The phrase “coffee extract” seems to be in a lot of products these days. Some candies, cocktails, and even ice creams are known to contain this extract. It seems to appeal to lovers of the brew. They are people who want to explore their coffee fantasies in different forms of food and drink.
But drinking a cup of coffee and sipping a cocktail that contains coffee extract is not the same thing. If you’ve ever tried a cocktail or ice cream or candy with the extract, you may wonder if it contains caffeine. To answer that question, let’s look at the process of making coffee extract.
How Coffee Extract Is Made
You can buy it online or make it at home. The process is simple. You take a ¼ cup of whole coffee beans and grind it lightly with a rolling pin. Alternatively, you can use a pestle and mortar. Put the ground coffee in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
Next, grab a bottle of vodka and pour 1 cup of it over the ground coffee beans. Note: The beans should only be ground lightly. Stir the mixture by shaking the container lightly. You can also use a spoon to do this.
Place the lid over the container, making sure to seal it tightly. Let it sit in a cool, dark place for 1 week. Shake the jar a little bit every day so that the coffee beans and vodka mix well.
At the end of 1 week, pour the mixture through a sieve that has a light cloth placed over it. All the debris will be caught in the sieve and cloth while your coffee extract is separated from it.
You may have noticed that this process is similar to the one used when making a regular cup of coffee with a coffee maker. A coffee maker brings hot water into contact with the ground coffee beans and separates the debris from the rich brew.
When making coffee extract, vodka is mixed with the ground coffee beans and left to sit for 7 days. Since both methods are similar, the results should be similar too. But to avoid confusion, let’s answer the question directly.
Is There Caffeine in Coffee Extract?
Yes, there is. A coffee maker uses a similar process as you would at home when making coffee extract. Coffee makers churn out brew that contains caffeine.
So the coffee extract making process should also produce coffee with caffeine in it. It’s also important to know that robusta coffee has about twice as much caffeine as arabica coffee.
Besides, caffeine dissolves in both hot water and ethanol. Since coffee beans are packed with caffeine, coffee extract contains caffeine. This substance is one of the reasons people love to gather at the coffee shop for their daily fix. You know that folks who do that must be getting something good in return, right?
The Benefits of Coffee Extracts
Coffee extracts, especially green coffee bean ones, have several health benefits. Here are a few of them.
They can boost your energy levels
The caffeine and other ingredients found in green coffee extract will keep you focused and energized. Roasted coffee will do the same but green coffee does it even better. It gives you a higher dose of caffeine and other active substances.
As a bonus, the extract has a long shelf life. Imagine having your handy power boost. You can take a bit every now and then to get you through the day. That’s what you get with the product. But there’s more.
They can make your skin look youthful
Who doesn’t want young-looking beautiful skin? That’s right, nobody. Since the beginning of time, humans have been trying to stay young for as long as possible. The good news is that green bean coffee extract can do that. Its antioxidant properties fight dryness and wrinkles.
Come to think of it. Your skin is the most important organ. It practically covers everything and yet it is exposed to anything. Let’s talk about what coffee extracts can do for you beneath the skin.
They can regulate blood pressure
The coffee habit is not just a pastime. It’s a healthy ritual. The more you consume green coffee extract, the more elastic your arteries become. Elastic arteries absorb pressure from blood flow and end up decreasing blood pressure. It’s a simple thing but also one that can be life-changing.
If you think the benefits were fantastic, try not to be too shocked by the disadvantages.
The Cons of Coffee Extracts
Despite all its health and nutritional benefits, there are a few things to beware of when using green coffee extracts.
They may be unsafe for pregnant and breastfeeding women
We all know coffee drinking is not for children. Caffeine isn’t something you want to put in the delicate body of a minor.
You don’t want to risk damaging their brains or making them dependent on this strong beverage. That’s the same reason pregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn’t take coffee extracts. Their unborn children consume whatever they eat or drink.
Breast milk also contains nutrients gotten from what the mother of the child consumes. The safest thing to do is avoid it if you fit into this category. Another reason to be careful when using coffee extracts has to do with your heart.
They may put you at a greater risk of heart disease
Some studies show that coffee is good for the heart. The caffeine in it acts as a stimulant that is not only good for your mood but your circulatory system.
But some studies seem to prove that the chlorogenic acid found in green coffee beans can lead to cardiovascular disease. Research into the matter is still ongoing and inconclusive. Still, it is something to think about. Are you anxious already? Watch out for the next point.
They could cause anxiety and high blood pressure
Coffee drinking is a great way to start your day. It gets your heart pumping and fires you up for the tasks ahead. Green coffee extracts work similarly. This is why they can induce high blood pressure in some people.
There’s also the risk of addiction over time. A person can become so dependent on coffee extracts that they develop anxiety when they don’t have access to it. None of these situations is pleasant.
Knowing that coffee extracts contain caffeine is one thing. Realizing that it can be both a good idea and a bad one depending on your circumstance is what makes a world of difference.
