8 Tips For Boosting Your Coffee Bean Game
What Are Coffee Beans?
The coffee beans that you brew are actually seeds from an edible fruit known as a coffee cherry. The coffee plant is a perennial plant, which means that it is able to grow every year.
Coffee beans have high levels of certain compounds - such as caffeine, which is why they should be consumed in moderation. Find out more about this well-known seed!
Origin
The seeds that are roasted in the coffee plant are used to make a brewed beverage called coffee. The beans are a popular and profitable international commodity. Coffee plants are woody, evergreen plants that thrive in the tropics. The Bean Belt includes the areas close to the Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn.
The most popular story about the origin of coffee begins in Ethiopia with a goatherder named Kaldi. He noticed that the bright red berries that came from certain coffee plants stimulated his goats. Kaldi shared his findings with an abbot of a nearby monastery, who made drinks using the berries. The energizing effect of the berries was spread.
The coffee beans we have today come from two main varieties of the Coffea plant: Arabica and Robusta. Robusta is predominantly in Africa and Indonesia and is usually less expensive than arabica. In addition to the main varieties, there are also smaller specialty beans that are a mixture of arabica and robusta. These beans are referred as Peaberries and have a scrumptier taste than regular beans.
During the roasting process beans lose their moisture which can result in them becoming stale and bitter. It is crucial to make use of fresh, high-quality beans for your coffee.
Flavor
The four components of flavor -- acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and saltiness -can be influenced by bean's type, climate and the method of processing. These components can be combined in a variety of ways to create various flavors, ranging from sweet fruity to nutty and even smoky.
When coffee beans are heated they react with the amino acids present in their seeds to create hundreds of unique aromatic compounds that influence their flavor profile. This process is called the Maillard Reaction and it is the same chemical reaction that happens in nearly all cooking. The aroma of roasted beans reflects these compounds.
While the Maillard Reaction affects the overall flavor of roasts, nonvolatile and volatile compounds also contribute to the flavor of coffee. Unroasted or green beans may have a taste that is fruity, floral, or earthy. Bitterness is usually associated with full-bodied roasts that contain more caffeine, but it could also be because of improper brewing techniques or storage.
Flavored coffee beans have flavor oils on them that help preserve the beans and provide a unique scent and flavor. The flavor oils can be a mixture of chemicals and natural flavors, including cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate. The flavors are attached to the beans using the chemical compound polyphenol.
Health Benefits
Coffee beans are a good source of potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins. They're also an excellent source of antioxidants, which help to prevent oxidative stress (which can cause chronic illnesses like atherosclerosis and cancer). The antioxidant chlorogenic acids found in coffee beans are especially effective against obesity-related ailments such as diabetes and high cholesterol levels.
Coffee is also an excellent natural energy booster, helping people feel more alert and active. Caffeine boosts neurochemicals and enhances alertness, memory, and cognitive performance. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels. Consuming moderate amounts of coffee has been proven to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease and dementia. It also boosts happiness, mood and energy levels as well as concentration.
Anti-aging: The antioxidants (including caffeine and the chlorogenic acids) in coffee act as natural moisturizers for the skin, increasing cell turnover, which reduces wrinkles and fine lines. They also have UV-protection properties, filtering the sunlight and preventing sun-induced skin damage.
types of coffee beans -depressant - Coffee beans are a natural anti-depressant. They boost serotonin levels and dopamine levels in the brain, which increases the levels of happy hormones. It also eases inflammation and pain, acting as a natural painkiller, and enhancing the effectiveness medical painkillers. Coffee also has cafestol and kahweol which are diterpene esters with lipolytic properties within the adipose layer, aiding in the fight against cellulite.
Caffeine
Coffee is a well-loved drink all over the world. It has become a part of many morning routines. Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee plant or coffee cherry. They contain caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. The caffeine content in coffee may vary based on how the bean is roasted, brewed and prepared. There are a few rules that can help you pick the best coffee.
The average coffee bean contains approximately 2 milligrams of caffeine per bean, however the exact amount can vary depending on the bean's size and the degree of roasting it has been. It is a common misconception that darker roasted coffee beans contain more caffeine than lighter roasted ones. It's not the case. A dark roast coffee bean will have less caffeine than a light roast due to its lower density, but the total amount of caffeine will be the same.
A typical cup of coffee has about 95 milligrams of caffeine within it, but the recommended daily limit is 400 milligrams. If you are not sensitive to caffeine staying within this range shouldn't cause any negative consequences. People who aren't sensitive to caffeine may enjoy their coffee, but it is important to be aware of the amount caffeine you're ingesting and avoid excessive consumption.