Eating Coffee Beans

If this seems strange, you won’t be alone. Eating coffee beans is how our love for coffee first began, now going full circle with the trend of eating coffee beans again growing in popularity.

A Little History

As early as the 9th century, Ethiopians saw their goats acting abnormally after eating from the coffee plant. After this, they were keen to eat the beans themselves. It was only when the beans were exported to Yemen that brewed coffee first appeared in history, around the 15th century.

Is It Safe to Eat Coffee Beans?

Yes, green and roasted coffee beans are edible and filled with nutrients, although people prefer the roasted variety. Coffee lovers have long enjoyed coffee-flavored chocolates, the trend now moving to chocolate-coated coffee beans, marketed as gourmet treats. The beans have even found their way into energy bars.

Benefits Of Eating Coffee Beans

Brewing coffee leaves behind the sediment containing many nutrients. Yet when eating coffee beans, we consume the whole bean and all the nutrition and caffeine otherwise left in the sediment.

• Coffee beans are one of the best sources of antioxidants.
• Studies show caffeine enhances memory for up to 24 hours.
• Studies show caffeine consumption before a workout improves stamina and reduces post-workout muscle pain.
• Coffee beans have fewer calories than peanuts.

Risks When Eating Coffee Beans

Before you head off to munch your way through a bag of coffee beans, it might be a good idea to consider a couple of things. They contain high levels of caffeine and acid. Excess caffeine can make you feel sick or jittery, and too much acid can cause indigestion and stomach problems.

How Many Coffee Beans Should You Eat?

As a guide, not to have a complete caffeine overload, consumption should be about 200mg daily, about four cups of coffee, or about thirty chocolate-covered beans, depending on the type of coffee bean. Robusta beans contain roughly double the amount of caffeine as Arabica.

With coffee and chocolate being among our favorite combinations, why not give this new trend a shot!

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