The Similarities and Differences of Kratom & Coffee

Kratom and Coffee – how alike are they?

If there’s one thing that overworked and perpetually tired adults can’t get enough of, it’s a healthy ‘pick me up’. In the USA alone, over 50% of the population (around 150 million) regularly consume coffee, with another 15 million regular users of kratom (and growing fast).

But why are these two natural stimulants, mood enhancers and cognitive boosters so popular? And is there any similarity between the two?

In this guide, we’ll explore what makes coffee and kratom so unique, why they are (surprisingly) alike in some ways, and in others total opposites.

So grab your favorite ‘cup of joe’ or kratom tea and let’s dive in…

Kratom and Coffee…Cousins?

Well, not exactly. But if there was a family reunion, both plants would end up at the same picnic table. You see, Kratom (from the Mitragyna Speciosa tree) and coffee (the Coffea plant) come from the same botanical family known as Rubiaceae.

Now, that’s not to say they are CLOSELY related, because they aren’t. In fact, the Rubiaceae family of botanicals ranks as the fourth largest ‘angiosperm family’, covering around 13,500 unique species.

The Similarities and Differences of Kratom and Coffee: going beyond the scientific classification 

Scientific classifications aside, both coffee and kratom share several notable similarities. Both plants are indigenous through Southeast Asia, both thrive in hot climates, and both share energetic and stimulatory, as well as potent antioxidant properties.

Beyond that, however, things get a bit more complex

The Similar Psychostimulatory Effects of Coffee and Kratom 

Primary Alkaloids in Coffee

The main active compound in coffee is an alkaloid we are all quite familiar with: caffeine. Caffeine ranks among the most notoriously used (and daresay abused) stimulant in the world. From our morning cup of ‘get up and go’, to that afternoon ‘pick me up’, coffee is a big part of our daily lives. It’s also considered a safe and even healthy way to stay energized, with some studies linking coffee consumption to a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes. 

Primary Alkaloids in Kratom

Kratom shares many of the psychostimulatory effects that make coffee so enjoyable, but it does so by very different physiological mechanisms. Kratom’s desired effects are the result of an alkaloid known as Mitragynine 7-hydroxymitragynine and its derivatives.

To date, scientific and clinical research into the effects of this alkaloid, as well as the physiological pathways it exerts its influence on, are limited. However, it is generally accepted that at lower doses, this alkaloid plays a large role in the central nervous system (CNS) stimulation, much in the same way caffeine does. The net result is a clean boost of energy, elevated mood, and perhaps even an increase in cognitive function.

At higher doses, however, the differences are night and day. Larges doses of kratom result in CNS depression, eliciting a relaxed, calm state and a euphoria notably similar to mild opiates. 

A Familiar Bitterness

Although both coffee and kratom have uniquely distinctive tastes that are altogether dissimilar, they both share one common trait: bitterness.

Users of kratom often note a more ‘earthy’ flavor profile as compared to coffee. Yet, those who enjoy the bitterness of cacao or black coffee, may find the bitterness of kratom to be not only tolerable, but welcomed in moderation.

Two Similar, Yet Very Different Natural Plants 

Although kratom and coffee share a common genetic ancestor, the two plants are both unique in both how they work, as well as the effects they elicit when ingested. We hope you enjoyed this guide, and now have a better understanding of why some individuals compare low dosed kratom to coffee.  Be sure to check out our main page to learn more, The Kratom Connection.