How many chocolate covered espresso beans can I eat? Believe it or not, this is a common question.
After all, the bittersweet combination of these two ingredients is hard to resist.
Say goodbye to chocolate covered nuts. Chocolate covered espresso beans are the newest way for sweet tooths out there to get their caffeine fix.
Chocolate-covered coffee beans are just what they sound like they’d be: coffee beans covered in chocolate and served as a snack.
Coffee and chocolate aren’t exactly the healthiest foods. So mixing them together to create a snack isn’t exactly the smartest and healthiest option either.
Despite the prejudice against the two main ingredients, many people are on the caffeine and sugar high for this chocolate covered coffee delight.
Think about it this way. If you’ve been a fan of these delicious snacks for a while, isn’t it time to ask ‘how many chocolate-covered espresso beans can I eat?’
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So, How Many Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Can I Eat?
There is no set number of chocolate-covered espresso beans that’s considered safe to eat during a single setting.
However, it can be interpreted to equate to a safe level of caffeine consumption.
Here are a few things you should keep in mind:
- The average safe level of caffeine consumption for adults is equal to 200 mg of single doses and 400 mg in total a day. This is about 4 cups of filtered pure coffee.
- The caffeine level in coffee beans varies depending on the bean size, strain, and roasting process.
- On average, a chocolate-covered coffee bean contains roughly 12mg of caffeine.
- Adults, therefore, can consume up to 33 chocolate-covered coffee beans without exceeding the safe caffeine level.
- Too much caffeine intake may result in headaches, jitters, mood swings, insomnia, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.
While this may hold true, it can also be attributed to the fact that people consume larger amounts of drip coffee compared to shots of pure espresso.
Espresso Beans vs Coffee Beans
There is no fundamental difference between the two, as espresso beans are nothing but coffee beans roasted and ground a specific way.
In other words, the difference between coffee beans and espresso beans is negligible when eating them.
However, there are still two things that you might want to consider: the type of bean and the roasting process.
The Beans
Most types of beans can be used in making chocolate covered espresso beans, except for two: pea berry and ultra-light roast. This is due to the density of the beans, not their respective flavors.
Pea berries are dense because of their shape, while ultra-light roast beans become denser during the roasting process.
While both are equally tasty, you might want to steer away from these two for the sake of your teeth.
The Roasting Process
The roasting process plays a huge role in developing the quality of espresso beans.
Generally, darker roasted coffee beans have a more robust flavor compared to other bean types.
In terms of the level of caffeine, an average cup of drip coffee will contain more caffeine compared to a shot of espresso.
Time to Know: Risks and Benefits
Consuming chocolate-covered coffee beans isn’t much of a risk as long as it’s in moderation.
Much like a sweetened snack, a couple of these chocolate-covered delights should keep your sweet tooth and caffeine cravings satisfied.
So, for anyone who’s ever wondered how many chocolate-covered espresso beans can I eat, here are of the risks and benefits of consuming this delightful snack:
The Risks
Sleeping Difficulties
Caffeine is known for giving people a significant energy boost.
While this is an advantage, particularly in the morning, consuming chocolate covered coffee beans at night may result in sleeping problems.
A caffeine high can last up to 9 hours, even after consumption.
Diabetes
Just like consuming any sweetened snack high in sugar and cholesterol, consuming too much chocolate-covered espresso beans may contribute to the development of some type of diabetes.
The Benefits
Antioxidants
Coffee beans are known for their high antioxidant levels. Antioxidants can help prevent numerous health problems.
This includes things like the risk of diabetes, inflammation, and the growth of cancer cells.
Efficient Caffeine Source
Generally, the amount of caffeine present in a cup of coffee is roughly equal to the caffeine contained in about eight beans.
Consuming caffeine has benefits to the brain and nervous system, such as a boost in energy as well as improvement in mood, memory, performance, alertness, contentment, and attention.
Getting the best out of your Bialetti Espresso Maker
While it is easy to use your Bialetti espresso maker, there are tips I would like to impart to you as you make espresso perfection with the former.
- Use coffee grounds that are specifically made for a Moka coffee maker. It is not advisable to use extremely fine ground coffee.
- Regularly check the funnel, the filter plate, and the washer. They need to be replaced over time.
- Never use the pot without water. Basic.
- To avoid the clogging of the filter plate, never use substances other than coffee, cacao powder, tea, or instant coffee.
- Getting the right temperature may take some trial and error on your part. If the heat is too high, your coffee will have an ashy, burnt taste.
- Store your coffee grounds in an airtight container. It should be away from sunlight, heat, or humidity.
- Use filtered water for the best coffee taste.
Where to Put it?
If you’re not a big fan of munching on coffee beans, here are a few ways you can still put them to use:
- Make a spread by freezing, then pulse-blitzing the chocolate beans into a paste. You can use the spread as a substitute for Nutella or a sweetener for your pancakes.
- Crumbled chocolate covered espresso beans can be a perfect topping for your plain vanilla ice cream.
- Mix the chocolate bean crumbs into a bottle of vodka or grappa to let it infuse into the alcohol. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight for 5 to 10 days for a luscious bottle of martini.
- Crumble and melt the chocolate beans and add it into any dessert like ice cream or panna cotta for that sweet taste but with the kick of coffee.
- Add fine crumbs of chocolate-covered espresso beans into a hot cup of milk to make a creamy cup of hot mocha.
How Much Is Enough?
Is it time to say goodbye to chocolate-covered coffee beans and go back to good old chocolate and coffee individually?
Not necessarily. Consuming chocolate covered coffee beans brings both health risks and benefits.
That is why it is essential to ask yourself how many chocolate-covered espresso beans can I eat to ensure that you’re consuming these delights in moderation.