Can You Eat Coffee Beans? (All You Need To know!)
Did you ever see the scrumptious bag of coffee beans in your cupboards and want to just eat them like dry fruits? Trust me; we all do. But the question is, can we really eat raw coffee beans? For centuries, coffee beans are only used to extract coffee beverages from them – we have rarely seen people crunching a coffee bean raw.
Well, the simple answer to the mystery is YES, you can enjoy eating coffee beans once in a while as a treat. Raw coffee beans are safe and full of antioxidants. However, like every other thing, the consumption of coffee beans should be a moderate amount to avoid different health consequences.
In this post, we will explore the topic in-depth and discuss all the potential benefits and risks associated with eating coffee beans. Keep reading to end your curiosity and confusion.
Coffee Beans (At A Glance)
People are using coffee beans for centuries now to satisfy their caffeine desires. From espresso beans to chocolate-covered coffee beans to roasted coffee beans, there are plenty of options and varieties.
Coffee beans are seeds of cherry, also known as the coffee fruit, in real. This fruit is available in different regions of the world, like Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Coffee beans are available in two main types; Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are mild, sweet, and high-quality. While Robusta beans are bitter with a higher caffeine content.
The seeds are ripped out of the fruit to undergo an intensive drying process, resulting in the formation of green coffee beans. The beans are then roasted to the required roast levels; light, medium, and dark. Later, these coffee beans are packed into beautiful packaging by famous and well-known coffee brands to give us delicious and mouth-watering coffee beverages.
Caffeine Content in Coffee Beans
All of us need caffeine in our lives, and for all the right reasons. Caffeine helps sharpen memory, improve heart health, prevent cancer, and increase focus. However, it’s important to remember that excess caffeine can turn all these benefits into severe health consequences.
According to research, a healthy adult should not exceed the safe level of 400mg of caffeine in a day. Now, each Arabica coffee bean contains 6 mg of caffeine. On the other hand, Robusta beans contain 12 mg of caffeine each. When you brew the beans, the caffeine content can decrease during the process. However, eating coffee beans raw allow you to consume more caffeine.
Related Read: What You Need to Know About Caffeine Content in Coffee Extract?
How Many Coffee Beans Can You Eat In A Day?
If you’re not pregnant and free from severe health conditions, you can safely consume 30 to 40 coffee beans in a day. However, again, the answer to this question totally depends on the amount and types of coffee beans.
Since the safe and maximum amount of caffeine consumption for a healthy human being is 400mg, you can eat 60 to 65 arabica beans in a day (6 mg of caffeine each). However, if you are a Robusta coffee beans lover, you should stick to 30 to 35 beans in a day. Robust beans contain 12 mg of caffeine each.
If you are eating coffee beans for munching or as a snack, try and opt for beans covered in dark chocolate or milk chocolate for more flavor.
No matter what happens, do not exceed the safe and recommended limit of 400 mg of caffeine per day. Eating too many coffee beans in a day can cause severe side effects like rapid heartbeat, anxiety, jitteriness, stomach acid, insomnia, and vomiting. Moreover, make sure to properly get yourself checked for caffeine intolerance or sensitivity before munching on raw coffee beans.
Can You Eat Espresso Coffee Beans?
Yes, espresso coffee beans are one of the most scrumptious types after whole coffee beans, and there is no harm in consuming them. Espresso beans usually have a dark color and are roasted for a long time to reduce acidity and increase flavor. However, keep in mind that espresso beans are roasted at a higher temperature, leading to an intense and robust flavor.
Therefore, it is ideal to eat espresso coffee beans covered in chocolate to minimize the intensity. You can also pair the espresso beans with melted chocolate. Trust me; the combination will be heavenly and delicious.
How do Coffee Beans Taste?
Let’s clear one thing first; never try eating unroasted and green coffee beans — they are more acidic and very hard to chew. Eating roasted coffee beans instead is a wiser decision to enjoy both flavor and safety.
Moreover, roasted coffee beans taste very bitter and strong; therefore, you should pair them with chocolate to balance the flavor. The gritty texture of the coffee beans and the heavenly deliciousness of chocolate is truly scrumptious and mouth-watering combination.
The taste of raw coffee beans also depends on the roast levels and types. From light to medium to dark roasts, there are various types to choose from. It’s better to experiment with all the types and roast levels to identify your groove.
If you ask me, my personal favorites are medium and dark roasts. They are rich and have a more robust flavor to entice your taste buds.
Related Read: Espresso Beans Vs Coffee Beans? (The Key Difference!)
Health Benefits of Eating Coffee Beans
Just like drinking coffee beverages, eating raw coffee beans also offers potential health benefits for adults. Here are some benefits you can enjoy by simply munching on coffee beans as snacks:
Antioxidants
Coffee beans are full of antioxidants like Caffeine, Quinine, Cafesol, Chlorogenic Acid, Melanoidins, and Trigonelline. All these antioxidants combined can decrease the risk of neurological disorders, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
In fact, raw coffee beans give more antioxidant benefits than a whole cup of green tea. However, you will enjoy the antioxidant power only if you consume coffee beans in a moderate amount.
Weight Loss
It is a proven fact that caffeine, specifically coffee, aids in fighting obesity and promoting weight loss. Eating raw coffee beans can give an undeniable boost to your metabolism, suppress your appetite and cravings, and increase the fat-burning process of your body.
Rich in Fiber
I think we all know fiber is an essential nutrient for our digestive system and overall health. Luckily, coffee beans are a convenient and rich source of fiber to keep our body’s mechanisms in top-notch condition.
Eating almost 30 to 35 coffee beans in a day can provide you with 3 grams of fiber. This amount of fiber is almost 10% of your daily recommended intake. If you brew the beans into coffee beverages, there will be no fiber left in the beans.
Sharp Memory
Another incredible benefit of eating coffee beans is a sharpened memory and increased focus. This is why people, specifically students, chug on coffee drinks during exams and study sessions. The caffeine in coffee beans can stimulate your brain while improving mental alertness, specifically when you are sleepy or fatigued.
Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery
Muscle pain and cramps after hardcore workouts are common and dreadful at the same time. However, the antioxidants in coffee beans can help your muscle recover and grow stronger promptly. If you munch on a few coffee beans before the workout, there are chances you don’t feel intense muscle cramps at all after.
Anti-Inflammatory
Did drinking coffee beverages ever help you deal with headaches and migraines? Yes, that’s because caffeine contains anti-inflammatory properties to fight inflammation and other aches. Now that coffee beans are the most excellent source of caffeine, eating them raw will give you a boost of relief from headaches and other inflammatory conditions.
Increased Performance
Caffeine can give you a boost of energy. This is the main reason why people prefer drinking coffee before workouts for better performance. Eating coffee beans will do exactly the same; you will get a boost of power and performance to handle all the chores and stuff you need to do. Now you know why athletes and trainers love coffee, right?
Side-Effects of Eating Coffee Beans
Like everything in this world, eating coffee beans also come with a few side effects and risks. However, these side effects and risks will only become a problem if you exceed the daily recommended amount of coffee bean consumption.
Now without making you wait any further, let’s take a brief look at the dark side of eating coffee beans:
Heartburn
Eating too many coffee beans can affect your digestive system, leading to an upset stomach, nausea, or severe heartburn. Since caffeine is known to produce stomach acid, the acid enters the esophagus and causes heartburn and indigestion.
If you are someone who already goes through heartburn, indigestion, or stomach conditions like IBS, avoiding eating coffee beans would be the best decision.
Coffee Beans are Laxatives
Everybody knows that coffee, specifically coffee beans are natural laxatives. Eating coffee beans when you have constipation is a good idea. However, consuming too many coffee beans with a normal stomach can lead to diarrhea. Therefore, go easy with the coffee beans intake.
Risk of High Cholesterol
Brewed coffee contains kahweol and Cafesol, which can increase the risk of high cholesterol if you consume too many coffee beverages in a day. The amount of these two compounds is approximately 30 times more compared to brewed coffee. Therefore, try and keep your cholesterol levels in check if you are consuming coffee beans. If you already deal with high cholesterol, stay away from coffee beans altogether.
Insomnia
Remember when I said coffee beans can reduce sleepiness, and fatigue, and increase alertness? Well, if you exceed the recommended consumption amount, you can also go through insomnia.
Can You Eat Coffee Beans during Pregnancy?
You can, but you shouldn’t. Doctors from all over the world recommend staying away from caffeinated products during pregnancy, let alone coffee beans. Here’s why:
- Caffeine moves through the placenta of your body. This can disturb the baby’s sleep and overall metabolism.
- Caffeine can increase heartbeat, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. All these conditions are not suitable for a pregnant woman.
Extra Tips on How to Eat Coffee Beans
Eating coffee beans is surely a fun and enjoyable thing. Though people only prefer eating roasted and chocolate-covered coffee beans, there are many other ways to make the experience more delicious and scrumptious.
Here are some secret tips to make the most out of your eating coffee beans experience:
- You can grind the coffee beans and add them to milkshakes, smoothies, and juices. My favorite options are banana smoothies and mango milkshakes.
- You can mix your chocolate-covered coffee beans in granola cereals, muesli, trail mix, and other cereals. Trust me; you won’t regret these combinations.
- You can bring the chocolate coffee beans and sprinkle them onto cupcakes, cake slices, ice cream, and other desserts.
- If you are too lazy for any of the above options, just take a handful of coffee beans and eat them like peanuts in your free time. However, keep the recommended consumption amount in mind.
Final Words
Now that you have gone through the entire post, we’re sure you understand eating coffee beans is absolutely safe and enjoyable. They come with plenty of health benefits. Snack on them or add them to your desserts or smoothies; whatever and however you like!
Just remember to not go over the board and consume coffee beans in moderation to avoid the potential risks and side effects. Better safe than sorry, right?
FAQs
Does eating coffee beans help you lose weight?
Yes, coffee beans contain caffeine. They can help suppress the appetite and burn fat. Both these things combined to aid in weight loss.
How many coffee beans are safe to eat?
You shouldn’t exceed 400 mg of caffeine per day. So, 60 to 65 Arabica beans and 30 to 35 Robusta beans per day are safe to eat.
Can you eat coffee beans straight from the tree?
You can, but trust me; you won’t like the taste. Roasted coffee beans are better to eat.
What coffee beans are best to eat?
Espresso or chocolate-covered coffee beans are the best options to snack on.
Why am I addicted to eating coffee grounds?
If you’re addicted to eating coffee grounds, you are addicted to caffeine in reality. If not, you may have an eating disorder. It’s better to contact a medical professional in this scenario.
Can your body digest coffee grounds?
Yes, coffee grounds are edible and you can easily digest them.
