What Are Coffee Beans?

The coffee beans you use to brew are actually the seeds of the coffee cherry. The coffee plant is a perennial, meaning it returns year after year.

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

Origin

Coffee is a brewed beverage made from the seeds that are roasted (beans) of the coffee plant. The beans are a popular and lucrative international commodity. Coffee plants are woody evergreen trees that are found in the tropical regions. The Bean Belt includes the areas close to the Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The most famous legend about coffee's history starts with a goat herder named Kaldi in Ethiopia. He noticed that his animals was particularly active after eating the bright red berries of some coffee plants. Kaldi shared his findings with the abbot of a nearby monastery, who made a drink out of the berries. The energizing effects 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 typically cheaper than arabica. In addition to the main varieties, there are many smaller, specialty beans that are a mixture of arabica and robusta. These beans are referred to as peaberries, and are more flavorful than standard beans.

While roasting, beans can lose moisture, which could result in them becoming bitter or stale. It is important to only use fresh, high-quality beans for your coffee.

Flavor

The bean type, process and climate can affect the four elements of taste: bitterness and acidity along with sweetness and saltiness. The intensity of these elements can result in a variety of flavor profiles ranging from sweet and fruity to nutty or even smoky.

When coffee beans are heated, they react with the amino acids in their seeds to form hundreds of unique aromatic compounds which influence their flavor profile. This process is known as the Maillard Reaction and it is the same chemical reaction that occurs in nearly all cooking. The smell of beans that are roasted is a reflection of these compounds.

While the Maillard Reaction affects the overall flavor Coffeee of a roast, nonvolatile or volatile compounds are also a part of the flavor of coffee. Unroasted or green beans may have a flavor that is fruity, floral or earthy. Bitterness is typically related to roasts that are full-bodied and contain more caffeine, but it can also be due to poor brewing methods or storage.

Flavored coffee beans are coated with flavor oils to help preserve the beans and add the flavor and aroma. These flavored oils are a mixture of natural and chemical flavors that range from cinnamon to vanilla to chocolate. The flavors are bonded to the beans using a chemical compound called polyphenol.

Health Benefits

Coffee beans contain a wide variety of nutrients that promote health including magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. They also are a great source of antioxidants that help to prevent the oxidative stresses (which can cause chronic diseases like cancer and atherosclerosis). The antioxidant chlorogenic acid in coffee beans is especially beneficial against obesity-related diseases, such as high cholesterol levels and diabetes.

Coffee is a natural boost of energy that makes people feel more alert. Caffeine boosts neurochemicals and enhances alertness, memory and cognitive performance. It also helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Research has found that moderate consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and dementia, and also increase happiness, mood and energy levels.

Anti-ageing: The antioxidants present in coffee (including chlorogenic acids and caffeine) serve as natural moisturizers for skin that increases cell turnover, as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. They also possess UV-protection capabilities blocking light and preventing sun damage to skin.

Anti-depressant Coffee beans can be used as an antidepressant by increasing serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which increases the level of happy hormones. It also helps relieve inflammation and coffeee pain, acting as a natural analgesic and improving the effectiveness of pain killers. Coffee also has cafestol and kahweol, two diterpene esters with lipolytic properties within the adipose tissues, aiding in the fight against cellulite.

Caffeine

Coffee is among the most popular drinks in the world, and it is now a part of the routine of many mornings. Coffee beans are actually the seeds of a plant known as the coffee plant or coffee cherry and they contain the natural stimulant caffeine. The caffeine content in coffee may differ based on how the bean is made, roasted, and brewed. There are some rules to help you select the right coffee.

The average coffee bean has about 2 milligrams of caffeine, however the exact amount can vary depending on the bean's size and the amount of roasting it has. It is a common myth that coffee beans with darker roasts contain more caffeine than lighter-roasted ones. This isn't the case. A dark roast coffee bean will contain less caffeine in it than light roasts due to its lower density, however the amount of caffeine will be the same.

The daily limit recommended for caffeine is 400 milligrams. A typical cup of coffee is 95 milligrams. If you're not sensitive to caffeine keeping within this range should not have any negative consequences. Caffeine is not harmful to those who aren't. However it is important to keep track of how much caffeine you consume and to avoid overdoing.