How much caffeine is in chocolate-covered coffee beans?

In this brief guide, we will be answering ‘how much caffeine is in chocolate covered coffee beans?’ and discuss what determines how much caffeine is in chocolate covered coffee beans and the benefits and risks of eating this candy.

How much caffeine is in chocolate-covered coffee beans?

The amount of caffeine in chocolate covered coffee beans is about 12 mg of caffeine per bean for dark chocolate covered coffee beans and 11.4 mg for milk chocolate covered coffee beans (1). So if you had 12 beans you are ingesting around 144 mg of caffeine.

However, a study investigated the amount of caffeine in roasted coffee beans from different origins and also the weight variation of a single bean. The variation found for caffeine was between 15 mg/g and 20 mg/g while the weight of a single coffee bean ranged between 130 mg and 180 mg, with an average of 160 mg. This means that a single coffee bean contains between 2 and 3 mg of caffeine (4).

A serving of chocolate covered coffee beans weighs 40 g and contains 28 units (6). This means that each coffee bean is covered in 1.27 g of chocolate (as the bean alone weighs an average of 0.16 g). 

This adds 1 mg of caffeine, because dark chocolate has 80 mg of caffeine per 100 g (7). It can be concluded that, according to this study, a roasted coffee bean covered in chocolate can contain a maximum of 4 mg of caffeine and a serving of 40 g or 28 units can contain a maximum of 112 mg of caffeine, which is a third of the indicated by the USDA (8).

How many coffee beans is equal to a cup of coffee?

Since all coffee beans are unique in their size and shape, giving an estimated amount feels wrong.

If you set an average range for the size of beans then it would take about 40 – 50 beans to fill up a mug. But after coating it with chocolate the number will go down to less than 30. 

This amount of beans will have around 600 – 700 mg of caffeine per cup of bean. One portion of 28 pieces of chocolate covered coffee beans is told to weigh 40 g and contain 336 mg of caffeine (1).

In addition, the caffeine content of the coffee depends also on the roasting method, the storage condition of the roasted coffee beans, the geographical origin and species of the coffee plant (3). 

However, this much sweet and caffeine consumption can be a major health risk factor so it’s best to not exceed more than 10.

What are the health benefits of eating chocolate covered coffee beans?

The health benefits of eating chocolate covered coffee beans are (2,3,5):

  • Coffee beans and chocolate are rich in antioxidants. They not only aid in increasing your blood flow but also help to boost up your immune system
  • Chocolate and coffee beans are low in cholesterol and fat. They can be a healthy snack if you opt. for dark chocolate with no sugar
  • Coffee helps to stimulate our brain, keeping us productive and alert throughout the day
  • Cocoa and coffee contain methylxanthines, including theobromine and caffeine which are compounds that affect mood and stimulate the central nervous system 
  • Cocoa contains minerals, including iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and potassium. It also contain proteins and carbohydrates

What are the risks of eating too many chocolate covered coffee beans?

The risks of eating too much chocolate covered coffee beans are related to the effects of excessive caffeine in the body, which depend, among other factors, on individuals characteristics (5). 

In addition, negative effects can be caused by the caloric and sugar amounts of the chocolate covered coffee beans, as they are considered a candy.

The negative effects of excessive caffeine include gastrointestinal symptoms, such as constipation and diarrhea; neurological effects, such as anxiety and insomnia; cardiovascular symptoms, including arrhythmia, and elevated blood pressure in the long term. Headache or vomiting can be caused by excessive caffeine consumption, especially in children (2).

The amount of chocolate is significant in the chocolate covered coffee beans. Chocolate contains sugar and therefore, chocolate covered coffee beans should be eaten as sweets. A diet including too much chocolate can lead to obesity and diabetes type 2, can increase the risks of dental decay, as well as induce acne formation (2).

What determines how much caffeine is in the chocolate covered coffee beans?

Many factors determine how much caffeine is in the chocolate covered coffee beans. Some of the factors are (2,3):

Depending on the type of chocolate used to the coverage of the beans, the caffeine amount may vary. For instance, white chocolate does not contain caffeine, as it does not contain cocoa mass, but only milk components and cocoa butter besides sugar. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, contains a higher amount of cocoa mass and therefore more caffeine

The thickness of the chocolate coverage determines how much additional caffeine is added to the coffee beans without chocolate. Although chocolate contains less caffeine, it contributes to the added caffeine in the candy

Coffee beans from different varieties have different caffeine amounts. Arabica and Robusta coffee beans also have different characteristics and Arabica is less caffeinated around 6 mg compared to robusta that is approximately 10 mg a bean

Another thing is regular and espresso coffee beans. Some believe that these are interchangeable terms but that’s just not the case. The difference lies in roasting. Espresso beans are roasted for a longer duration which decreases the caffeine content and also gives them a richer and deeper taste than regular coffee beans

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered ‘how much caffeine is in chocolate covered coffee beans?’ and discussed what determines how much caffeine is in chocolate covered coffee beans and the benefits and risks of eating this candy.

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References

1.-

Basic Report:  19268, Candies, dark chocolate coated coffee beans

2.-

Aebi, M. Chocolate panning. Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use, 2009, 285-301.

3.-

Olechno, Ewa, et al. Influence of Various Factors on Caffeine Content in Coffee Brews. Foods, 2021, 10, 1208.

4.-

Fox, Glen P., et al. Variation in caffeine concentration in single coffee beans. J agri food chem, 2013, 61, 10772-10778.

5.-

Nawrot, Peter, et al. Effects of caffeine on human health. Food Addit Contam, 2003, 20, 1-30..

6.-

USDA Food Central Data. Dark chocolate covered coffee beans.

7.-

USDA Food Central Data. Chocolate, dark, 70-85% cacao solids.

8.-

 USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Legacy (2018). Nutrients: Caffeine (mg)