Coffee Beans: What Are They?
Coffee beans are the seed of a berry-like fruit from the Coffee tree. Although up to 100 species of plants belong to this family, only four are used for industrial production: Arabica, Robusta, Canephora, and Libérica. The following is intended to detail the nutritional properties of coffee beans.
Several studies have confirmed the properties of coffee beans as a treatment for preventing type 2 diabetes and reducing the body mass index. (1) (2) (3)
Some types of coffee beans, such as green coffee, stimulate the production of enzymes related to preventing diseases such as hepatitis C and cirrhosis. (4)
Finally, the properties of specific molecules in green coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acid, have been confirmed. These can stimulate the oxidation of fats—a natural way to improve cardiovascular health and boost workouts.
Nutritional properties of coffee beans (6 g)
Coffee beans provide virtually no calories. Their nutritional properties may vary depending on how they have been prepared: roasted or with added sugar. The energetic sensation after a cup of coffee does not come from calories but from the stimulus it provokes in the central nervous system.
Regarding the contribution of macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, it is not a food that stands out. You can check it in the following table of nutritional properties of roasted coffee beans:
Calories | 18 | KCal |
Total fat | 1 | g |
Saturated fats | 0 | g |
Trans fat | 0 | g |
C olesterol | 0 | mg |
Sodium | 0 | mg |
Total carbohydrates | 2 | g |
Total fibers | 2 | g |
Sugar | 0 | g |
P roteínas | 0 | g |
Vitamin A | 0 | g |
C vitamin | 1 | % DRI |
Iron | 1 | % DRI |
Does coffee add calories?
Roasted coffee beans provide only 18 Kcal per tablespoon. However, this is only due to adding oils or carbohydrates in the manufacturing process. One of the properties of natural coffee beans is that they do not provide calories.
How much caffeine do coffee beans have?
The caffeine in coffee beans depends on the variety. The robust ones stand out in caffeine content, contributing up to 2.4% of their total weight. Arabica varieties have less caffeine, approximately 1% to 1.8% of the total weight.
Green coffee beans What is it?
Green coffee beans are unroasted coffee beans. This type of grain is sold in the form of sports or dietary supplements for weight loss. Its nutritional properties are better due to its high content of chlorogenic acid.
In addition, green coffee beans can be roasted in a particular way to make bank coffee beans. This type of grain is usually high-priced and is used in haute cuisine dishes and drinks.
As for weight loss, it has potential properties. Synergistic effects have been proven in the combination of caffeine and chlorogenic acid. These two molecules act as thermogenic upon entering the body.
Structure of coffee beans
Coffee beans have a berry-like structure. A surface or skin surrounds them called the exocarp, followed by a layer of pectin that generally covers two pulps—the parts of coffee beans used to make green coffee.
ABSTRACT
- Coffee beans come from the coffee plant. There are different varieties in the Iberian, the Robusta and the Arabica the most common to find in the market.
- The amount of caffeine in coffee beans depends on each array. To have a reference, between 1% and 2.5% of the total weight of coffee beans is caffeine.
- It is not the content of macronutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, or fats that stands out in the nutritional properties of coffee beans. But the range of antioxidants and micronutrients.
- Green coffee has not been roasted, or sugar has been added in its preparation. One of the benefits of green coffee beans is the higher chlorogenic acid content.
- White coffee is lightly roasted green coffee. Due to its particular flavor, this grain has properties in haute cuisine.