Do you ever think about grabbing a handful of coffee beans, and just chowing down on them? If your answer is yes, don’t worry you’re not weird! Thinking about eating coffee beans is quite normal. How can you NOT think about eating these magical beans? Especially when they smell so enchanting! So can you eat coffee beans?! The answer is YES!
So if you’re not aware, the coffee bean is actually the seed of a cherry-like fruit that grows on a coffee bean plant called the Coffea tree. After being picked off the tree, the outer fruit is stripped, and the inner seed is left to dry which forms a raw coffee bean. Then the coffee bean goes into the roasting process. Once that is complete its ground and then brewed!
So back to the point of whether you can eat coffee beans. The Answer is Yes! Though I wouldn’t be chowing down on a bag of coffee just yet! Let’s go over some things first. The caffeine in a coffee bean is much more concentrated than the caffeine in a cup of coffee. This is because you have the water and milk that dilutes it. So consuming a whole lot of beans can be quite detrimental to your health. Since the coffee bean is highly caffeinated, the key is to snack in moderation.
Roasted or Unroasted Coffee Beans?
Whether you’re looking to try roasted or unroasted coffee beans, both have their acquired taste. Roasted coffee beans have a much more desirable taste than unroasted coffee beans (green beans) and are less acidic. The roasting process provides a caramelized taste that’s a lot more appealing than the grassy taste the unroasted coffee beans have. Green beans are also a lot harder to chew and can be quite tough on your teeth.
The Benefits of Eating Coffee Beans
Are there any health benefits to eating coffee beans? Consuming coffee beans provide some of the same coffee benefits as the drink. The majority of them being positive. Let’s take a look at the benefits in depth.
Coffee beans provide Antioxidants
Eatings coffee beans are an excellent source of chlorogenic acid that contains a group of antioxidants. Helping to reduce high blood pressure, improve heart health, lower blood sugar levels and boosts the metabolism.
Green Arabica coffee beans contain about 5.5 to 8% of chlorogenic acid, while green Robusta coffee beans contain 7-10%. Unfortunately, when the beans go through the roasting process they lose 50-70% of it. So if you’re looking to get the most out of the chlorogenic acid, then eating your beans green or lightly roasted is best! (1)
Coffee beans are an excellent source for Caffeine
The caffeine in coffee beans is absorbed a lot quicker during the chewing process through the inner lining of your mouth known as the mucosa. The absorption rate of caffeine through chewing is a lot faster than drinking. (2)
When caffeine enters our body, it impacts our central nervous system and our brain. The impact benefits our body by increasing our energy levels, our mood, performance and memory.
Will eating too many coffee beans give me any side effects?
Not any different than what you would experience if you drank coffee. Consuming too many coffee beans can also send you to the restroom (laxative) or increase your cholesterol. If you’re prone to heartburn or are caffeine sensitive, then eating coffee beans wouldn’t be a good idea, because it would amplify these effects.
Due to the high caffeine content. It’s also not recommended for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or young children.
While caffeine is linked to many health benefits like weight loss, brain function and protection from various cancers. Everyone’s body reacts to caffeine differently. Some people can drink coffee before bed, while others can only handle one cup in the afternoon and they are wired all day.
The recommended daily dose of caffeine per person is 400 milligrams (mg) This would equal to four cups of brewed coffee or roughly four shots of espresso. A standard shot of espresso is 7-9 grams of ground coffee which is equivalent to 55-70 coffee beans. There’s approximately 63mg of caffeine per espresso shot.
Too much caffeine can lead to heart palpitations, the jitters, mood swings and insomnia. So consume moderately.
So if you’re looking to give coffee beans a try and are wondering what roast to go with. The best advice I can give you is to give them all a try. Supposedly they say lighter roasts have more caffeine content, but this can be debated. In my opinion, the best coffee beans to eat would be the chocolate covered coffee beans. If you’re looking to try chocolate covered coffee beans, give these brands below a try, they are delicious!
Espresso Beans In Milk and White Chocolate by Dilettante
Dilettante only uses the finest dark, milk and white chocolate when covering these premium espresso beans. These chocolate-covered espresso beans deliver a delicious and unique flavour that will have you eating one after the other. Thankfully they come in 5 LB resealable bags, so you won’t have to worry about finish the bag in one sitting. They come in various flavours and are great for parties and special gatherings. Click here for more info.
Taste is a personal preference, the best way to find out is to go out and try them. Just remember folks, keep it moderate!
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