"Health Benefits of Green Coffee Bean "

Health Benefits of Green Coffee Bean Extract

Green coffee bean extract is touted for its anti-oxidant, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity properties. Let's have a look at the different ways in which this green coffee extract benefits the human body.

Anti-aging Benefits
The chlorogenic acids present in the green coffee bean is an antioxidant, which means it destroys the free radicals formed in the body, as a result of metabolism. These free radicals if left as they are, destroy cell membranes and conduce to symptoms of aging. By destroying these harmful free radicals, green coffee bean extract actually slows down the onset of aging. Test results also show that green coffee extract has double the rate of oxygen radicals absorbing capacity, as compared to grape seed or green tea extract. Read more on antioxidants in coffee.

Reduce Blood Pressure
Animal research reveals that chlorogenic acids present in the extract also help alleviate high blood pressure levels. Based on this finding, further research was conducted on humans. The one month experiment done on people with mild hypertension showed that consumption of green coffee extract supplements were seen to have their high blood pressure levels lowered. When taken at a dose of 185 mg, the extract was most effective in treating hypertension. Thus, this extract is helpful in treating hypertension.

Promotes Weight Loss
Scientist Hiroshi Shimoda and his team from Oryza Oil & Fat Chemical Company (Japan) in their research on green coffee bean extract found that green coffee bean extract promotes weight loss. This weight loss is due to two chemical compounds naturally present in the green coffee beans. Because these coffee beans are unroasted, they have not lost their natural chemicals, which are otherwise lost after roasting.

These natural chemicals are caffeine and chlorogenic acid, which together conduce to weight loss. The caffeine from the coffee releases fatty acids from stored body fat, while the chlorogenic acid assists the liver in processing the fatty acids more efficiently, thereby resulting in weight loss. Shimoda continues to state that; "If a human consumes one kilogram per day of food (2.2 pounds) containing 10 grams (.35 ounce) of green coffee bean extract for 14 days, the increase in body weight may be suppressed by 35 percent."

Boosts Metabolism

easy way to Roast Coffee Beans at Home

How to Roast Coffee Beans at Home?

All you need is some dry, fresh green coffee beans available in almost any store, and an oven. Don't have an oven? No need to fret! Coffee roasting can even be done on a modest frying pan. After procuring the apparatus, pre-heat your oven/pan, put on your mittens and place the beans on the heat. The next, very important step is to take in the delectable aroma as the beans roast. But mind it, do not lose yourself or the beans may burn! Within 10 - 20 minutes, depending on how you like 'em, the beans will be ready and look the familiar brown color. Once they start becoming greasy, releasing the oils, you know that you're almost there! Take them out of the oven, and once again, you have to exercise a good deal of self-control to prevent yourself from touching those tempting beans. Wait for them to cool, clean out the excess oil, and ground them. And voila! Your home roasted beans are ready to brew!

Of course, if you want the perfect coffee, you have to earn it! You initially will have to go through the 'trial-and-error' method to get to the coveted cup. The experimentation can be with the origin of beans and with the amount of roasting you need. Simple difference really. For general knowledge purpose, there are two main kinds of coffee beans, the ones that are grown in the highland areas and the ones grown in lowland areas. Highland area beans tend to be more aromatic, milder and have a better flavor than those grown in the lowlands. Lowland grown coffee beans are stronger and have a slightly less aroma. Secondly, the taste of the coffee also depends upon how much you roast it. The more the roast, the stronger it is. So if you're a greenhorn dabbling with coffee beans for the first time, you'd want to do a bit of playing with the coffees. But don't forget to keep notes, or you might end up losing your secret formula!

Home coffee roasting is an art, practiced all over the world by the connoisseurs of the coffee, who can only be satisfied with the perfect cup. So if you are simply dissatisfied with the existing variety or even want to try different combinations of the beverage, go on! All you need is a handful of raw beans, a pan and just a few minutes.

"How to Choose the Best Coffee Beans"

Buy Coffee Beans at Gourmet Shops
The first and foremost step you will want to implement in choosing the best coffee is to stop buying coffee at the local supermarket. It is often very difficult to find the freshest beans in these supermarkets. The beans are usually pre-ground and they start losing their flavor in the oils that are released. You may want to choose a gourmet shop, where the coffee beans are not kept in open bins, but in air tight containers. Most gourmet shops can grind the beans for you on the spot, which helps in preserving the freshness as much as possible.

Buy Fresh Roasted Beans
It is recommended to buy freshly roasted beans. If you are not sure, you may want to take help from the shop attendants. The gourmet shops have a policy to roast fresh coffee beans frequently.

Buy Whole Beans
Another tip you would want to take note of is to buy intact whole beans. When the beans are fragmented, they lose their flavor oils. Whole beans are able to retain these oils, which lend taste to the coffee.

Buy Fresh and Good Smelling Beans
Very often, we look and smell the dish cooked and we are able to assess if the dish has indeed turned out good. The same rule applies when it comes to choosing coffee beans as well. If the coffee beans smell good and also look good, then you may not falter, as they will also taste good. You may want to read on home coffee roasting.

Natural coffee

Natural coffee

The coffee tree  

The coffee tree is a shrub with a straight trunk, which can survive for about 50 to 70 years. The first flowers appear during the third year, but production is only profitable from the fifth year onwards. 18th century botanists classified Coffee as a member of the Rubiaceous family. Of around sixty different species of coffee tree, two alone dominate world trade - the Coffea arabica, or, more simply, Arabica, which represents 75% of production; and the Coffea canephora, which is commonly known by the name of the most widespread variety: Robusta.Natural coffee

The best producers of coffee in the world

 Arabica Coffee


(from Ethiopia, known from prehistoric times) beans do best at altitudes of 3,000 to 6,500 feet where the slower growing process concentrates their flavors. They have a much more refined flavor and contain about 1 percent caffeine by weight. Because of its delicate nature, it yields only 1 to 1.5 pounds of green coffee per year. This is the coffee that specialty roasters search for. It accounts for about 75% of the world production. Because the arabica tree is susceptible to disease, frost, and drought, it requires very careful cultivation with just the right climatic conditions.Natural coffee


 Robusta Coffee

Robusta Coffee as the name implies, is a more hardy species and is found growing from sea level to 1,000 metres. It can manage with less rainfall.
Indigenious to West Africa it now grows in East and Central Africa as well and also in South East Asia. Small quantities are grown in some South American countries. Robusta Coffee is used widely in the processing of instant coffee and is also an important element in many blends.Natural coffee



 Liberica Coffee

This is the least important of the three main varieties. It is hardy and resists disease well but cannot tolerate drought or neglect. Indigenous to Liberia, it also grows in the Ivory Coast, in Equatorial Africa and the Cameroons. The quantity of coffee produced from these species is in fact negligible.Natural coffee