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Caffeine In Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
If you want a snack to give you some more energy while tasting great at the same time, chocolate covered espresso beans might be worth considering. Check our article to know more about chocolate covered espresso beans.
Published March 11, 2022
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Johan Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
Chocolate and espresso beans are both ingredients that contain caffeine, and you might enjoy this snack if you love both. Read on to find out more about the caffeine in chocolate covered coffee beans, chocolate covered espresso beans calories, and even how to make your own.
Caffeine Content in Coffee
How much caffeine in chocolate covered espresso beans? These snacks definitely pack some caffeine, making them an ideal choice for anybody who wants a quick pick-me-up without having to drink a cup of coffee. A single espresso bean typically contains around 1.2mg of caffeine, with a single cup of coffee typically containing around 120mg of caffeine, and around one hundred beans going into a standard cup. In terms of the chocolate, this will depend on the type of chocolate that is used. Dark chocolate espresso beans caffeine levels tend to be higher compared to those that are covered in other types of chocolate like milk chocolate or white chocolate. Dark chocolate contains around 0.8mg of caffeine per gram, and around 1-3mg of dark chocolate will be needed to cover an espresso bean. Keeping all of this in mind, you can expect to get around 2-4mg of caffeine per dark chocolate-covered espresso bean.
Caffeine Content in Chocolate
The caffeine content in the chocolate that covers the beans will depend on the type that you purchase. Be sure to read the label on the chocolate covered espresso beans to find out more about the caffeine level. Note that chocolate covered espresso beans will each contain between 1-3mg of caffeine just from the chocolate depending on the type you get. In general, dark chocolate has the highest caffeine content with 12mg of caffeine per ounce, while milk chocolate is lower with 9mg of caffeine per 1.5 ounces. On the other hand, if you want to get decaf chocolate covered coffee beans, or a lower-caffeine option, white chocolate contains 0mg of caffeine. The darker the chocolate, the more caffeine you are consuming.
Energy Boost
Do chocolate covered coffee beans give you energy? If you are wondering, do chocolate covered coffee beans have caffeine that is enough to give you the boost you need, then this will depend on how many you consume, and how high your tolerance to caffeine is. Do espresso beans have more caffeine than a cup of coffee? Not in a single bean since around one hundred beans are used to make a standard cup of coffee and the caffeine is extracted from the bean during the brewing process. How much energy you can get from the caffeine in chocolate covered coffee beans will depend on how many you eat. Chances are that you won’t get as much caffeine as you would from drinking a cup of coffee as you would need to eat quite a lot of beans to get the same amount.
Your caffeine tolerance will also play a part in how much energy you can get. If you drink a lot of strong coffee then chances are that the chocolate covered espresso beans caffeine is barely going to affect you. But can caffeine in chocolate keep you awake? While it will be unlikely to have any impact on somebody who drinks coffee and is used to caffeine, it might affect you if you are not used to drinking coffee or tea or eating chocolate and do not have a very high tolerance of caffeine at all.
It is also important to note that eating whole coffee beans and drinking coffee are two different things. When you chew and consume the coffee beans, you will get a higher concentration of caffeine compared to drinking a cup of coffee, which is likely to provide a quicker reaction to the caffeine. On the other hand, when you drink coffee, the beans are mixed with water, which gives you a milder energy boost in comparison as the caffeine will take longer to be absorbed into your body. This is why it is safe to drink up to five cups of espresso daily.
Health
Are chocolate covered coffee beans bad for you? Just like anything containing chocolate, this is something that you will probably want to eat in moderation as a treat. While having a few beans as a snack from time to time is highly unlikely to impact your health especially if you are choosing dark chocolate espresso beans, it’s important to be mindful of the sugar content. When it comes to the chocolate covered coffee beans calories, one cup of beans contains around 143 calories, making it a reasonable snack to have if you don’t want anything too calorific, while still being able to get a sweet fix. On average, one cup of chocolate covered espresso beans contains around 5g of fat, 21g of carbs, and 4g of protein for those who are interested in tracking macros.
Are Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Beneficial to Health?
Along with being a sweet snack that is relatively low in calories compared to others and a good way to get an energy boost on the go, there are several health benefits that you can get from the caffeine and coffee in this snack. Some reasons to consider eating chocolate coated espresso beans as a snack include:
Since the coffee beans do not go through the same processes as when making a cup of coffee, the overall nutritional value of the beans remains intact. Eating them whole gives you better access to the nutrients of the beans compared to drinking coffee. Coffee beans are filled with antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid, which is known for several health benefits.
- They have inflammation-fighting properties
- They may help to reduce the risk of cancer
- They can help to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Dark chocolate in particular is rich in antioxidants and minerals including zinc, magnesium, and iron
However, bear in mind that despite the health benefits, chocolate covered coffee beans are not health supplements and do have some sugar and fat content, so it’s important to limit your consumption. As a general rule, you should try to eat no more than thirty beans per day.
How to Make Your Own Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
Chocolate covered coffee beans are a delicious snack that you can find at lots of coffee stores and online retailers. They are convenient to buy whether you are out grocery shopping or shopping online. However, they can also be quite expensive. The good news is that if you want to save money without giving up this snack, you can easily make your own at home. All you need is some coffee beans and melted chocolate of your choice. Cover the coffee beans with the chocolate before allowing them to cool.
Can You Get Decaf Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans?
Caffeine is a stimulant that a lot of people today depend on. However, it is important to remember the importance of putting healthy limits on the amount of this stimulant that you have. While it’s usually safe to consume in moderation, there are some instances where it may be necessary to reduce or even cut out caffeine. People who suffer from conditions such as high blood pressure, extreme anxiety, insomnia, and arrhythmias may benefit from reducing or cutting out caffeine. Caffeine is also not recommended in pregnancy or to give to children and teenagers.
Whether you want to just enough of the flavor or need to enjoy the caffeine, the good news is that decaf chocolate covered coffee beans are available. Ideally, you should get coffee beans that are covered in either milk chocolate or white chocolate, as this tends to be lower in caffeine compared to dark chocolate. You can also easily make your own using high-quality decaf whole beans and a melted chocolate of your choice for the coating.
Final Thoughts
Chocolate covered coffee beans can be a delicious, fairly healthy snack that will provide you with an energy boost. The combination of dark chocolate with the roasted coffee bean is taste perfection. However, consume these treats in moderation as although they do have some health benefits, it is important to be careful of how much caffeine you are consuming, especially as both coffee beans and chocolate contain caffeine. Ideally, you should not consume more than thirty per day, although 4-5 is usually enough to give you the little energy boost that you need. It is also worth keeping an eye on how much coffee you are drinking while eating chocolate-covered coffee beans. Monitor your entire caffeine consumption and remember that caffeine isn’t just found in coffee, it is also found in chocolate, green tea, regular tea, energy drinks, and more.
If you want a sweet snack that will give you an energy boost while being fairly low in calories and good for your health, chocolate covered coffee beans in moderation can be a good idea.
About the author
Johan Hedlund
I´m living in Karlstad, Sweden with my family. Been working the last 25 years with several start ups in the tech industry. Coffee has been an integral part, both professionally and privately. Eager to learn new things and happy to be a member of the era of we community.
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