Nutrition Facts for Coffee

What's your idea of pleasant morning? I like to enjoy my morning sitting in balcony or garden reading daily newspaper with a sip of steaming, refreshing coffee in a cheerful atmosphere. I am sure; most people start their day in a similar way. Coffee is one of world’s most frequently consumed beverages. It is popular not only for its amazing smell and taste, but for its stimulation properties. Coffee is derived from coffee beans, which are roasted, ground to powder and dissolved in water. Coffee can be taken in hot or cold form such as cold coffee. You can choose to have coffee with sugar and milk or without them. Coffee usually comes in a wide variety such as regular, drip, instant, brewed, espresso and decaffeinated. You must be curious to know about nutrition facts for coffee, your favorite beverage.

Nutrition Facts for Coffee

Caffeine is the main component of coffee. Average caffeine content in various types of coffee is as follows:

    * Espresso-100mg
    * Drip coffee-115-175mg
    * Instant-65-100mg
    * Brewed-80-135mg
    * Decaf, instant-2-3mg
    * Decaf, brewed-3-4mg

Other compounds found in coffee are carbohydrates, lipid, vitamins and minerals. Besides this, there are more than thousand compounds likely to present in coffee. The qualities and quantities of these compounds may vary depending upon processing of coffee.

Coffee beans are likely to contain abundant quantities of three major polysaccharides. Out of them, galactomannan and type II arabinogalactan are dominant in coffee beverage. There are mainly two types of polysaccharides such as digestible and indigestible. The indigestible form is known as dietary fibers. Coffee beans are known for having a large quantity of dietary fibers. However, they are not passed onto coffee beverage consumer due to roasting, grinding and brewing of coffee beans. Coffee beans have abundant amount of phenolics, which are able to bind to dietary proteins and fibers, possessing significant nutritional benefits.

General nutrition facts for coffee include about 0.01g of total fat, 0mg cholesterol, about 1mg of sodium, approximately 14mg of potassium, about 0.01g of total carbohydrates and nearly 0.04g of proteins. This amount is for serving size of 1 fl oz. Coffee with sugar and milk, if served 10fl.ozs, contains about 1gm of total fat, about 5mg cholesterol, approximately 70mg sodium and nearly 16gm of total carbohydrates. It consists of 4% calcium. Coffee consists of numerous trace minerals such as Niacin, Thiamin, Magnesium, Phosphorous, folate and Manganese.

Possible Benefits of Consuming Coffee

Coffee is known for several heath benefits. Caffeine present in coffee is mild stimulant and shows effects on central nervous system. It enhanced and alters mood as well as increases alertness. Caffeine is found to be effective for decreasing muscle pain and augmenting pain-reliving ability of other drugs. It also boosts athletic performance and endurance. Consumption of coffee can help to lose weight, improves normal glucose metabolism and burn excess calories.

    * Reduced risk of gallstone disease
    * Decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
    * Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes
    * Enhanced cognitive performance
    * Analgesic enhancement
    * Cardioprotective
    * Antioxidants present in coffee are beneficial for health
    * Reduced asthma attacks
    * Reduced risk of cancer such as esophageal, oral and pharyngeal cancer.

Take advantage of unique nutrition facts for coffee and keep your energetic and healthy.

O Espresso!

When people ask me if I drink coffee, I have to take a moment to give the question its proper response.

Usually, it’s something like, "Oh, you mean the sweet, dark nectar of life?"

Unless I have not yet had my daily espresso when asked, in which case the person asking does not merit a reply. Of course I would drink coffee, moron, who would dream of trying to exist without it, what would a life without the holy bitter bean be worth? Duh.

And now, a new study says that coffee drinkers may live longer than…those other alien people who do not imbibe.

Studies about coffee and its supposed benefits or harms come along regularly, and tell us that caffeine raises blood pressure or is linked to diabetes, or that it has beneficial antioxidants and improves athletic and mental performance, etc.

I only focus on the studies that say caffeine is good for you. It doesn’t matter if coffee is bad for you, because life without it is not worth examining.

The most recent study to come out, which claims that coffee is not bad for you and in fact may confer "a reduced risk of death" is a welcome one, indeed. Reducing the risk of death is especially impressive, since last I checked, everyone is at risk of death.

I knew it! My beloved espresso has the ability to make me immortal.

The study, published in last month’s issue of The Annals of Internal Medicine used data gathered from 42,000 men and 84,000 women over a long period of time, 24 years for women and 18 years for men.

The study participants answered extensive questionnaires every two to four years, including information on their dietary and lifestyle habits, including coffee consumption, exercise, weight, smoking and drinking habits.

The results were more noteworthy for women.

Women who drank coffee were 25% less likely to die of heart-disease related causes than non-coffee drinkers. They were also 18% less likely to die of any other cause, besides cancer, than those weird people who don’t consume coffee.

"Our results suggest that long-term, regular coffee consumption does not increase the risk of death and probably has several beneficial effects on health," said the study’s lead author Dr. Esther Lopez-Garcia, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Autonoma University in Madrid, Spain.

Cancer death rates appeared to be unaffected by coffee drinking habits.

Men who drank 2-3 cups of coffee per day had no significant changes in death rates than non-coffee drinking men.

Being an espresso-guzzling woman, this didn’t concern me too much.

The study’s authors did not extrapolate on the results to tell us exactly what about coffee was beneficial to women’s health. Maybe the coffee drinkers were more inclined to exercise after they’d had their jolt of joe, and therefore had healthier hearts.

Maybe the people who can afford to buy coffee just have more money in general, a correlative factor in living longer, as those with comfortable finances can also afford good health insurance, healthy food, and the like.

As for avoiding "other" causes of death besides heart attacks (and excluding cancer, as the coffee consumption had no effect on this), perhaps the coffee drinkers were more alert in general and didn’t say, fall asleep at the wheel of a car as often, or maybe they were buzzed-up on their dark roast and simply moving too fast to be say, hit by a truck.

Who knows? I can say that coffee drinkers are happier people in general, based on my completely objective observations. And happier people live longer.

Coffee has kept me company through sleepless nights and early mornings in college, sleepless nights and early mornings as a new mom, and sleepless nights and early mornings as……an older mom and an older college student.

Every morning, no matter what, my espresso is by my side, my old and reliable friend, outlasting boyfriends and pets, moves across the country, big changes and little. Life is unpredictable and messy. But my short, dark, double shot of espresso is neat and predictable, with its trusted rich nutty aroma rising to greet me in the same friendly way every single day.

There is a reason that, no matter where we are, on a trip to the in-laws or in the middle of nowhere, I will scope out the nearest Peet’s (or Starbucks if I’m desperate), or better yet, carefully pack my espresso machine into my tightly stuffed suitcase. Cute outfits be damned, that espresso machine is more important.

Don’t ask me to choose between my double shot and my husband if I were stranded on a desert island. For one thing, I like being alone. Just me and Joe.

And while I was pleased to read this study, I couldn’t disagree more with one expert’s read on it.

"I think that what this study tells us is not so much that coffee is the answer to everything," says Dr. Peter Galier, an internal medicine specialist at UCLA. "But, rather, that some compounds, such as the antioxidants found in coffee, may be healthy."

Wait, I did not hear the second part of what he said. Dr. Galier, you are dead wrong. Coffee is, in fact, the answer to everything.

Frozen Coffee Drinks

"A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent."

Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic variations of coffee as also the iced and frozen coffee drinks have a great taste. Try some of these recipes this summer.

Frozen Coffee Mocha
Ingredients

    * 1 tray of frozen coffee ice cubes
    * 1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
    * 1 and ½ tablespoon cocoa powder
    * 2 tablespoons sugar (fine-grained)
    * 1/2 tablespoon vanilla

Procedure
Freeze some coffee in an ice-cube tray. Heat 2 tablespoons of milk in the microwave. Mix cocoa powder and sugar in the milk. The milk should be hot enough to melt the cocoa powder and add sugar to this mixture of milk and cocoa powder. Add the remaining milk to this sweetened mixture. Blend this mixture and add the coffee ice cubes to the blender, and blend it until it becomes smooth.

Frozen Irish Coffee
Ingredients

    * 3 tablespoons Irish whisky
    * 5 oz of hot black coffee
    * 1 tablespoon vanilla ice-cream
    * 1 teaspoon sugar

Procedure
Mix the whiskey, hot black coffee and sugar with three quarters of ice, in the blender. Top it with a scoop of ice-cream and add grated chocolate to enjoy the highball.

Frozen Coffee Cooler
Ingredients

    * 4 cups of coffee (brewed and then cooled)
    * 6 cups of ice cubes
    * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    * 3/4 cup sugar
    * 1 cup milk
    * 1 cup coffee liqueur
    * Whipped cream and ground cinnamon for garnishing

Procedure
Take all the ingredients, except milk, in a mixer and mix it until a smooth mixture is formed. Add milk and again blend the mixture. Pour the coffee in glasses (makes 8 glasses) and garnish it with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Irish Mocha Smoothie
Ingredients

    * 3 scoops of frozen coffee yogurt
    * 1 tray of frozen coffee cubes
    * 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup
    * 1/2 cup milk
    * 1/4 cup Irish cream

Procedure
Mix all the above ingredients in a blender until the mixture becomes smooth. Serve the smoothie in a tall glass.

Brandy Mocha Almond
Ingredients

    * 1 tablespoon brandy
    * 1 tablespoon almond liqueur
    * 5 tablespoons hot coffee
    * 5 tablespoon cocoa powder
    * Sugar to taste

Procedure
Mix brandy, almond liqueur, hot coffee and cocoa powder in a blender. Add sugar and again blend the mixture. Serve this drink in a heatproof glass.

Frosty Cappuccino
Ingredients

    * 3 and ½ cup coffee (brewed and strong)
    * 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    * 1/3 cup bourbon
    * 1 cup milk
    * 2 cups ice-cream (preferably coffee-flavored)

Procedure
Freeze the strong coffee in an ice-cube tray. Mix bourbon, milk, cinnamon and frozen coffee in a blender until the mixture is smooth. Serve the mixture with coffee-flavored ice-cream.

Iced Vanilla Coffee
Ingredients

    * 8 cups hot coffee (hazelnut-flavored)
    * 1 tablespoon vanilla
    * 2 cups milk
    * 1/2 cup sugar
    * 5 oz vanilla yogurt

Procedure
Combine coffee, sugar and vanilla and stir to dissolve sugar. Pour milk in the mixture and refrigerate. While serving, top it with 1 tablespoon yogurt. Instead of hazelnut-flavored coffee, you can also use any of your favorite coffee flavors.

Frappuccino
Ingredients

    * 1 cup of vanilla yogurt
    * 3 teaspoons of vanilla
    * 20 oz of ice cubes
    * Cocoa powder and honey as per flavor
    * Milk

Procedure
Mix yogurt, vanilla, ice cubes, cocoa powder and milk in a blender. Serve the mixture with ice-cream or coffee liqueur.

Creamy Island Coffee
Ingredients

    * 4 oz iced coffee
    * 1 banana
    * 1 oz chocolate syrup (raspberry and peppermint can also be used as per liking)
    * 1 cup milk

Procedure
Mix iced coffee, banana, chocolate syrup and milk in a blender. Top the frozen coffee drink with whipped cream and cherries.

Orange Mamba Latte
Ingredient

    * 1/2 oz orange syrup
    * 1 cup iced coffee
    * 2 scoops of vanilla ice-cream
    * 1 oz milk

Procedure
Blend iced coffee, milk and orange syrup in a blender to get a smooth mixture. Add the vanilla ice-cream and blend the mixture once more. You can use yogurt or heavy cream instead of ice-cream. Garnish the mixture with an orange slice.

These were some of the frozen coffee drink recipes. Slight variations in the ingredients can make your drink tasty. Enjoy the frosty delight!

The South Indian "Dikashan" Coffee

Coffee is a major social institution in our part of the world. It can be described as being an icon of Kannada and even Tamil culture and is a revered tradition in most households. It is customary that a cup of coffee is offered to any visitor when visiting a household in South India (In North India, Tea is preferred.) One sip of this delicious drink will make you understand why Indian "Dikashan" coffee is such a revered beverage down South.

Serving the filter coffee is one of the most interesting parts of preparing the coffee. The coffee is poured back and forth between the ‘Dawra’ and the ‘Lota’ in huge arc-like motions of the hand. A ‘Dawra’ is a wide metal saucer that is used to gently spin the coffee around to cool it. The ‘Lota’ is a tumbler used to hold the coffee and the coffee is drunk from the Lota. By pouring the coffee between the Dawra and the Lota, you will cool the hot coffee down to a suitable temperature while leaving a thick layer of froth on top to enjoy.

Recently, me and my friends went to a Cafe Coffee Day outlet at the Sector-14 shopping arcade in Gurgaon. The menu card had Hot Chocolate, Espresso with cream, Tropical Iceberg, Almond Frappes and what not. I felt there ought to be a place for the traditional ‘Hot filter Coffee’ amongst these. I ordered for a simple Capuccino while my friends went for those customized drinks.

I remember drinking mesmerizing coffee made by my both grandmas. I don't get to drink it often at home here. Maybe this was the only trait my Mom didn't inherit from her mother. That is why I like visiting my cousin a lot. My Aunt makes filter coffee 6'o clock every morning. An apt drink for refreshment. Here at home, I have to drink tea or Corn flakes with milk. Drinking these two is a sacrilege to me.

I love coffee any time of the day. And by coffee, I mean filter coffee. I know a lot of people who are coffee addicts. A friend of mine drinks a lot of Coffee in college. He says, "If you don’t drink coffee at least thrice a day, it’s a violation". He certainly has brown blood in his veins.

I consider that the making of filter coffee is almost a ritual, for the coffee beans have to be roasted and ground first. Then the powder is put into a filter set and boiling hot water is added to prepare the decoration and allowed to set for about 15 minutes. The decoration is then added to milk with sugar to taste. The final drink is poured individually from one container to another in rapid succession to make the ideal frothy cup of filter coffee.

And you get steaming, hot filter coffee with an exhilarating aroma, creamy-golden-brown froth, fulsome flavor and lingering after-taste. Nothing like it to refresh and stimulate. And so easy to achieve if you make it right.

Next time you go to a Lavazza or a Barista, recommend those guys to add this celestial drink on their list.....

Caffeine Content in Coffee

Caffeine is chemically a xanthine alkaloid that acts as stimulant of the central nervous system. It ranks as the world's most popular psychoactive substance. Medically, caffeine is referred to as trimethylxanthine. In the United States, about 90 percent people consume caffeine every day, in one way or the other. We all have a fair idea regarding the caffeine content in coffee. Besides coffee, caffeine is present in other natural plant sources like tea, kola and guarana. Among the several food items, coffee beans is the main source for caffeine worldwide.

Though the FDA enlisted caffeine as a substance safe for consumption, consuming a high concentration is harmful for health. In some people, caffeine intake causes certain adverse effects like headache, sleep disorder, nervousness and irritability. Considering the various caffeine side effects, it is very important for us to learn the pros and cons of caffeine intake and the amount of caffeine in coffee and other beverages.

Caffeine Content in Coffee
The diuretic and stimulative properties of caffeine induce certain metabolic effects. Hence, consuming caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee, soft drinks and energy drinks aids in overcoming drowsiness and increasing alertness. The ingested caffeine is not retained in the body, but its effects are observed after 15 minutes and last for as long as 6 hours. This is the reason as to why, many people state that they cannot start their day without a cup of coffee in the morning. So, are you aware about the amount of caffeine content in a cup of coffee?

The amount of caffeine content in coffee varies significantly based on the coffee type and the mode of brewing. The usual drip-brewed coffee contains approximately 100-135 mg per cup (8 ounce size), while the espresso contains about 30 mg per ounce coffee and instant coffee contains about 95 mg per cup (8 ounce size). On a general note, drinking two to three brewed coffee cups a day is not harmful for people who are not hypersensitive to caffeine. Read more on nutrition facts for coffee.

Caffeine Sensitivity
Caffeine sensitivity is the term that refers to the body's responses towards caffeine intake. To be precise, the amount of caffeine that stimulates a person may vary, depending upon the body size and the sensitivity. The smaller the size of the individual, the lesser is the caffeine amount to produce effects and vice versa. People who take coffee several times a day require more concentration of caffeine than first time coffee drinkers to experience the same effect.

Decaffeinated Coffee and Other Products
It is to be borne in mind that decaffeinated coffee also contains caffeine. Nevertheless, the amount of caffeine in decaffeinated coffee is comparatively lesser (about 5-7 mg per 8 ounce cup) than the regular coffee. In medical science, caffeine is administered as a mild diuretic and cardiac stimulant. Commercially, caffeine is extracted as a white, crystalline and bitter powder, which is then used in various processed food items and pharmaceutical products. For example, pain killers, diet pills and common cold medications are formulated by using caffeine in specific concentrations.

Overall, caffeine is a highly addictive substance and is referred to as a commonly consumed drug. It works in the same brain stimulating mechanism as that of other strong drugs, but in a subtle way. As per studies, ingesting a very high dose of caffeine is fatal. Taking 10 gm of caffeine, which accounts to 170mg/kg of the body weight can lead to life-threatening symptoms. To be on the safer side, take a note of the caffeine content in coffee and keep it minimum, not more than 2-3 cups per day.

Negative Effects of Coffee

Coffee, a beverage which is liked by many, is consumed by most of us on a daily basis. Though, drinking coffee makes you feel fresh and energetic, there are a few side effects associated with it. The negative effects of coffee are mainly due to the presence of caffeine and tannic acid in it. The negative effects of drinking coffee start appearing slowly but, once they affect the body, they are most of the times permanent and it is difficult to reverse the situation. Read more on caffeine content in coffee.

Negative Effects of Coffee Consumption

    * It heightens the energy levels for a short term. But, after you get used to it, even that cup of coffee will not show the results which it used to show previously. Hence, you will tend to drink more coffee which will develop an addiction for it. This negative effect of coffee on your health will also lead to adrenal exhaustion.
    * A person on medication should avoid coffee as it interferes with the medicines and hence, the effective result of it on the body. This negative effect of coffee on the body can cause serious problems as it blocks the medicines from working according to their desired way.
    * The caffeine present in coffee also interferes with a brain chemical named adenosine which helps in providing the calming effect.
    * Coffee might also give rise to constriction of blood vessels. This condition occurs due to the increase in the cortisol levels.
    * Young children should not be given coffee as it is difficult for them to digest it. Their liver cannot metabolize caffeine and hence, it remains in the body for 4 to 5 days. This can lead to sleeplessness and irritability.
    * Pregnant females should avoid coffee as it might lead to birth defects, miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight.
    * Another negative effect of drinking coffee is, it can lead to sluggish sperms and also inability to conceive.
    * Coffee can damage the teeth which can cause yellowing of the teeth and also caries.
    * It even increases the blood sugar level. Hence, people with diabetes should avoid it. According to a research made, it causes deprivation of sleep among those who consume it in excess level.
    * Coffee is known to alter blood pressure and heart rate as well. It even leads to frequent urination. It is known to disturb the absorption of essential minerals and nutrients which are required for the functioning of the body. This can cause adverse effect on the body and can lead to diseases which are caused due to the lack of these minerals. Vitamin A, B and C are the ones which are most affected. Along with this, the absorption of minerals like iron, zinc and calcium are also affected due to the consumption of coffee.

If taken in moderate amount, coffee will not cause an adverse effect on the body. The side effects of coffee are observed only if it is consumed in excess amount. I guess, now after knowing the negative effects of coffee, you will think twice before consuming it. Its fine to consume it occasionally on moderate basis but its too much consumption should be strictly avoided.

How Much Caffeine in a Cup of Coffee

How much caffeine in a cup of coffee? Have you ever given it a thought? I sincerely doubt it. The only 'thinking' that a coffee drinker usually does, is to contemplate on whether to opt for an expresso, a decaf, a cappuccino, a latte or a mocha, etc. In any case, the caffeine content in coffee is the last thing on our minds. However, as the wise old men say, "too much of anything is bad", similarly, the same applies in case of caffeine as well. Too much intake of caffeine is harmful to one's health. But then, just how much is too much? Well, in order to answer that question, it would be necessary to have an accurate idea about the amount of caffeine in coffee, wouldn't it? Of course it would. Here are some interesting numbers regarding the same.

How Much Caffeine is in a Cup of Coffee?
Well, to answer the above question, a general estimate is about 100 mg per cup. However, in reality, there can be no universal absolute number as such. Simply because, the caffeine content in a cup of coffee depends on a variety of factors, such as the type or the variety of coffee, the method of preparation, the serving size, etc. However, for your benefit, here is a sample chart to provide you with some useful numerical values pertaining to a few types of coffee.

How Much Caffeine in a Cup of Coffee - Comparative Chart

Type of Coffee     Amount of Caffeine
Instant Coffee (8 oz)     70 mg (approx)
Brewed Coffee (8 oz)     125 mg (approx)
Drip Coffee (8 oz)     145 mg (approx)
Cappuccino (8 oz)     75 mg (approx)
Expresso (2 oz)     90 mg (approx)
Cafè Latte (8 oz)     75 mg (approx)
Starbucks Expresso Solo (1 oz)     75 mg
Starbucks Expresso Doppio (2 oz)     150 mg
Dunkin' Donuts Coffee (16 oz)     180 mg (approx)
Starbucks Vanilla Latte (16 oz)     150 mg
Coffee Decaf (brewed) 8 oz     6 mg (approx)
Coffee Decaf (instant) 8 oz     3 mg (approx)

Adverse Effects of Caffeine
For those of you who are heavy coffee drinkers, beware! Excessive intake of caffeine is harmful for your health. Caffeine side effects are aplenty, and when consumed in an addictive manner or in excessive proportions, caffeine can have the following adverse effects on a person's health:

    * A person who gets addicted to caffeine (through coffee) may suffer from sleep disorders i.e. Insomnia. Drinking coffee (or for that matter, even tea) at, or around bed time is a bad idea simply because, once caffeine gets into your blood stream and begins to have its effect on your body, your tiredness will temporarily fade away and you will experience a state of alertness. This will naturally delay the process of sleep.
    * Excessive caffeine consumption may trigger panic attacks. Read more on the negative effects of caffeine on the body.
    * Contrary to what people think, coffee actually dehydrates you. Caffeine has diuretic properties and over-intake of caffeine may leave you severely dehydrated.
    * Addiction and dependency are two common side-effects of excessive caffeine intake. An addicted person cannot do without his daily dose of coffee, and failure to satisfy his caffeine cravings may lead to depression, nervousness and anxiety, in addition to other caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

I hope the aforementioned information has helped answer the query 'how much caffeine in a cup of coffee'. You can also read more on caffeine content in coffee. Take care!