What Are Coffee Beans?

The coffee beans you drink are actually the seeds of an edible fruit known as a coffee cherry. The coffee plant is perennial, meaning that it is able to return year after year.

Coffee beans contain high concentrations of certain compounds, such as caffeine, and should be consumed in moderation. Find out more about this well-known seed!

Origin

The roasted seeds of the coffee plant are used to make the coffee beverage that is brewed. The beans are one of the most coveted, and profitable international commodities. The good quality coffee beans plants are evergreen, woody shrubs that flourish in tropical climates. The majority of coffee in the world is grown in the Bean Belt, which includes the regions around the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The most widely-known myth of coffee's beginnings starts with a goat herder named Kaldi in Ethiopia. He noticed that his herd became more active after eating the bright red berries that were found in certain coffee plants. Kaldi shared his discovery with the abbot of a nearby monastery who brewed a drink using the berries. The energizing properties of the berries are spread throughout the monastery.

Coffee beans today come from two main varieties of the Coffea plant: Arabica and Robusta. The latter is found mostly in Africa and Indonesia and is usually cheaper than arabica. There are also many smaller varieties that are a combination of arabica & robusta. These beans are referred as Peaberries and have a more flavorful taste than standard beans.

When roasting, beans may lose moisture, which could lead to them becoming stale or bitter. To avoid this, it's important to use only fresh, premium coffee beans beans for your expensive coffee beans.

Flavor

The bean's variety, climate and processing method can influence the four components of taste, which are bitterness and acidity as well as sweetness and saltiness. The amount of these components can result in a variety of flavor profiles, ranging from fruity and sweet to nutty, or even smoky.

When coffee beans are heated they react with the amino acids present in their seeds to form hundreds of unique aromatic compounds which affect the flavor profile of the coffee. This reaction is referred to as the Maillard Reaction, and Online coffee Beans it occurs in nearly every cooking. The aroma of roasted beans reflects these compounds.

While the Maillard Reaction affects the overall flavor of roasts, nonvolatile and volatile compounds can also affect a coffee's taste. The flavor of a green or unroasted bean could be earthy fruity, floral, or even chocolaty. Bitterness is often related to roasts that are full-bodied and contain more caffeine, however it can also occur due to poor brewing methods or storage.

Flavored coffee beans are coated with flavor oils that aid in preserve the beans and add the flavor and aroma. The flavor oils are made up of chemicals and natural flavors like cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate. The flavors attach to the beans using a chemical compound that is called polyphenol.

Health Benefits

Coffee beans are an excellent source of potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins. They also are a great source of antioxidants to help fight the oxidative stress (which can lead to chronic diseases like cancer and atherosclerosis). The antioxidant chlorogenic acid that is found in coffee beans is especially beneficial against obesity-related diseases, like high cholesterol levels and diabetes.

Coffee is a natural energy boost that makes people feel more alert. The caffeine it contains stimulates neurochemicals in the brain, which improve memory and vigilance, boosts cognitive function, and helps regulate blood sugar levels within the body. Drinking moderate amounts of caffeine has been proven to decrease the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and dementia. It also improves mood, satisfaction, energy, and concentration.

Anti-ageing The antioxidants (including caffeine and the chlorogenic acids) in coffee act as an natural moisturizer for skin, increasing cell turnover to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. They also possess UV-protection capabilities, filtering light and preventing sun damage to skin.

Anti-depressant Coffee beans are a natural antidepressant. They boost dopamine levels and serotonin levels in the brain, which increases the levels of happy hormones. It also helps reduce pain and inflammation by acting as a natural painkiller and improving the effectiveness of medical painkillers. Cafestol and Kahweol, both diterpene ester compounds that have lipolytic qualities. They help to reduce cellulite.

Caffeine

Coffee is a well-loved drink throughout the world. It has become an integral part of many morning routines. Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee plant, or the coffee cherry. They are rich in caffeine, a natural stimulant. The caffeine in coffee beans types can differ based on the method by which the bean is made, roasted, and brewed. But, there are basic guidelines regarding the amount of caffeine present in every coffee bean that will assist you in making the right decisions when it comes to choosing the right joe.

The average coffee bean has about 2 milligrams of caffeine per bean, however the exact amount can vary according to the size of the bean and the amount of roasting it has. There is a widespread misconception that coffee beans with darker roasts contain more caffeine than lighter-roasted ones. It's not the case. Dark roast coffee beans will have less caffeine than light roasts because of their smaller density. However the amount of caffeine remains the same.

The daily limit recommended for caffeine is 400 milligrams. A typical cup of coffee is 95 milligrams. If you are not sensitive to caffeine staying within this range shouldn't cause any negative consequences. Caffeine isn't harmful to those who are not sensitive. However it is essential to be aware of how much caffeine you drink and to be cautious about overdoing.