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Coffee And Orange Juice
About adding coffee to orange juice, how to make it, and the health benefits.
Published March 18, 2022
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Chandra Melo
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Many people start their day with either one or perhaps both of two drinks: orange juice and coffee. Coffee is a great drink for helping you wake up, while orange juice can boost your health and is a great source of vitamin C in the morning. What you might not have considered, however, is combining coffee and orange juice to make a coffee and orange juice mix. The idea of caffeinated orange juice might sound completely weird at first, but it might be worth giving coffee orange juice a try. You absolutely can mix coffee and orange juice together and there are even coffee shops that offer drinks like iced coffee with orange juice for those who like it.
Things to Know About Coffee and Orange Juice
The first thing is to dispel some myths about combining coffee with orange. Some people believe that combining these liquids can curdle in your cup or have an effect on your health such as giving you a stomach-ache or damaging your teeth. But is there any truth in this?
When it comes to your teeth, drinking orange juice with your coffee probably won’t cause any more damage to your teeth than regular coffee would. Both orange juice and coffee are slightly acidic drinks, which can contribute to a slow breakdown of the enamel on your teeth. Drinking a lot of coffee or orange juice can cause some damage to your teeth, especially if you brush them right after, but combining orange juice and coffee is unlikely to cause any worse damage. If you are concerned, the best person to speak to is your dentist.
But what about stomach aches? If you normally have a cup of coffee and then grab a glass of orange juice at breakfast and don’t have any issues, then mixing the two together will probably not cause any issues for you. However, if you tend to get stomach issues after you drink coffee, then it might be worth switching to a low-acid coffee brand or making sure that you have eaten a good breakfast before you drink OJ with coffee will help you avoid this.
Finally, the drink itself will not curdle. However, if you make a milk and orange juice drink with coffee, the milk may curdle due to the acidity in the coffee and citrus. If you have ever made the mistake of adding lemon and milk or cream to your tea, then you might know what this looks like. However, if you’re interested in an instant coffee and lemon juice diet then you will probably know that lemons are much more acidic in comparison with oranges, so coffee juice with orange will mean that the milk or cream you add is less likely to curdle. Drinking it black is the best way to avoid this issue.
Where to Try Coffee Orange Juice
If you want to try this unusual coffee flavored orange juice drink, then it’s really taken off in the state of Arizona. Back in 2017, a coffee shop in Arizona called Infusion started selling SprOJ, a version of coffee and juice. The drink combines espresso and orange juice that are blended together. It has a frothy top and is served over ice. Check your local coffee shops to see if you can find other versions of this coffee and citrus drink. You’re probably more likely to find lemon, as this is a more common mixer.
How to Make Iced Coffee Orange Juice
Coffee and orange juice do make for an unusual drink; however, it can work a lot better than you might first think. The sweet and citrus flavors of the orange actually balance quite well with the bold espresso, making a very refreshing drink for the morning.
To make this drink, you’ll need:
· Coffee maker or espresso machine
· Tall glass
· Spoon
· 2oz espresso or ½ cup brewed coffee
· ½ cup orange juice or freshly squeezed oranges
· Tonic or sparkling water
· Ice
To make it:
- Brew your coffee or espresso and allow it to cool. It’s a good idea to make the coffee a little stronger than you normally would to keep the balance of flavors right.
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Pour the orange juice over the ice, and then poor the cooled coffee on the top.
- You can add a splash of sparkling water or tonic on the top if you like, to make your drink lighter and more refreshing.
- Stir the drink and enjoy!
Health Benefits of Orange Juice
Does orange juice contain caffeine? While orange juice can give you some energy in the morning, it’s not because it is caffeinated. Orange juice is enjoyed around the world by many people, and it is packed with vital nutrients for your body such as potassium and vitamin C. Commercial varieties of orange juice are also often enriched with vitamin D and calcium. If you are interested in drinking more orange juice by adding it to your coffee, then these are some of the main health benefits that you might enjoy.
Nutrient Rich
Orange juice is a rich source of many nutrients, including potassium, folate, and vitamin C. One 8oz serving of orange juice provides around two grams of protein, twenty-six grams of carbohydrates, 67% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C, 15% of the daily recommended intake of folate, 6% of the daily recommended intake of magnesium, and 10% of the daily recommended intake of potassium. Orange juice is one of the best concentrated sources of vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that is a very powerful antioxidant and plays an important role in your immune health.
Along with this, vitamin C also helps with wound healing, bone formation, and gum health. It is also rich in folate, which is important for reproductive health and is needed for DNA synthesis. Along with vitamin C, orange juice is also very high in potassium, a mineral that prevents bone loss, regulates blood pressure, and can protect against stroke and heart disease.
Rich in Antioxidants
The antioxidants in orange juice promote health by preventing oxidative damage. This refers to an imbalance between antioxidants in the body and free radicals, which are unstable and harmful molecules. Research has shown that antioxidants are crucial to maintaining good overall health. They may even be able to help protect your body against chronic health conditions including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Orange juice is a great source of various antioxidants including ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and flavonoids. One study conducted over eight weeks found that drinking 25oz of orange juice can significantly increase antioxidant status. In a study of more than four thousand adults, orange juice was considered to be one of the best sources of antioxidants in the Western diet along with berries, tea, supplements, vegetables, and wine.
Prevent Kidney Stones
Kidney stones refer to small deposits of minerals that build up over time in your kidneys. They can lead to a range of symptoms such as nausea, pain, and even blood in your urine. Drinking juice can make urine more alkaline by increasing its pH. Studies have shown that a more alkaline urine pH can help to prevent kidney stones. One study found that people who consume orange juice at least once a day had a 12% lower risk of developing kidney stones.
Boost Heart Health
Heart disease is a serious issue, which accounts for more than seventeen million deaths around the world each year. Some studies find that drinking orange juice can reduce various different factors for heart disease including high cholesterol and high blood pressure. One study of 129 participants found that consuming orange juice over the long term was successful in lowering levels of LDL and total cholesterol. Along with this, a review of nineteen studies found that drinking fruit juice in general was an effective way to decrease the diastolic blood pressure in adults.
Reduce Inflammation
Acute inflammation is a normal part of our body’s immune response, which is designed to protect against infection and disease. However, high inflammation levels in the long term are believed to be a risk factor for developing chronic diseases. C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukin-6 are all elevated markers of inflammation that have been seen in conditions including some cancers, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Some studies have suggested that consuming orange juice can help with decreasing inflammation and the problems that are associated with it.
Benefits of Coffee
While too much coffee can give you the caffeine jitters, there are plenty of health reasons to consider drinking coffee too. Like orange juice, coffee is also a great source of antioxidants and studies have found that regular coffee drinkers are at a lower risk of heart disease compared to people who do not drink coffee. When coffee and orange juice are combined, it can offer tons of different health benefits.
While mixing coffee and orange juice might not be something you have ever considered, this drink can actually be tastier than you might think and very refreshing.
About the author
Chandra Melo
Marketing as job, barista as passion. An authentic coffee lover, looking for the next fantastic cup of coffee that I will fall in love with. Coffee, for me, is more than a beverage. It's about community and connection - how can all the world consume the same fruit? And differently? How can we have so many different tastes? I also don't know. And because of this, I feel in love each day more for this world. Happy to share and make a change in the coffee community.
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