What Are The Risks Of Eating A Lot Of Chocolate Covered Beans
Yes, coffee beans covered in chocolate are an irresistible snack. But you really need to track your consumption and reign yourself in. There are plenty of reasons for this.
For starters, pumping too much sugar in your system is never a good idea. Doing so increases your chances of becoming diabetic and experiencing an unhealthy weight gain.
Caffeine in large amounts also does its share of damage. Consuming more than 550 mg per day is not recommended since its taxing to your body. Excess caffeine in your system causes uncomfortable side effects which include:
All in all, tracking your caffeine consumption is the easiest way to avoid this. Eat small amounts of these beans, especially if you use other caffeine products as well.
How Much Is Too Much
You might worry that eating chocolate coffee beans will give you too much caffeine. Dont fret. Youd have to eat a whole lot of beans!
A single chocolate espresso bean only contains about 12 mg of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of drip coffee can give you anywhere from 95 to 165 mg of caffeine. For adults, 400 mg of caffeine per day is safe. Be sure to consider all sources of caffeine. Did you have a couple cups of coffee in the morning? What about that caffeinated soda at lunch? When you add in munching a bunch of beans in the afternoon, you may be getting more caffeine than you realize.
The type of coffee bean will affect the amount of caffeine. Most brands use arabica beans. However, some brands use the robusta bean, which may have twice the amount of caffeine. Keep in mind that the caffeine content also depends on the kind of chocolate you use. A coffee bean covered with dark chocolate has more caffeine than one covered in milk or white chocolate.
And heres another plug for combining chocolate and coffee. A study from the University of Georgia found that dark chocolate counter-acts some of the negative effects of caffeine. While caffeine alone can increase anxiety, adding chocolate can help temper your mood.
Types Of Chocolate Types Of Roasts
chocolate covered coffee beans by Lily, via Flickr
When you think of the types of coffee you like, you often think in terms of light versus medium versus dark roast.
Well, with chocolate, many people find they do the same thing. Theres Milk , Medium , and Dark.
And, then there is that wildcard player: White chocolate.
What is the real story?
Do dark chocolate and dark roast go the best together?
Lets see what the research tells us.
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Can Chocolate Covered Beans Act As A Coffee Substitute
As a coffee enthusiast, theres no beverage that comes close to your favorite drink. Really, theres no substitute for the unique flavor and stimulating effect from your cup of coffee. So what about chocolate-covered coffee beans?
Well, heres the surprising thing: the tasty snacks actually outclass regular coffee in certain areas.
For starters, getting good coffee at the office is not a guarantee. If you dont want to get your caffeine from cold and boring coffee, then these tasty snacks are the perfect substitute. Munching a handful of these will give you the energy boost to get through the day.
That said, keep in mind that coffee beans covered in chocolate actually have more caffeine than an average cup of coffee. The standard amount of caffeine in a single bean is 4-6 mg. Snacking on 30 pieces in one sitting will pump around 180 mg of caffeine into your system. How does a cup of coffee compare?
Well, a standard cup of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine, 150 mg if its great coffee. Doing the math shows that youll get more bang for less with chocolate-covered beans.
In addition, dark chocolate contains both caffeine and sugar, which add to the stimulating effect.
What Are White Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Contents
White chocolate-covered coffee beans are a sweet treat confection that is made by coating espresso roasted coffee beans with white chocolate.
The confections are made predominately with espresso coffee beans as they are roasted to a higher level and are more brittle than beans that are of lower roast profile.
The type of white chocolate used can vary from regular to gourmet milk chocolate and high-quality gourmet chocolate that is super delicious.
Read:Are espresso beans edible
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How To Make Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
Many years ago, when I was young and naive, I decided to impress a first date by volunteering to accompany them on a single-day 50 kilometre hike.
I survived that day for one reason and one reason alone: Eating coffee beans for energy. Since then, I have refused to embark on any physical challenge without a full bag of these little energy powerhouses.
Whether your challenge is enduring a long hike, getting through a 12 hour workday, or finding the perfect edible Christmas gift, this whole coffee bean recipe is the answer. Home Grounds will guide you through how to make chocolate covered coffee beans so that you too can survive whatever life throws your way.
Recommended Reading: How Is Coffee Good For You
Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
While the packaging is a little lackluster, the chocolate beans inside are lovely. The beans inside are 100% Arabica, and are dark roasted before being covered in a ton of dark chocolate. So, the flavor is rich and a little on the bitter side, though the dark chocolate on these is less intense than some of the others on the list.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Three ingredient recipe: All you need to make these chocolate covered coffee beans? Yep, you guessed it: chocolate and espresso beans.
- Quick and easy: The hardest part of this recipe is transferring the chocolate coated beans to parchment paper, which really isn’t that hard at all. Perfect for any skill level!
- Delicious DIY gift: Transfer your homemade chocolate covered coffee beans to a cute glass jar, add a ribbon and a tag and voilà! Your very own homemade edible gift, perfect for holidays, a hostess gift, birthdays and more.
- Topping for your favorite desserts: Keep a batch of these on hand for topping ice cream, cakes, chocolate mousse, cupcakes and more.
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Best White Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
If you dont want to make your own white chocolate covered chocolate beans you can take the easy route and buy them.
Here are what I consider to be the best white chocolate covered coffee beans that you will find anywhere.
- Andy Anand Belgian White Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans: Artisan chocolate-covered espresso beans that get the benefit of Chocolate master Andy Anand getting the very best out of the absolute best chocolate in the world. The espresso beans are coated in Belgian white chocolate and are then rolled and sprinkled in coffee grounds. These are expensive but worth it for a once in a while treat.
- Britt White Chocolate Covered Peaberry Coffee Beans: Exactly what I am suggesting you try to make with the recipe above, with one exception my recipe suggests the use of volcanic peaberry coffee beans. The beans used by Britt are regular peaberry coffee beans.
- Dilettante White Chocolate Covered Peaberry Coffee Beans: Each espresso bean used is free from oils, filters and uses a high-quality chocolate to give a premium taste.
- Greenwell farms White Chocolate Covered Kona Coffee Beans: These are high quality ultra rare Hawaiian peaberry volcanic coffee beans coated in white chocolate. Made by a 5th generation chocolatier. Tasty and worth it!
- Delish Gourmet White Chocolate Espresso Beans: High quality espresso coffee beans that have been married with rich white chocolate.
You can buy these beans online from their websites or from Amazon, Walmart, Target, or eBay.
Add A Second Coat Of Chocolate
If youd like your beans to have a higher ratio of chocolate to coffee bean, simply repeat steps 1 through 4 as many times as you would like. You could even layer different types of chocolate.
PRO TIP: You may wonder how commercial chocolate-coated beans get their shine. This is actually the result of a lacquer spray that is unavailable to the average home chef. Dont worry! The taste and texture will be exactly the same.
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What Makes Espresso Beans Different From Regular Beans
Fundamentally, theres no difference between coffee beans and espresso beans. Theyre both harvested from the same plants. Theres no such thing as an espresso tree where espresso beans are grown separately from coffee beans.
There can be differences in how theyre roasted, however, and this can impact everything from their taste to their shelf life.
Heres the rundown:
- Since espresso beans are valued for their strong flavor, theyre usually roasted for longer periods of time.
- A longer roast makes them larger and darker than other coffee beans. Their water evaporates, and their fibers expand.
- Regular coffee beans can run the gamut between light, medium, medium-dark and dark, but since espresso beans are roasted more, theyre always medium-dark or dark.
To put it another way, coffee beans and espresso beans are plucked from the same trees, but they undergo different roasting processes that make espresso beans darker, larger and stronger.
My List Of The Best Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
Its time to put your napkin to work.
My research found that these products are not only a good value purchase. These chocolate covered coffee beans garnered consistent positive feedback from customers.
If you are looking for that perfect gift for a special occasion, then surprise your coffee lover friend. They will not be disappointed.
Without further ado
Ghirardelli is well know for high quality chocolate. So, its no surprise that they have such positive reviews when it comes to chocolate covered beans.
The packaging for this treat is a stand up Ziploc bag that also doubles as storage.
One reviewer had a great idea of giving these beans away as a wedding favor.
How did it work out?
Guests were so pleased and many ended up contacting them later to find out where they could buy more.
The scuttlebutt around the internet is that ordering online provides a fresher product than you can get at your local grocery store.
California based Trader Joes is a specialty grocery store that carries all kinds of odds and ends products like chocolate covered coffee beans.
While visiting our relatives in San Diego, I found that I love all kinds of Trader Joes products.
While Ghirardellis had higher review ratings , Trader Joes is the #1 ranked product in the Amazon Candy & Chocolate Coated Espresso Beans Department.
But, if you arent concerned with those limitations, then you cant go wrong buying these.
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Review Of 5 Different Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
While dark chocolate seems to be the most common form for chocolate coffee beans, its not the only option. Milk chocolate, white chocolate, and marbled covered beans are all options. My personal favorite is one covered with a marbled mix of milk and white chocolate. While higher on the calorie scale, its oh so creamy and delicious!
Be sure to look for a product with a whole coffee bean. Some cheaper brands only include pieces or chips of a coffee bean. You wont know how much of the bean there actually is. Most brands use arabica beans. However, some brands use the robusta bean, which may have twice the amount of caffeine as an arabica.
If you know what you like, many bags come with a single type of chocolate. However, if you like to mix it up, you can find bags that have a mix of all the chocolate types.
This brand is great for people who want a little more kick. They use robusta beans instead of arabica. That means they have twice the amount of caffeine as most other beans. Keep that in mind when youre figuring how much is too much caffeine.These have a balance of chocolate and coffee bean. It takes 22 pieces to make a 30-gram serving, which has 140 calories. Sweet Gourmet makes their dark chocolate espresso beans available in a 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-pound bag. They are Kosher certified. The beans have a candy coating to get that glossy shine.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Chocolate Covered Espresso Bean
The caffeine content of chocolate-covered espresso beans is pretty much the same as plain espresso beans.
There might be a few milligrams more, but chocolate doesnt have that much caffeine it would take around four candy bars to give you the same buzz as a cup of coffee. Its the sugar more than the caffeine that makes chocolate-covered espresso beans so addictive.
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Can You Brew Coffee With These Beans
Short answer: no. The chocolate element will probably wreak havoc with your maker and leave you with a big mess on your hands. You dont want to do that. Besides, even if you could brew with these beans, you wouldnt want to for the simple fact that it isnt at all economical to do so. The best chocolate-covered coffee beans for brewing delicious espresso are non-existent.
If youre looking for coffee with chocolate flavor, you may be pleased to know that there are a wide variety of brewing beans that are naturally infused with hints of cocoa. These will be a great way to add some sweetness to your morning cup of joe.
On the other hand, you can make your own chocolate-covered coffee beans and brew coffee with the leftovers! Heres how.
Health Benefits Of Chocolate
Dont make the mistake of writing off chocolate-covered espresso beans as a healthy snack. When taken moderately, they can do a lot of good for your health.
Did you know that both coffee and dark chocolate contain an antioxidant called flavanols? Well, they do. Flavanols play a major part in improving your vascular health and the regulation of blood sugar.
With this in mind, its easy to see why chocolate-covered espresso beans can help combat diabetes.
Finally, the energy-packed snacks help keep you alert and attentive. Munching a handful of these snacks beforehand is the perfect way to get psyched for any intensive task.
However, these health benefits only apply to a dark chocolate and coffee bean combo. Its important to note that milk and white chocolate do not have the high percentage of cacao that dark chocolate has. This means that they both have only trace amounts of flavanols.
Also, since they have a higher concentration of sugar, it offsets any health benefits from the antioxidants.
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Gourmet White Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Recipe
When you are looking for a great white chocolate covered espresso beans recipe, you might as well go all in and use Belgian white chocolate and volcanic peaberry espresso beans for a true gourmet experience.
This article focuses on the subject of white chocolate-covered espresso beans, a gourmet recipe and where you can buy them should you not be the cooking type.
Keep reading and enjoy this article.
Sweet Gourmet Dark Chocolate Espresso Coffee Beans
Rounding out the list of amazing chocolate covered espresso bean options is the Sweet Gourmet option. If you are Jewish, you will be happy to know that these beans are Kosher certified!
They cover their robustly roasted beans in dark chocolate. These beans are smaller than other roasters, so you can eat more of them at a time, making it feel like a real splurge. They have around 270mg of caffeine in a serving, but their serving is 33 pieces, so treat yourself to a little chocolate binge!
These beans work well in milkshakes for an extra kick. Its a great way to enjoy the Starbucks frappe experience without the Starbucks price tag attached. Be sure to store them properly to avoid melting.
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Balis Best Espresso Candy
Balis offering is one of the most unique on this list. While its called espresso candy, it does contain real Sumatra coffee beans. The pieces are fold wrapped to preserve freshness and aroma. Inside the wonderfully smooth chocolate coat are amply sized espresso beans. So you can count on getting that great punch of coffee flavor.
Yupik Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans
Yupik Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans is a moderately priced twopound bag that will be perfect for buyers who would like to save some money.
Unfortunately, though, the affordability factor is really the biggest selling point. The beans themselves are peculiarly small, while the dark chocolate features a bitter aftertaste. They arent horrible, but the taste may make you regret buying two pounds of the product.
In the battle of quantity over quality, its the quantity that characterizes this pick. Some may prefer to spend a similar amount to get a smaller quantity of better beans.
Last on our list, we have the ten-unit Starbucks Gourmet snack pack. While you wouldnt usually expect something from the coffee juggernaut to come up last on a list, there are some major issues here.
For one thing, the price per ounce is significantly higher than anything else on our list. The quality also just doesnt justify the price. The beans are small and dry, and the chocolate is bitter.
The separated packaging makes it a good option for people who like to grab a to-go snack, but this feature probably wont be a big enough selling point for most buyers.
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