supplies the raw material for acetylcholine, supporting focus and memory.*
• C8 MCT oil adds clean ketone fuel for sustained mental energy.*
• Chlorogenic acids from our Smart Roasted™ beans add polyphenol power for your brain and metabolism.*

The result is the focused, productive energy of great coffee, with the calm and clarity of a Zen state.*

Details

• Coffee: 100% USDA Organic heirloom Arabica, single estate
• Infused with: Alpha-GPC, L-theanine, Sensoril® ashwagandha and C8 MCT oil, 438 mg of Zen Blend ingredients per cup
• Roast: Medium, Smart Roasted™
• Format: Infused whole bean
• Flavor: Rich, bold, smooth and low acid
• Net weight: 16 oz (453 g)

How to brew

Grind your beans just before brewing and brew as you normally would. Use about 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 oz of water, heated to 195–205°F, and adjust to taste. Zen Blend works in drip machines, pour-over, French press and espresso.

Storage: Keep beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Avoid the refrigerator.

Make it your ritual

• Morning focus: start the day calm, alert and productive.
• Afternoon lift: a steady pick-me-up without the late-day jitters.
• Add Brain Ketone: stir in a scoop for even more clean ketone energy.
• Add Brain Body collagen: for skin, joint and muscle support in the same cup.

Quality you can trust

• Made with our own Smart Roasted™ Brain Bean Coffee
• Small-batch roasted in our cGMP, USDA Organic–certified facility
• Patented, clinically studied Sensoril® ashwagandha
• Developed by Dr. Michael Nelson

Frequently asked questions

How is Zen Blend different from Brain Bean Coffee?
Zen Blend starts with the same Smart Roasted™ Brain Bean Coffee beans, then infuses them with Alpha-GPC, L-theanine, Sensoril® ashwagandha and C8 MCT oil for calm, focused energy. Choose Brain Bean Coffee for pure, polyphenol-rich coffee, and Zen Blend when you want added focus and calm.

Does it contain caffeine?
Yes. Zen Blend contains the natural caffeine of Arabica coffee. L-theanine helps smooth out caffeine's effects for calm, jitter-free energy.*

Does it taste different from regular coffee?
Zen Blend delivers the same smooth, rich, low-acid flavor as Brain Bean Coffee.

When is the best time to drink it?
Anytime you want calm, focused energy: in the morning, as an afternoon pick-me-up or before a workout.

Can I drink it while pregnant or nursing?
Zen Blend contains ashwagandha, which is not recommended during pregnancy or while nursing.

Scientific references

1. Owen GN, Parnell H, De Bruin EA, et al. The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2008;11(4):193-198. doi.org/10.1179/147683008X301513
2. Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Milne AL, et al. The effects of l-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology. 2008;77(2):113-122. doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.008
3. Giesbrecht T, Rycroft JA, Rowson MJ, et al. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2010;13(6):283-290. doi.org/10.1179/147683010X12611460764840
4. Kahathuduwa CN, Dhanasekara CS, Chin SH, et al. l -Theanine and caffeine improve target-specific attention to visual stimuli by decreasing mind wandering: a human functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Nutrition Research. 2018;49:67-78. doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2017.11.002
5. Rogers PJ, Smith JE, Heatherley SV, et al. Time for tea: mood, blood pressure and cognitive performance effects of caffeine and theanine administered alone and together. Psychopharmacology. 2007;195(4):569-577. doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-0938-1
6. Auddy B, Hazra J, Mitra A, Abedon B, Ghosal S. A standardized Withania somnifera extract significantly reduces stress-related parameters in chronically stressed humans: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association. 2008;11(1):50–56.
7. Traini E, Bramanti V, Amenta F. Choline Alphoscerate (Alpha-Glyceryl-Phosphoryl-Choline) An Old Choline- containing Phospholipid with a Still Interesting Profile As Cognition Enhancing Agent. Current Alzheimer Research. 2013;10(10):1070-1079. doi.org/10.2174/15672050113106660173
8. Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B. The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2015;12(1):42. doi.org/10.1186/s12970-015-0103-x
9. St-Pierre V, Vandenberghe C, Lowry CM, et al. Plasma Ketone and Medium Chain Fatty Acid Response in Humans Consuming Different Medium Chain Triglycerides During a Metabolic Study Day. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2019;6:46. doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2019.00046
10. Vandenberghe C, St-Pierre V, Courchesne-Loyer A, et al. Caffeine intake increases plasma ketones: an acute metabolic study in humans. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2017;95(4):455-458. doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2016-0338
11. Saitou K, Ochiai R, Kozuma K, et al. Effect of Chlorogenic Acids on Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1337. doi.org/10.3390/nu10101337
12. Moon JK, Yoo HS, Shibamoto T. Role of Roasting Conditions in the Level of Chlorogenic Acid Content in Coffee Beans: Correlation with Coffee Acidity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2009;57(12):5365-5369. doi.org/10.1021/jf900012b
13. Nobre AC, Rao A, Owen GN. L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;17(S1):167–168.
14. Gomez-Ramirez M, Higgins BA, Rycroft JA, et al. The deployment of intersensory selective attention: a high-density electrical mapping study of the effects of theanine. Clinical Neuropharmacology. 2007;30(1):25–38. doi.org/10.1097/01.WNF.0000240940.13876.17
15. Kelly SP, Gomez-Ramirez M, Montesi JL, Foxe JJ. L-theanine and caffeine in combination affect human cognition as evidenced by oscillatory alpha-band activity and attention task performance. The Journal of Nutrition. 2008;138(8):1572S–1577S. doi.org/10.1093/jn/138.8.1572S
16. Sohail AA, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al. The cognitive-enhancing outcomes of caffeine and L-theanine: a systematic review. Cureus. 2021;13(12):e20828 (PMC8794723). doi.org/10.7759/cureus.20828
17. Parker AG, Byars A, Purpura M, Jäger R. The effects of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, caffeine or placebo on markers of mood, cognitive function, power, speed, and agility. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2015;12(Suppl 1):P41 (PMC4595381). doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-12-S1-P41
18. Vandenberghe C, St-Pierre V, Pierotti T, et al. Tricaprylin alone increases plasma ketone response more than coconut oil or other medium-chain triglycerides: an acute crossover study in healthy adults. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2017;1(4):e000257. doi.org/10.3945/cdn.116.000257
19. Schönfeld P, Wojtczak L. Short- and medium-chain fatty acids in energy metabolism: the cellular perspective. Journal of Lipid Research. 2016;57(6):943–954. doi.org/10.1194/jlr.R067629
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21. Stubbs BJ, Cox PJ, Evans RD, et al. A ketone ester drink lowers human ghrelin and appetite. Obesity. 2018;26(2):269–273. doi.org/10.1002/oby.22051
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.