Does Eating Coffee Beans Give You Caffeine?

If you have ever enjoyed the chocolate-covered espresso beans at Starbucks, you will know the answer to the question “Does eating coffee beans give you caffeine?”

The answer is of course yes!

The caffeine, nutrients, antioxidants and phenolic compounds get into your body and take effect. It is just the pathway and method in which they get into your body has changed. Also, it is in a more concentrated way.

Keep reading to find out more about eating coffee and the caffeine effect.

Does Eating Coffee Beans Give You Caffeine?

Yes,

Eating coffee beans provides you with a source of caffeine that is easier to absorb than when you drink a cup of coffee.

Since not all the caffeine in your coffee beans makes its way into your brew, it takes less coffee beans when eaten to get similar effects of the stimulation. The average cup of brewed coffee, at 8 ounces (240 ml), has on average 100 mg of caffeine.

A single roasted coffee bean has an average of 12 mg of caffeine which is only 8 coffee beans will give you the equivalent of a 8 oz (240 ml) cup of coffee.

Your body will absorb the caffeine from roasted coffee beans much faster than brewed liquid coffee.

Caffeine has an impact on your central nervous system and brain, from which you can enjoy many benefits like enhanced alertness, an energy boost, improved mood and performance.

There are some studies that indicate that 75 mg of caffeine, the caffeine content of a shot of espresso or eating 6 coffee beans with the results being an improvement in attention, mood and wellness.

Another study found that drinking 2 x 8 oz (240 ml) cups of coffee with a total of 200 mg of caffeine, or 16 coffee beans, was just as effective as a half hour’s sleep at reducing driving errors.

Yes, absolutely eating coffee beans does give you caffeine. It is just another pathway for the caffeine, nutrients, antioxidants and phenolic compounds to get into your system.

Read: Can you eat coffee grounds?

Do You Get More Caffeine From Eating Coffee Beans?

Yes, when you brew a cup of coffee, the liquid coffee that you drink and enjoy is effectively diluting the caffeine concentration and the concentration of the nutrients, antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.

Thus,

when you are eating raw coffee beans, the direct coffee bean consumption is more concentrated as it is not watered down. This leads to a more rapid entry of the caffeine via the lining in your mouth and the intestinal tract and into your blood stream.

You will get the expected benefits, only quicker. The main effect of the caffeine is a faster absorption of caffeine and more focused due to not being diluted with water.

What is not in question is the energy and caffeine boost that you will experience. When you are eating coffee beans, be aware of the negative effects of excessive caffeine consumption and stick to the 400 mg daily limit and take into consideration any brewed coffee or tea you have had and any chocolate.

Is Eating Coffee Beans Bad For You?

Eating coffee beans is healthy, very healthy as you get a good concentration of antioxidants, phenolic compounds and nutrients.

Of course, there are side effects too. So yes, eating coffee beans can be bad for you if you consume them in excess. Most of which are associated with excess caffeine.

Excessive caffeine intake has some dangerous side effects which include but are not limited to:

• Increased nausea, stress, anxiety and palpitations.
• Withdrawal symptoms from caffeine if you suddenly stop, fatigue, tremors, anxiety and a lack of concentration.
• Increased pregnancy risks: Premature birth, low birth weight and miscarriage.

If you are pregnant, you should limit your caffeine intake to 200 mg per day maximum for all kinds of consumption of caffeine. If you are trying to reduce your caffeine consumption, do it gradually.

I am guilty of being a Javaphile (coffee addict). I managed to reduce my caffeine intake by making a 50% decaffeinated coffee and 50% regular mix. Flavor was not affected. Later I reduced my consumption of the stimulant by reducing the number of cups of coffee per day.

While eating coffee is good for you and is very healthy, be very careful of the unpleasant side effects of excessive caffeine consumption. Often when we are snacking away at the chocolate-covered varieties we tend to forget how much caffeine is in each bean consumed.

Simply enjoy in moderation.

Read: Is it bad to drink coffee grounds?

Side Effects Of Eating Coffee Beans?

I touched and brushed on the side effects of eating coffee beans earlier, let’s get a little more granular.

• Laxative Effect: We are all very familiar with the need to poop after having that cup of coffee too many!
• Sleep Disturbance: When you drink or consume too much caffeine in any form, you will experience sleepless and restless nights. The half life of caffeine is 6 hours and is suggested by Doctors that you do not consume caffeine in any form within 9 hours of your expected bed time.
• Upset Stomach And Heartburn: Coffee, consumed or eaten contains catechol, which has the unfortunate effect of increasing stomach acid.
• Enhanced Pregnancy Risk And Complications: Caffeine allowance for ladies that are pregnant is reduced by 50% to 200 mg per day. To the greater absorption by eating coffee beans and the more rapid effects I do not recommend that you eat coffee beans if you are pregnant or think that you are pregnant. Consult with your physician.

The recommended maximum daily amount of caffeine is no more than 400 mg per day for adults and 200 mg per day for pregnant ladies and young adults under 18.

Please adhere to these limits to avert any potential side effects and the negative effects associated with excessive caffeine consumption. If you are lucky, the only effects you will have will be the minor effects of a stomach upset.

Is Chewing Coffee Beans Bad For Your Teeth?

Coffee is acidic and thus eating and drinking anything, be it coffee or soda drinks, can lead to the weakening of the enamel that has a protective effect that protects your teeth and thus leading to tooth decay.

Also,

chewing coffee beans could lead to your teeth staining but is less likely to affect your front teeth. The tannins that are in coffee and chocolate have a similar influence on the whiteness of your teeth as a bar of chocolate does.

To help mitigate the effects of coffee, eating or drinking, you can brush or floss immediately afterwards, swirl your mouth with an alkaline drink or eat cheese, which is alkaline. This will help to reduce the acidity of your mouth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Does Eating Coffee Beans Give You Caffeine?

Can I Get Caffeine From Chewing Coffee Beans?

Yes, you can get the same caffeine kick from chewing coffee beans but only quicker and more concentrated than drinking a cup of coffee.

Eating only 8 coffee beans is the equivalent of drinking coffee. You will get a big caffeine boost, nutrient boost and a nice benefit of concentrated antioxidants in your body.

Just be careful not to over go the 400 mg of caffeine per day. As a rule of thumb, take 8 beans as being equal to 100 mg of caffeine, making 32 beans your daily maximum.

How Many Coffee Beans Can You Eat At Once?

The average 8 oz cup of coffee has 100 mg of caffeine, assuming that it is dripped brewed coffee. Each coffee bean has on average 12 mg of caffeine, which makes 33 coffee beans the maximum amount that you can consume in a 24-hour period.

This is only a ballpark figure as there are many different types of coffee beans, different roasts, different varieties. A good calculation is 8 beans = 100 mg.

Why Do People Chew Coffee Beans?

The eating and consumption of coffee beans is not new – it has been around long before drinking coffee became a thing. Coffee beans would be mixed with animal fat and enjoyed as an energy boosting snack as it would give energy for people to easily consume and alleviate fatigue.

Read: Eating coffee beans

Which Coffee Beans Are Best To Eat?

Which exact coffee beans you will enjoy most will depend on your own personal taste preference. I’m a sucker for trying my new specialty grade coffee beans by eating a couple first. It helps me to know what to expect when brewing with them.

The top four coffee beans to try are as follows:

• Roasted Coffee Beans.
• Chocolate-covered espresso beans.
• Gourmet Chocolate covered coffee bean.
• Green Coffee beans.

Can You Eat Raw Coffee Berries?

Yes, you can eat coffee cherries but don’t expect them to taste like coffee. They taste more like hibiscus. They are hard to find and are called cascara or cascara de café and come in dried form.

Can Coffee Detox Your Body?

Obviously it is better to detox without coffee; however, if like myself you simply need to have your morning coffee there is not too much of an impact that a cheeky morning coffee will have on your detox program.

(I regularly detox by “coffee fasting”).

Use Lifeboost coffee as it is the healthiest coffee that you will find.

Final Thoughts – Does Eating Coffee Beans Give You Caffeine? 

If you scanned down for the quick answer to does eating coffee beans give you caffeine, or missed it above, here is the answer again!

Yes! 

Eating coffee beans does give you caffeine and in a quicker and more concentrated format. 

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location