Caffeine buzz

[NeroW]

I was eating my way through a packet of chocolate-covered coffee beans the other night, and I got to thinking: how many of the beans would I have to eat to get the "lift" I get from one cup of coffee?

There were 42 beans in the packet. I estimate that when I brew coffee at home, I grind 55-60 beans for one 12-cup pot.

Should this just be simple math, or does the brewing process have an effect on the caffeine itself? Do I have to apply heat and water to the beans in order to get the caffeine to "come out"?

Or can I just eat the beans raw and get the same effect?

[=Mark]

Well, caffiene is water soluable, so I would imagine if you chewed the beans well enough that there should be little difference. Did you notice any effect?

Edit for spwwling.

Edited December 27, 2003 by =Mark (log)

[NeroW]

Did you notice any effect?

Edit for spwwling.

No, not really. Maybe just a bit.

[phaelon56]

Hmmmmm.... the beans you describe are most likely chocolate covered espresso beans. They're actually fairly dark roasted rather than "raw" but in theory the caffeine content shoudl be the same. That's the theory. In practice I think that when eat about handful of them in an hour or so I definitely feel the caffeine but no more so than I do from a double espresso and definitely less than I feel from a 10 -12 oz cup of coffee. Perhaps the brewing process releases other alkaloids or compounds that affect hown the body absorbs the caffeine? Wouldn't surprise me. Buzz or no buzz.... now you have me wanting some choco-covered-espresso-beans

[Kenk]

I often eat a bean when picking coffee beans to buy. I definatly get a caffeine buzz from eating the beans.

[jsolomon]

NeroW, I have a neurologist friend who chews coffee beans all of the time. When I need to stay "up" for long periods of time, I also chew coffee beans.

My experience is that the caffeine lift I get comes on quicker when chewing coffee beans than when drinking cuppas. This is because the caffeine crosses through the mouth/gums readily and is in the mouth longer when you're chewing coffee beans.

I drink 3 strong cups of coffee a day. When I chew coffee beans to bolster that, I find 3-5 an hour is sufficient.

Edit to add coffee beans are a good source of fiber, too!

Edited December 31, 2003 by jsolomon (log)