Green Coffee Might Be Your New Morning Beverage

The Nutritious Alternative to One of our Most Prized Beverages

Humans have been enjoying coffee since the middle of the 15th century. While health trends come and go, this dark bitter brew remains part of our morning routines and our cultures. What about health trends within coffee culture? Is it possible to improve on the perfection of coffee? According to green coffee lovers, the answer is yes! Recently, people have started transitioning to using raw coffee beans for its nutritional benefits. Raw coffee beans, or green coffee beans, are essentially the same as black coffee beans that have not undergone a roasting process. 

Coffee Bean Roasting: Healthy or Not?

The main reason we roast coffee beans is because the process helps break down the bitterness of raw beans. It also breaks down some of the nutritional components. Green and black coffee beans are derived from the same plant. Green coffee beans, however, tend to offer more physical and mental health benefits. The roasting process removes most of the nutrients, antioxidants, and pharmacologically active compounds naturally present in coffee beans. Essentially, roasting the coffee beans removes all of the amazing antioxidants and nutrients raw coffee beans contain.

Health Benefits of Green Coffee

There are numerous health benefits that come with incorporating green coffee into one’s diet. One major benefit is increased detoxification. Green coffee beans are naturally filled with antioxidants that flush out toxins, impurities, excess fat, and cholesterol from the system. Green coffee contains chlorogenic acid. This nutrient has a variety of preventative health benefits that can boost longevity and quality of life. It can reduce blood pressure, combat mental health issues, and help with weight regulation. Chlorogenic acid also works to reduce free radicals — volatile molecules known to contribute to illness, aging and disease in the human body. Reducing free radicals aids in the expression of neuroprotective ribosomal proteins, which can in turn reduce the inflammation and stress that contribute to these conditions. Some have even linked chlorogenic acid to reducing the risk of cancer by regulating these volatile molecules. 

Benefits & Concerns of Caffeine Consumption

If coffee plays a vital role in your morning routine, you may be well aware of the fact that caffeine is an addictive substance. Even still, moderate caffeine consumption offers several health benefits. There have been numerous health benefits linked to moderate caffeine consumption. Consuming around 400 mg of caffeine daily can increase short term memory, decrease risk of heart disease, and lower the risk of suicide. 

A meta-analysis of 21 prospective studies of men and women looking at coffee consumption and death from chronic diseases found a link between moderate coffee consumption (3 cups per day) and a 21% lower risk of cardiovascular disease deaths compared with non-drinkers. In another study, a review looking at three large prospective cohorts of men and women in the U.S. found a decreasing risk of suicide with increasing coffee consumption. When compared with no-coffee drinkers, the pooled risk of suicide was 45% lower among those who drank 2-3 cups daily and 53% lower among those who drank 4 or more cups daily. 

However, like with many good things–moderation is important. Consuming an excessive amount of caffeine can lead to serious health concerns. Drinking more than four cups of black coffee a day can lead to negative effects such as headaches, irritability, fast heart rate, and insomnia. Caffeine can cause slight to moderate addiction symptoms as well as interfere with our natural sleep cycle. 

When trying to find a healthy balance of coffee consumption, green coffee may be the answer we have been looking for. Compared to black coffee, one cup of green coffee contains about 20 mg of caffeine, compared to 100 mg in one cup of regular coffee. Heavy coffee drinkers can transition to green coffee to create a better balance of caffeine and nutrients in their life. 

The Taste & Brewing of Green Coffee

Most of the taste and flavor we associate with coffee results from the roasting process. When it comes to taste and appearance, green and black coffee are completely unrelated. Green coffee is generally thicker, and it has a more mild, grassy flavor than black coffee. Some people describe green coffee as more acidic. Most people recommend a medium-fine grain.

Green coffee is offered in a variety of different forms. You can find it in whole beans or ground, similar to black coffee or you may find the extract in powder form and capsules.  Although most of us enjoy the delicious taste of roasted coffee, the flavor of green coffee may be just as enjoyable for some people. 

How do you make it? It is best to steep the grounds in very hot but not boiling water for around ten minutes. Once the grounds have steeped strain with a fine sieve. Once you’ve strained the grounds you are ready to serve and enjoy!

Perhaps you cannot completely give up black coffee. Another option may be to blend the different kinds of beans so you can still get some of the benefits of green, unroasted coffee beans. 

Green Coffee Producers In Our Network

COOPLDC is a cooperative based in Peru with 450 members. The cooperative offers connections to many different producers in South America. All of their coffee is organic and fair trade certified, assuring a socially responsible coffee product, high in quality and respectful of the environment. Check out their profile on our marketplace and discover green coffees there. 

Ultimately, adding green coffee to one’s diet can only improve their quality of life and introduce a delicious new way to get energized!

Have you tried green coffee? Let us know what you think!