While waiting for your coffee to brew, you might wonder if there’s a more efficient caffeine delivery system such as eating coffee beans. While not to everyone’s taste, chewing your coffee is a viable alternative for an energetic pick-me-up.
Amount of Caffeine
An average cup of coffee is made from approximately 25 beans and contains 75 mg of caffeine. So the brewed value of each bean is about 3 mg. However, when you eat the bean, the amount is a little higher. According to the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs, 250 mg of caffeine per day is considered a safe and moderate amount to consume from coffee. In addition to caffeine, coffee beans contain significant amounts of riboflavin and pantothenic acid, as well as trace amounts of proteins, amino acids and other vitamins.
Benefits of Caffeine
Eating a reasonable amount of coffee beans can improve your alertness, motor activity and sense of well-being. Caffeine can make you feel more interested in life and help you sustain an intellectual effort. Crushed coffee beans are delicious over ice cream.
Side Effects
The high acidity level in coffee beans may give you a stomachache. Signs that you’ve overdosed are fever, exhaustion and an elevated heart rate. Eating coffee beans can also increase your cholesterol level, which may contribute to heart disease. Paper filters remove certain harmful substances, so drinking coffee can be safer than eating the beans. Chewing coffee beans is hard on the teeth, which are vulnerable to breakage and stains. Also be aware that caffeine interacts with many drugs. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you regularly take medications.
Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans
Chocolate-covered espresso beans are a popular way to consume caffeine. However, chocolate adds many calories. While a coffee bean contains almost no fat, a 1.4-ounce serving of chocolate-covered espresso beans contains 180 calories, 110 of them from fat, adding up to 35 percent of your recommended daily allowance of saturated fat. If you enjoy these treats, be sure to keep them out of reach of your four-footed friends, as caffeine and chocolate are both toxic for cats and dogs.
Member Comments