How Many Coffee Beans Can You Eat?

Eating coffee beans has a lot of health benefits recommended by dietitians, doctors, and even nutritionists. Beyond health benefits, eating coffee beans has mental state benefits, physical performance benefits, and social perks. If you decide to start eating coffee beans, you’re probably wondering, how many coffee beans can you eat at once without any problems?

How Many Coffee Beans Can You Eat?

You can eat 20 to 30 coffee beans if you aren’t sensitive to them. For a typical 8-ounce cup of coffee, that’s around 7–10 beans per serving. People without caffeine sensitivity and who aren’t pregnant consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, which equals about three cups of coffee or approximately 30 coffee beans.

A purple oval-shaped tin can filled with roasted coffee beans

What Do Coffee Beans Taste Like?

Coffee beans have a powerful, bitter flavor. Because of this, chocolate is the ideal complement. They are a wonderful treat for coffee enthusiasts because they have a pleasing crunch, and the combination of bitter coffee flavor and sweet chocolate is quite pleasant.

They are crunchy and not too hard, so eating them alone is enjoyable without waiting for more chocolate. Just enough of the grit seems to be downplayed by the sweet, silky chocolate to keep fans coming back for more.

What Are the Potential Advantages of Consuming Them?

From their health benefits to the beautiful smell,  coffee beans are a delicious addition to your diet. They can be roasted to improve their flavor for easier consumption. Roasting also adds a rich color to the beans, making them look more attractive if roasted whole or ground into powder form.

Antihistamine

Roasted coffee beans contain diphenhydramine, a decongestant similar to an over-the-counter cold remedy like Sudafed.

Diphenhydramine might help relieve allergy symptoms when used regularly.

Antioxidants

Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants that protect against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Antioxidants are natural compounds that help the body fight harmful free radicals that can lead to cell damage and disease.

Antioxidant levels vary according to how the beans were roasted. Darker roasts have higher antioxidant levels than lighter roasts.

Improved Memory and Learning Ability

Coffee can help improve memory and learning ability because it contains an amino acid called tyrosine, which aids in forming certain brain chemicals (tyrosine hydroxylase). Tyrosine is also found in turkeys and fish. However, these foods do not contain as much tyrosine as coffee does.

Reduce Fatigue

Drinking coffee gives you caffeine. However, eating the beans gives you even more. Additionally, it’s easier for your body to absorb caffeine through your mouth’s mucous membranes than through your stomach.

Studies indicate that caffeine can reduce fatigue, improve brain performance and memory, and reduce the chances of Type 2 diabetes.

Other Benefits

  • Improved cardiovascular health by reducing stress on the body and improving blood circulation in the brain.
  • Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes by lowering insulin levels.
  • Reduced risk of obesity due to its high-calorie content (one cup has around 200 calories).

Potential Risks

Eating raw beans may be a risk for individuals with an underactive thyroid gland, pregnant women, or women who are breastfeeding. Roasted beans may increase a woman’s risk of miscarriage and esophageal cancer.

Eating unroasted beans can also lead to nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain if the beans contain methylxanthines, which can contribute to caffeine overdose.

A mini mason jar overflowing with fresh coffee beans was placed near a wooden wall

Other Risks

  • Excessive consumption of roasted beans can increase your risk of getting Caco-2 cancer that affects the mouth and throat.
  • Drinking coffee can also cause constipation if it’s not prepared properly.
  • Caffeine in the body can cause jitteriness, abnormal heart rhythms, and potentially fatal arrhythmias.

Related Questions

Is It Possible to Eat Too Many Coffee Beans?

It is possible to eat too many. Although they are rich in antioxidants, they are also high in fat and calories. If you eat too many raw beans, your body might be unable to burn off most calories. This can result in weight gain and an increased risk for heart disease.

Is It Okay to Eat Roasted Coffee Beans?

Eating coffee beans in moderation is okay because they are rich in antioxidants like chlorogenic acid (CGA) and quercetin. They also contain more than 100 other compounds with health benefits, including caffeine, phenolic acids (flavonoids), phytosterols, and tannins.

Can You Munch on Coffee Beans?

You can munch on coffee beans. In fact, many people do just that. They can be found worldwide in the form of various products, including ground coffee or whole beans that you can buy and grind yourself. One of the most common ways to consume them is by eating them raw, right off the plant.

Conclusion

So when it comes to how many coffee beans you can eat, if you’re not a regular coffee drinker, you are probably safe with the 20-30 bean limit. If you are sensitive to caffeine, don’t go overboard with the beans. And if you’re pregnant, avoid the beans at all costs.