Hot and soothing, with a fragrance that brings comfort and joy, coffee is an essential part of the day for people all over the world. Many can’t even conceive of the idea of starting the day without a flavorful cup of Joe. Coffee has become integral to morning routines because its natural caffeine provides a jolt of energy and alertness that helps people wake up.
But how much caffeine does each bean offer? We’re taking a closer look below.
How Do Coffee Beans Make Coffee?
The coffee bean plant is what provides all of the joy coffee brings to the world. This plant grows in tropical areas as a large evergreen shrub. There are two major coffee bean types, Coffea arabica, also known as Arabica coffee, and Coffea canephora, also called Robusta coffee. The plant yields fruits that mature over the course of nine months. Coffee beans are found within the fruit, typically in pairs.
When coffee fruits are harvested and cleaned, farmers separate the fruit from the coffee seeds, which are later roasted. After the roasting process, the green coffee beans are considered whole bean coffee. Roasting greatly affects the beans’ flavor. For example, longer, hotter roasting will generate a more intense taste and aroma in the coffee beans.
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Next, the coffee is ground in a coffee bean grinder. The final product may be coarsely ground or finely ground, depending on what coffee brewing methods the brewer plans to use. Coffee bean brewing methods that work quickly (like when you make a cup of espresso) need a finer grind. Meanwhile, those that take longer, such as a drip coffee maker, require a coarser grind.
The Caffeine in Coffee Beans
In a single coffee bean, there are about 6 milligrams of caffeine; however, the exact measurement depends on the variety used in the coffee. For example, Arabica coffee has about 12 milligrams of coffee per gram, while Robusta coffee has about 22 milligrams per gram.
If you want more caffeine, you may be tempted to opt for Robusta coffee. However, this type of coffee is significantly more bitter with a much less complex flavor. Most coffee connoisseurs find Robusta much less pleasant to drink than Arabica.
Some people believe that the roasting style of the coffee bean also affects the caffeine level. Specifically, it is thought that darker roast coffee beans have more caffeine than lighter roasts. This is actually an incorrect assumption. Both light and dark roast coffee beans generally have the same amount of caffeine. The darker roasted coffee beans may make coffee with a stronger flavor, but that has nothing to do with the amount of caffeine that ends up in the brew.
Coffee Brewing and Caffeine Levels
While the basic levels of caffeine in coffee beans are quite consistent, the brewing method you choose does affect the caffeine level in the final cup. When you know how to brew coffee beans correctly, you can adjust the amount to what you might need on any particular day.
Here’s a quick guide to the caffeine levels of common coffee brewing methods:
- Coffee made using a French press has some of the lowest levels of caffeine, averaging about 108 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup.
- Drip coffee-making methods, or those made using a filter, have around 145 milligrams per 8-ounce cup.
- Coffee made in a percolator averages about 200 milligrams per 8 ounces.
In general, methods that have longer brewing times and finer ground coffee have higher levels of caffeine.
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Nigel Gildon editor:Nigel Gildon is the editor of Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou: Chef Wayne’s Big Mamou. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years and has a passion for helping new authors get their work into the hands of readers. 63 Liberty Street * Springfield, MA 01003
