Can You Get a Caffeine Buzz from Eating Coffee Beans?
Can you get a caffeine buzz from eating coffee beans? Yes, you can - provided you consume them directly and in sufficient quantity. Coffee beans naturally contain caffeine, which can be absorbed into your bloodstream when consumed in this way. This can provide similar effects to drinking a cup of coffee, such as increased alertness and energy.
Understanding Caffeine Content in Coffee Beans
The amount of caffeine in a single coffee bean varies depending on the type of bean, but on average, a coffee bean contains about 5-10 milligrams of caffeine. Chewing or consuming multiple beans can introduce a significant amount of caffeine to your system.
The Experience of Eating Coffee Beans
I, for one, eat coffee beans to get a hint of flavor before brewing coffee. This practice serves as a form of self-improvement, training my senses of smell and taste to better understand the type of coffee I am about to brew. This way, I can better determine the brewing process, extracting the best flavors from the beans.
From a purely physiological standpoint, eating coffee beans without a brewing process will indeed provide a caffeine buzz, as you consume it all the way without filtration or extraction. However, the experience is somewhat limited. For many people, eating whole coffee beans is quite bitter and may not be a pleasant way to consume caffeine.
Better Absorption: Chewing Coffee Beans
The buccal mucosa plays a significant role in the absorption of caffeine when chewing coffee beans. In a study, chewing 28 coffee beans could deliver over 300 milligrams of caffeine to your system. This amount could potentially lead to side effects such as jitteriness, anxiety, or insomnia.
While the amount of caffeine in 300 milligrams is substantial, it is important to note that this effect can be experienced even with a smaller number of beans. A cup of brewed coffee typically contains about 96 milligrams of caffeine. Chewing just a small portion of coffee beans can provide a much higher dose of caffeine, resulting in a powerful caffeine buzz.
Preparation Methods and Caffeine Absorption
The method of preparation does not significantly affect the caffeine content in coffee beans. An Italian espresso, weighing 7 grams, or any other coffee brewed in the third-wave style, which weighs between 12 and 24 grams, will provide the common caffeine effect. Consuming a similar amount in an edible form, such as in a single muffin, will have the same effect on your body.
The 'buzz' is generated by the presence of the seeds themselves, not by heat or the addition of water. Therefore, the caffeine in the beans is not activated by brewing or roasting; it is present in the raw form.