What Are Coffee Beans?

The coffee beans that you use to brew coffee are actually seeds of a fruit referred to as the coffee cherry. The coffee plant is perennial, which means that it will come back each year.

Coffee beans are high in concentrations of specific compounds - including caffeine, which is why they should be consumed in moderation. Learn more about this popular seed!

Origin

The seeds that are roasted from the colombian coffee beans plant are used to make coffee, a beverage that is brewed. 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 around the Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The most famous legend about coffee's beginnings starts with the goat herder Kaldi in Ethiopia. He noticed that the bright red berries from certain coffee plants made his goats more energetic. Kaldi shared his findings with an abbot at the nearby monastery who had made drinks with the berries. The energizing effects of the berries took off from there.

Currently coffee beans are made by two main varieties of Coffea plants: Arabica and Robusta. Robusta is mostly found in Africa and Indonesia and is generally cheaper than arabica. There are also many smaller varieties that are a combination of robusta and arabica. These beans are referred as Peaberries and have a more flavorful taste than regular beans.

While roasting, beans can lose moisture, which could result in them becoming bitter or stale. To avoid this, it is important to use only fresh, top quality beans for your coffee.

Flavor

The bean's variety, temperature and processing method can influence the four components of taste -- acidity and bitterness as well as saltiness and sweetness. These elements can be used in a variety ways to create various flavor profiles, ranging from sweet fruity to nutty, and even smoky.

When coffee beans are heated, they react with amino acids inside the seeds, resulting in hundreds of aromatic compounds that impact their flavor profile. This reaction is known as the Maillard Reaction, and it occurs in virtually all cooking. The result is that the scent of coffee that has been roasted is a reflection of those compounds.

The Maillard Reaction is responsible for Best coffee beans To buy the overall flavor, however volatile and nonvolatile compounds can also contribute to the flavor of coffee beans online. Green beans, whether unroasted or not, can possess a flavor that is fruity, floral, or earthy. Bitterness is typically related to roasts that are full-bodied and contain more caffeine, but it could also be due to improper brewing methods or storage.

Flavored coffee beans come with flavor oils that help preserve the beans and give them a distinct scent and taste. These flavored oils can be mixed with chemicals and natural flavors, like vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate. The flavors bind to the beans through an extremely chemical compound known as polyphenol.

Health Benefits

Coffee beans contain a vast variety of nutrients that promote health including potassium, magnesium and B vitamins. They're also a good source of antioxidants, that can help reduce the effects of oxidative stress (which causes chronic diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer). The antioxidant chlorogenic acid in coffee beans is especially effective against obesity-related illnesses, like high cholesterol levels and diabetes.

Coffee is also an excellent natural energy booster which makes people feel more alert and active. Caffeine stimulates neurochemicals, which enhances alertness, memory and cognitive function. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels. Research has shown that drinking moderate amounts of coffee can lower the risk of Parkinson's disease and dementia, as well as improve mood, contentment and energy levels.

Anti-aging: The antioxidants in coffee (including chlorogenic acids and caffeine) are natural moisturizers for skin that increases cell turnover, as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They also have UV-protection properties which block light and prevent sun-induced damage to the skin.

Anti-depressant - Coffee beans are a natural anti-depressant. They increase dopamine levels and serotonin levels in the brain, thereby increasing the levels of happy hormones. It can also relieve pain and inflammation by acting as a natural analgesic and improving the effectiveness of pain killers. It also contains cafestol and Kahweol, two diterpene ester with lipolytic properties within the adipose tissue, thereby helping to fight cellulite.

Caffeine

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks around the world, and it is now a part of the routine of many mornings. Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee plant or the coffee cherry. They are a source of caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. The caffeine in coffee can vary based on how the bean is roast, brewed and served. There are certain rules that can help you pick the right coffee.

The average coffee bean has about 2 milligrams of caffeine per bean. However the exact amount could differ depending on its size and how darkly it has been roasted. It is a common misconception that coffee beans with darker roasts contain more caffeine than lighter roasted ones. This isn't the case. A dark roast coffee bean has less caffeine than light roasts due to its lower density, but the total amount of caffeine will remain the same.

A typical cup of speciality coffee beans has about 95 milligrams of caffeine within it, however the recommended daily limit is 400 milligrams. Aiming to stay within this range will not have any adverse unwanted effects unless sensitive to caffeine. Caffeine does not cause harm to those who are not sensitive. However it is essential to be aware of how much caffeine you take in and be cautious about overdoing.