Have you ever wondered if there is something that stimulates your energy to get through the day at the palm of your hands all the time? This usually happens when you are too immersed in work. Luckily, there is a simple solution – dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans.

What Are Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Basically, it is what it is. Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso beans are roasted coffee beans that are coated with dark chocolate, much like how almonds or peanuts are. They are often considered as a snack and give energy thanks to the caffeine. It is a good energy booster snack that can help satiate the cravings of your smooth and delicious cold brew when it is not available or if you can’t find your favorite coffee on Amazon.

Benefits of Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Convenient

The best part of having the dark chocolate covered espresso beans is that you can eat them anywhere. This is easy and very handy, especially on days when you don’t have a lot of time, but you are running low on energy.

Same Health Benefits as Coffee

Since brewed coffee and the chocolate covered espresso beans come from the same coffee, they also have the same health benefits of drinking bulletproof coffee given that their beans are made and roasted the same way. Meaning, they both give the same stimulant effect, which improves energy as well as brain functions. They are also a good antioxidant and will potentially help you with burning fat and fighting obesity. Lastly, they may also decrease the risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Same Health Benefits as Dark Chocolate

One of the best-known types of chocolate is dark chocolate due to the fact that it’s chocolate in its pure form. It has a lot of nutritious vitamins and minerals. It is known to have fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium, all of which are good for the body.

Dark chocolate is also known for being able to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, reduce heart disease through reducing cholesterol that may block your arteries and as well as being a good antioxidant. If that isn’t enough, it can also protect your skin through the help of flavonols and can also improve your brain functions. Chocolate as a guilty pleasure? I think not!

How Do Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Work

Dark chocolate covered espresso beans are snacks that share the benefits of both coffee beans and chocolate. Dark chocolate, due to its taste, is prone to be overeaten and unfortunately, it’s packed with calories and may result in weight gain. Also, coffee beans have a greater caffeine concentration in comparison to your usual homemade cafe latte. Hence, it should be taken in small amounts.

In general, the FDA limits healthy caffeine consumption to around 400mg per day, but that also depends on a person’s age, weight and medication. 

Pros and Cons of Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Pros

• It is a lovely substitute for coffee. It is practically a treat that anyone who is well adapted to coffee can handle. The sweetness of dark chocolate, as well as the natural sweetness from a well-roasted espresso bean, is a good twist in this snack.
• Rapid absorption of caffeine. That energy kick will be instant; hence it is better than to brew some organic coffee every morning if the stimulant effect is the one you are after.
• You have both the health advantages of dark chocolate and espresso beans! You have twice the antioxidant effect and you can decrease the risk of having Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart disease. It can also help with blood circulation and, if taken moderately, may help reduce fat and fight obesity.

Cons

• Needs a certain moderation. We cannot overeat them, for it may cause weight gain and palpitations.
• To those who are not well adapted to coffee, it may also induce anxiety symptoms such as nausea and stress.
• If taken at the wrong time of the day, it can disturb your sleep, much like your usual coffee! 
• Shouldn’t be eaten by pregnant women for it can increase pregnancy problems such as low birth weight, early labor or miscarriage.
• Laxative effects. Easily upset stomach, so you might need to take them less than a healthy person.

How to Choose the Best Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Type of Chocolate

The same as with how coffee syrups have natural sweeteners, chocolate serves as the natural sweetener of the dark chocolate covered espresso beans. It is what adds to its flavor and makes it more fun and interesting.

Dark Chocolate

Considered as the healthiest and closest form out of all the types for it contains the most of pure cocoa. On average, dark chocolates are around 35-70% of the cocoa composition in the market, not to mention even its fat content comes from cocoa butter. It can be classified as either sweet or bittersweet.

Milk Chocolate

The most known and highly distributed type of chocolate. Milk chocolate is almost everyone’s favorite. It usually contains around 10-25% of Cocoa and has a creamy and milder taste. It also has greater sugar content.

White Chocolate

Opposite to dark chocolates, white chocolates don’t have that much cocoa and have more cocoa butter instead. The “whiteness” of this type of chocolate comes from its milk ingredient, which is most of what it was composed of. White chocolates can only be considered as “chocolate” if it has at least 20% of Cocoa, most of which came from the butter instead of the cocoa bits. It is milkier and recognizably sweeter with hints of vanilla out of all the other types of chocolates.

Ruby Chocolate

Made from the ruby cocoa bean and the newest rarest type of in the chocolate group. It was recently introduced by Barry Callebaut back in 2017. It is characterized by its sweet and sour flavor with a pink-tinged due to a special process of manufacturing it. It is usually described with a raspberry taste despite not having raspberries in the recipe.

Type of Roast

Light Roast

Roasted at the least amount of time, light roast coffee beans are lighter brown in color and dry for the oils are still inside them. The flavor origin of light roast coffee is very distinct since the heat doesn’t get to evaporate most of it; hence the species of coffee beans matter. Here, you can have a taste of floral flavor and you can sense the hints of acidic flavor and recognize it as a bit citrusy or lemony in taste. The caffeine percentage is also the highest.

Medium Roast

Next to light roast, medium roast is one of the popular coffee types. This is because this type of coffee is very well balanced. Medium roast coffee retains its original flavor, but with less acidity. If you are new to the roasting area, this is the best choice for you.

Dark Roast

Popular among heavy coffee drinkers and those who are looking for a bittersweet tone, dark roast, which is where the espresso roast is included, is one of the types where beans are heated for a longer time with much higher temperature. Due to long heat exposure, it is oily and less acidic because of the lack of moisture content. It doesn’t have any of its origin flavors anymore; however, through the Maillard process, it possesses a hint of chocolate or caramel flavor.

Extra Dark Roast

This is the type of beans that are roasted to their full extent. This coffee bean is distinguished through its charred flavor as well as its dark brown to black appearance. Extra dark roast coffee beans are the type of beans that you either hate or love.

Caffeine

Caffeine, as we all know, is a stimulant. It helps in keeping our brain’s function and awake as well as relieve us from tiredness. Adjust your preference and intake accordingly!

Price

Pricing these snacks can go around from $8 to $30 or more depending upon the quantity, size and type of coffee beans and chocolate used. Stores also offer assorted types of chocolate coatings, which in return hike up the prices more. The rarity of the type of chocolate covered beans may also affect the pricing of it.

How to Use Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Dark chocolate covered espresso beans are commonly used as a snack. They are a good substitute for your coffee drink when you don’t have time to use your best stovetop espresso maker or the world’s best Keurig hot chocolate K-cups! They are also a good energy booster when you need to get through the day.

They can also be used for baking purposes, much like chocolate chips.

How to Make Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans at Home

Step 1 – Preparation

You need dark chocolate, espresso beans, water to simmer, parchment paper and a tray.

Step 2 – Bain-marie and tampering

To have a better result for the chocolate coating, it is best to cut your chosen dark chocolate into chunks and let it melt gently through a water bath (on a bowl on top of simmering water in a pan) and mix it slowly.

Step 3 – Coating

Slowly mix together the slightly cooled down chocolate and the espresso beans.

Step 4 – Drying

Using either fork or thong, carefully get each chocolate-coated beans and line them up on the parchment paper-lined tray.

Step 5 – Cooling

Place the lined up chocolates in the fridge or freezer for about 30 minutes or more.

Step 6 – Double coat

For the best results, it would be best to redo all the steps and do a double coat for the coffee beans.

Does More Spending Mean More Quality

In most cases, spending more on a specific type and kind of chocolate does have a difference for it is manufactured differently and the cocoa was treated more carefully. Spending more can also be due to the size, rare type of coffee beans and tones as well as the variety of the chocolate covered beans. It would be best to weigh your preference before buying them!

Do’s and Don’ts With Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Do’s

• Do know your preferences and chocolate percentage of the dark chocolate covered in this snack. If you are conscious of sugar, make sure it is 70%.
• Do watch or count the amount you are taking. These can cause palpitations and other discomfort and it would be best to be careful.

Don’ts

• Don’t eat them or at least lessen your intake if you are pregnant.
• Don’t overindulge.
• Don’t consume before sleeping.

FAQ About Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Are dark chocolate espresso beans healthy?

If you base it with respect to the health benefits of BOTH the Dark chocolate as well as the espresso beans, you can say that this snack is very healthy. It can improve your blood flow, brain function as well as help with weight control.

Can you eat dark chocolate espresso beans?

Unless you have some medical conditions or your stomach gets easily upset or you are allergic to either of the two, you should really try eating dark chocolate espresso beans and experience its benefits.

How much caffeine is in dark chocolate covered espresso beans?

The average serving of dark chocolate covered espresso beans has around 150 to 175 milligrams of caffeine. That’s almost twice the caffeine content of your normal cup of coffee which is around 95 milligrams.

Do dark chocolate covered espresso beans give you energy?

YES, due to the ingredients used in this snack, which contains stimulants such as caffeine as well as sugar. Dark chocolate covered espresso beans will surely recharge your energy!

What is the difference between espresso beans and coffee beans?

As discussed regarding coffee roast, espresso beans are just beans that are dark roasted or cooked at a high temperature for an extended time. A coffee bean is a general term that can pertain to a lot of types.

Do chocolate covered espresso beans wake you up?

Dark chocolate covered espresso beans will keep you awake, the same way the coffee would. So it would be best to eat them early in the morning to early afternoon or if you are going to have a long night.

Conclusion

If we are talking about healthy snacks, dark chocolate covered espresso beans would be one. They have a lot of health benefits and are also a combination of tastes everyone loves. Moderation is the key here. As long as it is eaten in the right amount, you will greatly benefit from them.

Photos from: bhofack2 / depositphotos.com, blackan / depositphotos.com, goinyk / depositphotos.com, paulgrecaud / depositphotos.com and gumenjak / depositphotos.com.

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