Coffee Ingredients

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The most common coffee ingredients that ensure that the beverage is a pleasure to drink are milk, sugar, coffee beans and water. To know more about chemical constituents of coffee beans, read on...

A cup of coffee in the morning, especially while reading newspaper is a must, without which we simply cannot start our day-to-day activities, isn't it? Take a sip of coffee and it can instantly stimulate the body and the mind. Coffee increases mental alertness as well as acts as an effective anti-depressant. No wonder, it is the most popular beverage in many countries. It hardly takes time to prepare coffee and once it is made, no one can resist its aroma and taste.

Coffee Granules Ingredients

The main chemical ingredients in coffee beans are given below:


  • Caffeine
  • Tannin
  • Thiamin
  • Xanthine
  • Spermidine
  • Guaiacol
  • Citric Acid
  • Chlorogenic acid
  • Acetaldehyde
  • Spermine
  • Putrescine
  • Scopoletin

A cup of coffee is well-known for its ability to stimulate the nervous system, which improves our alertness and concentration. This in turn increases our ability to stay wide awake when needed. The stimulant property of coffee has been attributed to xanthine derivatives, some of which are given below:

  • Theobromine
  • Caffeine
  • Theophylline
  • Trigonelline
  • Hypoxanthine

Ask any coffee lover about the USP of this popular drink and pat would be the reply - aroma. So, does that mean the irresistible aroma of a cup of coffee is due to the aforementioned ingredients. No! Phenolic compounds in the coffee seeds are responsible for producing this refreshing aroma. Apart from aroma, the phenols also impart a characteristic flavor and color to the coffee. Some of these phenolic compounds are listed below:

  • 4-Ethylphenol
  • 2,4-Methylenephenol
  • 2, 3, 5-Trimethylphenol
  • 4-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol
  • 2-Ethylphenol

Phenolic acids that display antioxidant properties are found in ample amounts in a cup of coffee. For instance, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid that are categorized as phenolic acids are present in coffee. So, to reap benefits of antioxidant activity in coffee, taking it in moderation is necessary.

Coffee Ingredients

Coffee, no doubt is a delicious drink, but many people are unaware of its ingredients. There are a number of variations, when it comes to making a hot cup of coffee but the main ingredients remain the same. They are given below:

Sugar

Sugar plays a very crucial role to enhance the taste of this beverage. Depending upon your taste and liking, you can add 1 or 2 teaspoons in your coffee. Coffee without sugar will give an unpleasant taste to the beverage.

Milk

There are people who prefer to make coffee without milk. Honestly speaking, this is not a good habit and drinking coffee without milk can be detrimental to health. Although drinking coffee can have few side effects, an easy way to significantly minimize these health problems, would be to add milk to coffee.

Coffee Granules

Coffee granules are nothing but coffee beans that are extracted from coffee plant. This is the main ingredient of coffee, without which this delicious drink cannot be made.

Water

In order to prepare coffee, the required amount of water is first heated and then accordingly ground coffee is added. Although using hard water in coffee is not an issue, one should prefer soft water for a better tantalizing taste.

Coffee - Is it Good for Health?

A cup of coffee is highly refreshing and one should never take it in excess amount. Coffee is very high in caffeine and so taking several cups of coffee in a day is dangerous for health. The combination of caffeine and tannin, can also put a person in the risk zone of several diseases. For instance, the stimulating effect of coffee can cause sleep deprivation and disturb normal sleeping pattern. Getting sleep after coffee is difficult and people after having coffee tend to remain wide awake for long periods of time. Coffee in large doses can raise cholesterol level and increase the probability of formation of kidney stones. Heavy coffee drinking is definitely harmful for health and this habit needs to be stopped immediately. Read more on negative effects of coffee.

After knowing coffee ingredients, especially caffeine, I hope heavy coffee drinkers think twice, before having another cup of coffee. Consuming it in moderation is the key to stay away from its ill effects. In fact, doctors believe that one can make coffee an integral part of their diet, when its taken in moderate amounts.

A point to note that coffee beans that are packed and available under various brands are roasted. As a result, some of the compounds of coffee beans are lost in roasting, whereas some combine with oxygen to produce new compounds. Nevertheless, coffee beans are still able to retain some of its beneficial properties after roasting.

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