Coffee is one of the most popular drinks globally, as coffee can wake you up in the morning. To tell the truth, its consumption is only growing from day to day. Usually, it is consumed as a drink, but many people are interested in eating Coffee Beans or coffee grounds. Is it harmful to eat coffee? Does it provide you with many health benefits? How much coffee can you eat? Will it impact your health or make you feel sick?

If you ever have those questions or wondered if you can eat those Beans that decorate your piece of cake or cup of latte, this article is for you. We made sure you can find answers to all your questions.

Why Should You Eat Coffee Beans

There are lots of coffee lovers around the world that enjoy eating coffee for many years. Actually, the idea of eating coffee appeared long before brewing coffee and it has a long-lasting history. In the past, coffee beans were a popular snack. They were mixed with animal fats and consumed when people needed some energy boost. It was a great way to raise your energy while working, traveling, or hunting.

There is a number of ways how you can eat coffee beans. They can be roasted or green, sweetened, or covered with chocolate. The last option is the most popular one. Actually, you may already see chocolate-covered beans in your local coffee shop, grocery store, or supermarket. Lots of people buy this treat to enjoy during the day.

Benefits of  Eating Coffee Beans

Lots of people tend to think that coffee is rather harmful, but the truth is that its bad reputation is mostly undeserved and exaggerated. According to numerous recent studies and researches, coffee has numerous health benefits if consumed wisely.

If you don’t have any conditions that make it impossible to drink coffee and do not drink it excessively, you will get a bunch of various benefits from your daily cup of morning coffee. Nowadays, it is a widely accepted fact that coffee is advantageous. 

Improves Memory

While most people believe that coffee can only make us more energized and even alerted, the truth is that it can improve our memory. Also, drinking coffee can help you show better results in different mental tasks.

Reduces Risk for Some Disease

According to some research, drinking coffee can reduce risks in numerous conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, type II diabetes, depressions, and even cancer. Also, coffee helps to detoxify our liver.

How Does Eating Coffee Beans Work

It is not a secret that coffee is an incredible source of caffeine. That is one of the main reasons why coffee is one of the most popular morning drinks on the planet. However, it is a proven fact that brewing coffee won’t give such a caffeine boost as eating coffee beans. The point is that while eating coffee beans, you can get much more caffeine than after drinking a cup of strong black coffee. It is a more concentrated energy boost than you can expect from your regular coffee. If you compare one serving of 28 chocolate-covered coffee beans with your morning coffee, the first one contains 3.5 more caffeine.

The reason for it is pretty simple. While brewing coffee, you wash away some significant portion of caffeine contained in coffee grounds. It happens due to water filtration during the brewing process. However, all caffeine content from each bean is delivered right to you when it comes to eating coffee beans. Moreover, caffeine consumption is much faster when you eat beans as your body absorbs them through the lining and gums. 

Pros and Cons of Eating Coffee Beans

Pros

• Antioxidants. Most benefits of coffee consumption are related to antioxidants. Coffee beans contain lots of antioxidants and vitamins. Chlorogenic acids are in the list of those elements that can be found in coffee beans. Those elements are proven to be a great way to prevent numerous cardiovascular diseases. Also, it reduces inflammation significantly. Numerous researches show that green Arabica beans contain about 150 mg of antioxidants per gram. It is two times more than you get from green tea. However, during the roasting process, coffee beans lose about 50-70% of those antioxidants. Also, some part of antioxidants is lost during the brewing process.
• Fiber. Coffee beans contain lots of fiber. About 30 beans of coffee contain approximately 3 grams of fiber. In fact, it is about 10% of the daily required intake of fiber. But it’s only applicable to coffee beans, while brewed coffee contains no fiber at all. 
• Caffeine. As we mentioned before, in comparison with brewed coffee, eating coffee beans can provide you with a larger amount of caffeine. Moreover, it will be absorbed better due to mucous membranes in your mouth. According to some studies, caffeine helps to improve your memory as mental functions. Also, it reduces fatigue and prevents type 2 diabetes.

Cons

• Heartburn. If you have acid sensitivity, eating or even drinking coffee can be a bad idea for you. It may lead to heartburn, especially when it comes to eating coffee, as it contains more acids and caffeine. Such substances as acids, caffeine, and catechol increase stomach acid production, leading to rather bad heartburn. 
• Cholesterol. Some researches show that eating coffee instead of drinking leads to higher production of low-density lipoprotein, also known as LDL. The main point is that LDL is the bad cholesterol. It is because coffee beans contain 10 times more cafestol and 40 times more kahweol than brewed coffee. 
• Laxative effect. It is a known fact that coffee has laxative properties. Pretty often, it is considered a benefit. However, depending on the situation, it can be more of a problem than a benefit. It is better to be cautious when enjoying coffee beans if you want to avoid uncomfortable situations.
• Taste. Even if you enjoy the bitterness of strong black coffee, you can hardly imagine how bitter roasted beans can be. Be ready that it will overcome your expectations. And do not forget that each country’s coffee tastes different. For example, you may not like Ethiopian coffee as Ethiopian coffees are heavy and tea-like, but you can enjoy the strong, sweet taste of Cuban coffee beans.

Types of Coffee Beans You Can Eat

Green Raw Seeds

One of the ways to eat coffee beans is unroasted coffee beans. However, you need to know that it is not for everyone. Those who tried it describe the taste as grassy with woody notes and high acidity. Do not expect any caramelized flavors as they appear during the roasting. Also, they are pretty hard to chew.

Arabica Roasted Beans

While being rather hard, roasted beans are still softer than green ones. Also, it tends to be much more pleasant when it comes to flavor than one of unroasted beans.

Chocolate Covered Beans

Coffee beans covered with chocolate are one of the most popular ways to eat coffee beans. The reason for such popularity of eating chocolate-covered espresso beans is that this treat combines two of the most favorite and addictive flavors – chocolate and coffee. 

Kona Bean Recipes With Coffee Cherries

Kona beans are very similar to coffee beans covered with chocolate. Basically, coffee beans are covered with chocolate mixed with different spices and herbs such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and ground cloves. It has a pleasant dirty-chai twist of flavor.

How to Eat Coffee Beans the Right Way

Green Seeds 

Eating green coffee beans can provide you with lots of benefits, especially when it comes to the world’s best organic coffee, but it is important to know how to do it in the right way. Eating green coffee beans is similar to eating any other seeds. First of all, you need to make sure it is fresh and clean. 

One of the options is to season and cook them as you do with pumpkin seeds, for example, but in this case, they won’t be raw. Because green coffee beans are pretty acidic and hard to chew, it can be a good idea to use them as an additional ingredient for your health shake. Consider grinding your own coffee beans and adding them to your drink. 

Also, you can try to make some sort of coffee flour. It is very rich in fiber, protein, antioxidants, and potassium. It can be used for baking or just as an additional ingredient for other dishes. While being the hardest to prepare, raw coffee beans can provide you with the most health benefits, so it is worth giving them a try. 

Arabica Roasted Coffee Beans

Lightly roasted Arabica beans are absolutely perfect for your weight management, keeping your energy level and fiber intake. The main thing about these beans is that they have a slightly sweet mild flavor and contain plenty of useful substances and nutrients. Moreover, it is a perfect caffeine boost and a great snack as after eating them, you can feel full longer. 

There are various ways to eat roasted Arabica beans. You can just chew the beans themselves or add them to other dishes. One of the most popular ways to eat Arabica beans is to cover them with chocolate. Chocolate-covered beans can be found in any grocery store, supermarket, and coffee shop. 

While a significant portion of antioxidants is lost during the roasting process, eating roasted beans can still provide you with more health benefits than drinking brewed coffee. But be careful; chocolate-covered beans can be pretty sweet and contain lots of sugar. If you diet or want to lose some weight, give preference to beans covered with dark chocolate. Also, don’t forget about storing coffee beans in proper containers.

Kona Bean With Coffee Cherries 

Actually, coffee can be considered a superfood. It comes not only to beans but to cherries as well. Ripe coffee cherries look like actual cherries. They have intense red color and cover coffee beans. Recently, the Kona coffee beans have started gaining popularity as a food. Numerous companies worldwide use not only beans but whole coffee cherries for making different foods, drinks, and flours. 

For example, you can try some tea with added dried coffee cherries. It is an interesting combination with a unique and pleasant flavor. 

Eating Coffee Beans vs Drinking Coffee

It is clear as a day that eating and drinking coffee has many differences and is not only about taste and appearance. There is plenty of nutritional benefits of eating coffee. First of all, brewed coffee contains no fiber, while eating coffee beans can provide you with lots of fiber.

Also, while eating coffee, you get more caffeine than while drinking it, so if you want to boost your energy, eating coffee can be a better option. 

Do’s and Don’ts When Eating Coffee Beans

Do’s

• Do eat coffee beans raw or roasted.
• Do cover them with chocolate, add some spices or just use them as an additive to your dishes.
• Do use coffee beans as a snack or energy booster.

Don’ts

• Don’t eat too many beans.
• Don’t hesitate to try different options like the best French roast coffee.
• Don’t eat coffee if you have some health conditions.

FAQ About Eating Coffee Beans

Are coffee grounds okay to eat too?

You can eat not only coffee beans but coffee grounds as well. Just keep in mind that you need to consume it in moderation. 

Can I feed coffee beans to my pet?

It is known that caffeine is toxic and even fatal for small animals, including cats and dogs. If you don’t want your pet to get sick, it is better not to give them coffee or coffee beans. While being beneficial for us, caffeine is more harmful to animals. 

Do eating coffee beans help you with weight loss?

Eating coffee beans can help you lose weight but only when you consume them in moderation and with no sweeteners such as sugar, chocolate, caramel, and so on. It is a great substitution for your snack during the day. The reason is that there are no added sugar, fats, and carbohydrates in coffee beans. One serving contains only about 10 calories. 

Do you get more caffeine from eating coffee beans?

While brewing coffee, you wash some caffeine away due to filters. At the same time, when eating coffee, your body absorbs more caffeine through the membranes in your mouth. So the answer is clear, you get more caffeine while eating coffee instead of drinking it. 

How many coffee beans are safe to eat?

Depending on the tolerance and sensitivity, a healthy person can consume up to 400 ng of caffeine. One bean of Arabica contains about 5-10 mg of caffeine. It means that you can consume from 40 to 80 coffee beans per day. Also, it depends on the origin of your beans as, for example, the high-caffeine content of Vietnamese coffee beans can have even more caffeine.

Just keep in mind that chocolate-covered beans tend to have more caffeine. One dark chocolate-covered bean can contain as much as 12 mg of caffeine and one milk chocolate-covered bean contains about 9 mg of caffeine. Basically, you can eat about 28-30 dark chocolate-covered coffee beans per day to reach the limit of your daily caffeine intake. 

Is eating coffee beans bad for your teeth?

Basically, anything you eat can be harmful to your teeth. Eating coffee beans is similar to eating any other seeds and nuts. Also, coffee contains lots of acids, especially when it comes to green coffee beans, and acid is rather harmful to your teeth. 

Also, you need to remember that hard food can help remove plaque from your teeth. 

Does eating coffee beans make you poop?

One cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine and caffeine is a great energy booster and natural stimulant that can keep you alerted. However, caffeine also stimulates our colon that leads to urges to poop. According to numerous researches, caffeine stimulates contractions in your colon and intestinal muscles. 

Conclusion

So now you know that you can not only drink your coffee but also eat it. You just need to choose how you want to enjoy your portion of coffee beans. Also, do not forget to set your limits, as only moderate consumption of this unusual treat can be beneficial. It is a perfect healthy addition to your diet and a great way to boost your energy, so do not hesitate to give it a try. 

By the way, do you know that decaffeinated coffee beans are dried before roasting? If you want to learn more about decaffeinated coffee, we have some articles for you.

Photos from: Kzenon / depositphotos.com, [email protected] / depositphotos.com, neotakezo / depositphotos.com and igorr1 / depositphotos.com.

The post Eating Coffee Beans – Benefits, Effects & Is It Safe to Do It appeared first on Trouble Coffee.