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Two of the most common side effects of caffeine consumption are caffeine hangovers and crashes.

But what are caffeine hangovers and crashes, how do you recognize them, and how can you avoid them? Here, we highlighted everything that you need to know about these conditions, so you can have happier and more productive days!

What Is a Caffeine Hangover?

While a caffeine hangover doesn’t physiologically have much in common with a hangover that comes from being drunk, the symptoms can be similar. Caffeine hangovers occur when your body is going through a withdrawal of caffeine.

Caffeine is an addictive substance, so when your body doesn’t get as much as it’s used to, it starts to go through withdrawal. This typically happens a day or two after your last caffeine consumption.

Caffeine hangovers aren’t fun, but the good news is that there are no long-term side effects. All you need is time to get over it!

Caffeine Hangover Symptoms

Headaches and lethargy are by far the most common symptoms, but occasionally, nausea and vomiting can result. However, it’s rare.

How to Avoid Caffeine Hangovers

The best way to avoid caffeine hangovers is to avoid large dosages of caffeine, but what else can you do? Here are two tips that can make caffeine hangovers a thing of the past.

Limit Caffeine Intake

The best way to prevent a caffeine hangover is to limit your overall caffeine intake. The less you consume, the less dependent your body will be on getting more.
While you can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine each day, if you can keep levels closer to 200 mg, you can avoid caffeine hangovers.

Take Frequent Days Off

Your body needs a break from caffeine every once in a while; otherwise, it’ll build up a dependency. We recommend taking a break from caffeine 2 to 4 days a week. If caffeine is a daily part of your routine, it’s only a matter of time until you experience a caffeine hangover.

However, if you make caffeine something that you only consume every once in a while, when you need it, you shouldn’t have to worry about experiencing a caffeine hangover.

What Is a Caffeine Crash?

Caffeine hangovers and caffeine crashes might sound similar, but they’re two completely different events. Caffeine hangovers typically occur a day or two after caffeine consumption, while caffeine crashes generally happen the same day that you consume caffeine. They occur when you consume caffeine in the morning, and as the caffeine in your body starts to wear off, you “crash” and can no longer focus or get any work done!

Caffeine Crash Symptoms

Caffeine crashes are fairly common but are often misdiagnosed. Typically, you’ll feel extremely tired and won’t be able to concentrate, and there’s a good chance that you’ll end up being irritable. This is especially true if caffeine is masking other problems, like inadequate sleep. When the caffeine wears off, all the symptoms of any underlying conditions will start to shine right through!

How to Avoid Caffeine Crashes

Caffeine crashes can kill your productivity in the second half of your day, and they can make you feel miserable and unhappy. Fortunately, there are a few tips that can help make caffeine crashes a thing of the past.

Get Enough Sleep

One of the most common uses of caffeine is to hide poor sleep or not enough sleep. If you fix the underlying issue of inadequate sleep, you can dramatically decrease the likelihood of experiencing a caffeine crash.
Of course, fixing your sleep schedule can be easier said than done, so you might need to research sleep techniques to get the sleep that you need.

Spread Out Caffeine Intake

Caffeine crashes occur when your body starts to dispel all the caffeine that you’ve consumed. It’s most common when you consume all your caffeine in the morning, so by the second half of the day, there’s no caffeine left in your system.

One way to help mitigate this is to spread out your caffeine consumption over a longer period. Instead of drinking all 3 cups of coffee in the morning, try drinking 2 in the morning and 1 at lunch.

This way, you’re not getting any extra caffeine, but you’re also not going from a large amount of caffeine in your system to none at all. Spreading out the intake helps ensure that you avoid a caffeine crash!

Limit Caffeine Intake

The more caffeine that you consume, the harder the crash will be. While you can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine in a day, this raises the risk of you experiencing a caffeine crash.

If you can cut that consumption to 200 mg in a day, there’s not as much of a difference from no caffeine in your system compared to its maximum level.

Eat Food!

Food is nature’s way of giving you energy, which is exactly what caffeine does in your system. If you get energy from food, which lasts longer than caffeine energy, the chance of you experiencing a caffeine crash later in the day goes down.

Eat food with your caffeine and don’t skip lunch at work! This will keep your energy levels up and help you power through the second half of the day.

Final Thoughts

Nobody wants to experience a caffeine hangover or crash, but if you’re not careful, you could be trudging through life experiencing both without even realizing it. Hopefully, now that you know what to look for, you can recognize when you’re experiencing either condition, and you can work to keep it from happening in the future!

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

Millions of people drink coffee and other caffeine products daily. But over time, the body builds up a tolerance to caffeine, which means you need to consume even more to get the same effects.

So, how can you reset your caffeine tolerance, and what’s the best way to do it? Here, we tell you everything that you need to know about resetting your caffeine tolerance, along with other helpful facts!

Caffeine Tolerance Reset Tips

There are only two ways to reset your caffeine tolerance: either you can cut caffeine cold-turkey, or you can slowly start to decrease your caffeine intake. Neither option is fun, but we highlight a few tips to help you through whichever option you choose.

1.Do It Slowly

You will experience fewer side effects if you cut your caffeine intake slowly. This is especially true if you’re currently consuming large amounts of caffeine, such as quantities over 250 mg per day.

If you quit cold turkey, you’re far more likely to experience more severe side effects, like headaches, nausea, and exhaustion. While doing it slowly can still have side effects, they should be far more minor.

It takes about 10 days for your body to reset its caffeine tolerance, so every time you lower the dosage, you need to wait about 10 days before lowering it again.

2.Bring the Tylenol

The most common side effect of caffeine withdrawal is a headache, and that’s something that a low-dosage painkiller like Tylenol can help with. It’s not something that you want to stay on for an extended period, but you can take a dose when the headaches or other withdrawal effects get too bad.

It can be quite helpful when you’re trying to reset your caffeine tolerance!

3.Get the Right Amount of Sleep

A major side effect of caffeine withdrawal is exhaustion, and one of the best ways to combat that is to get the right amount of sleep. While not enough sleep will leave you feeling exhausted, too much can do the same thing.

Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day when you’re withdrawing from caffeine to help reduce the effects of lethargy.

4.Exercise!

Exercise is your body’s natural energy booster, so use it to your full advantage! Hit the gym or throw on a pair of running shoes and get out of the house for a bit. For a more relaxed way to boost your energy, you can head out for a hike.

Getting out, getting moving, and getting sunlight can do wonders for your energy levels, so don’t underestimate their helpful impacts.

5.Eat Regularly/Healthy

You need energy, and it’s likely the reason that you turned to caffeine in the first place. Food is nature’s way of giving you energy, so the last thing that you want to do when resetting your caffeine tolerance is to skip meals or eat low-nutrient foods.

Fruits, veggies, and carbs are natural energy boosters, so ensure that you’re getting enough of them and eating throughout the day to keep your energy levels up without caffeine.

How Long to Reset Caffeine Tolerance?

You can only reset your body’s caffeine tolerance by cutting back on caffeine or cutting it out entirely. It also takes time for your body to adjust to its new routine without caffeine.

To fully reset your body’s caffeine tolerance, you need to go 10 to 12 days without caffeine at all or at a lower dosage. Simply going cold turkey for a day or two won’t do it!

How Long to Build Up a Caffeine Tolerance?

This number varies quite a bit from person to person, but typically, it takes about 10 days to build up a caffeine tolerance. However, some people report having a tolerance build-up after only a day or two of caffeine intake.

Some of this might be the placebo effect, but some people do simply build up a caffeine tolerance quicker than others. So, if you’re resetting your caffeine tolerance just so you can start consuming it again, you might end up right back where you are now.

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?

Most adults can consume 400 mg of caffeine per day. However, while this is a safe level for most adults, it doesn’t apply to everyone.

Some people are simply more sensitive to caffeine, and they shouldn’t consume that much. Furthermore, there could be restrictions based on current medications, age, pregnancy, or a litany of other health conditions.

If you’re questioning whether you’re consuming too much caffeine, reach out to a medical professional for personalized guidance.

Caffeine Half-Life

This varies quite a bit depending on the person, but in most healthy adults, the half-life of caffeine is about 5 hours. So, if you consume 100 mg of caffeine at 8 in the morning, by 1 in the afternoon, your body still has about 50 mg of caffeine in it.

This dramatically affects how much effect future caffeine will have on your body. It also means that if you never stop consuming caffeine, the amount in your body will continue to rise, potentially to unsafe levels.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t want your caffeine tolerance to get too high, it’s best to reset it every once in a while.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

You might not realize it, but those coffee grounds you throw away every morning could have a second life. Whether you’re buying premium single-origin beans or full-bodied blends, you might as well get the most out of your coffee budget and help the environment, too. From their texture to their nutrient load, your coffee grounds have a lot to offer.

To get you started, here is a list of suggestions for your used coffee grounds. We hope it helps you find a good use for your grounds. Maybe you’ll even think of another use for coffee grounds!

The 17 Genius Uses for Coffee Grounds:

1.Compost

Warm, wet, and filled with nitrogen, used coffee grounds have a very natural use in fertilizing plants. Some people like to mix the grounds directly into the soil, but that application tends to break down really slowly. The best use of coffee grounds to grow plants is as part of a well-rounded compost, where the heat of decay helps break them down much more quickly.

2.Refrigerator deodorizer

Coffee grounds can be tossed on a newly shoveled sidewalk in the depths of winter. The chemical makeup of the coffee will prevent it from freezing until temperatures are a little lower and will help melt some of the ice. The gritty texture of coffee grounds also allows them to add some traction value on ice.

4.Better blue blooms

If you’ve got some flowering plants in your garden that thrive in a lower pH soil, sprinkle some acidic coffee grounds into their soil. As the grounds slowly break down, they will bring down the pH value of the soil. That will allow flowers like the blue-blooming hydrangea to flourish.

5.Slug barrier

Slugs don’t like the acidic quality of coffee grounds, so they will avoid crossing coffee grounds when possible. If you’ve got a garden where slugs are a problem, coffee grounds can make an inexpensive and effective repellent. The slugs will stay out. One thing you’ll want to keep an eye on is that the degrading coffee grounds will drop the pH value a little, which can be a problem if you have plants that favor alkaline soils.

6.Exfoliant

Coffee grounds have a texture a lot like sand, so you can use them as a natural scrubbing agent. You can either use the grounds directly on your skin to help scrub away dead skin cells and clean out clogged pores, or form them into a solidified exfoliating bar. Either way, coffee grounds are good for your skin.

7.Scrub your pans clean

The same scour power that helps remove dead cells from your skin also helps clean caked-on food particles off your cooking pans. Just like pioneers used sand to scrub off food particles because they didn’t have steel wool, you can use coffee grounds to clean out your cooking pans.

8.Hand cleaner

Used on your face, coffee grounds can remove dead skin cells and soften your skin. But on your hands, they can do something a little different. Pumice soaps are used to scour away tough dirt and grime from working on cars or machines. Coffee grounds offer an affordable, readily available alternative that will leave your hands smelling a little like morning.

9.Meat rub

Coffee is an under-appreciated element of cooking. It’s the central ingredient in red-eye gravy, and can be found in everything from barbecue sauces to chocolate desserts. But coffee grounds also have a natural smoky flavor when used as a meat rub for meats like brisket, ribs, or even a tender cut of steak. This is a really great way to extend the value of very expensive coffee grounds because you can tailor the meat to the actual flavor of the coffee. One great added benefit is that the acid will break down the meat and tenderize it.

10.Beer brewing

Fans of craft brewing probably already recognize the java brew from their favorite brewpub. Many breweries use coffee to make beer, typically producing stouts and porters that can be great with lunch on a cold afternoon. If you have some reading to do in the evening, it’s a nicely caffeinated way to not fall asleep.

11.That old-timey look

British soldiers during the era of Queen Victoria stained their helmets with tea to give them a brownish look. Take that to heart when thinking about what to do with your used grounds. Some people pay a lot of money for a ripped or used look, and using grounds to stain clothing is a good option when you’re done with your coffee.

12.Arts and crafts

If you want to give craft paper a more antique look, try staining it with coffee grounds. In fact, coffee grounds will help you stain a lot of arts and crafts projects in a way that makes them look naturally aged. This also applies to Easter eggs you might want to dye to look like you’re living during the Roaring 20s.

13.Shiny hair

You wouldn’t want to use coffee grounds on lighter hair like blonde or red, but if you’ve got dark hair like chestnut or black, coffee grounds will not only help strip dirt from your hair, but the acids will also help to soften it. Use this sparingly so you don’t extend the cleaning properties into stripping out vital nutrients.

14.Furniture stain

Coffee grounds can add a little lustrous darkening to anything you want stained. That includes wood, for which coffee grounds can add some affordable but deep dark staining. You can either mix it in with water for a thin paint, or you can rub it in and let it sit for an hour or so before cleaning it off for a more natural look.

15.Bug repellent

Slugs aren’t the only garden pest repelled by coffee grounds. Slugs don’t like the acidic nature of the grounds, but other things don’t like the smell. You can either mix your grounds into the soil to repel certain underground pests or spread it over the dirt to keep out insects and even cats. Just be aware that coffee grounds will turn everything a little more acidic as they break down.

16.Fireplace dust

If you’re getting ready to clean up the soot in a fireplace, coffee grounds spread across the cleaning surface will help keep the dust down by adding some moisture to the very dry soot. That’ll keep it from drifting up into the air. Just scoop it up and shovel it away.

17.Food for worms

While slugs and other garden pests hate coffee grounds, worms love to munch on their nutrient-rich grit. Mix them in well, and you not only add a lot of nitrogen to the soil, but the large pieces of grit that are coffee grounds mean that whatever soil you’ve got your worms in will remain well-aerated.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

Ketogenic diets are all the rage these days because they are effective and relatively easy to follow, two features that most diets do not possess. Unlike dieting fads designed to sell products and keep people in the never-ending cycle of hopping from one dieting plan to the next, keto diets are backed by science and don’t require any secret, proprietary ingredients, or other nonsense. One of the best examples of a keto-friendly drink is bulletproof coffee.

Bulletproof coffee is easy to make, delicious, reduces cravings, and can help you stay within your ketogenic diet parameters while still getting a healthy number of calories per day. The simplest recipes only require coffee and butter, and even the more involved ones aren’t too complicated and only use a few ingredients. In this article, we’re going to teach you our two favorite bulletproof coffee recipes and give you a bit of background information about bulletproof coffee. Even if you aren’t following a strict keto diet, bulletproof coffee is creamy and delicious and worth trying.

What Is Bulletproof Coffee?

Bulletproof coffee in its purest form is butter in coffee—that’s it. Of course, many recipes have built on this simple foundation to include other ingredients like MCT oil, cinnamon, salt, and even sugar in some cases. In general, we think it’s fair game to call any recipe that calls for butter “bulletproof coffee.”

So why put butter in your coffee, you ask? To the uninitiated, butter in coffee seems like something that would happen by accident at an overly crowded breakfast table. But, for those in the know, it’s a familiar staple in keto diets. The main idea behind keto diets is to consume higher amounts of fat and reduce carbohydrate intake to induce a fat-burning state called ketogenesis.

Bulletproof coffee is commonly a key part of keto diets because it’s high in fat and contains no carbohydrates. Additionally, coffee contains caffeine, which is an appetite suppressant. Combining black coffee and butter creates a drink that perfectly suits keto dieting specifically and weight loss in general.

A Simple Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

This first Bulletproof coffee recipe is as simple as it gets. To make it, you only need butter, coffee, a blender, and your favorite mug. If you’re new to bulletproof coffee and are looking for a recipe to start with, we recommend this one. It will give you an appreciation for what bulletproof coffee is about at a fundamental level and give you a solid foundation to build off of going forward.

1.Make a cup of coffee.

Brew a cup of coffee exactly how you normally would. You can use your favorite brew method and coffee beans with no changes. We recommend medium or dark roast coffee since we find that light roast flavor profiles can unpleasantly clash with the butter.

2.Blend your coffee and butter.

Add ½ to 1 tablespoon of butter to your black coffee and pour both into a blender. We recommend starting with ½ tablespoon and increasing the amount of butter slowly as you get used to drinking bulletproof coffee. Blend the butter and coffee until they are thoroughly mixed. The coffee should have a frothy head.

This recipe is the ultimate barebones version of bulletproof coffee and will give you the cleanest, unfiltered bulletproof experience. The following recipe is similar but spices things up a bit.

A Slightly More Involved Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

If you tried the simple recipe and are ready to take your bulletproof coffee to the next level, this recipe is a nice variation that still doesn’t stray too far from the core principles. You will need some less common ingredients, so make sure you have everything before you start.

1.Brew coffee.

Just like you did in the simple recipe, brew a cup of black coffee. Consider making a slightly larger 10-12 ounce cup if you can, but 8 ounces is fine too.

2.Blend all the ingredients.

Combine the coffee, butter, coconut oil, and MCT oil in a blender. Start blending slowly and increase the speed only once the ingredients start to combine. Occasionally, the oils might not mix well, so be sure only to stop blending when you’re convinced the ingredients are all blended smoothly together.

A general rule of thumb for making bulletproof coffee is to keep the total fat content to around 1 tablespoon. You’ll notice that our second recipe still only uses 1 tablespoon of fats, even though it is divided between three separate sources.

Ideas for Custom Variations

Bulletproof coffee is flexible, and there are innumerable ways you can tweak the recipe to make it your own. One of the simplest—and most delicious—ways is by adding a garnish. Cinnamon is a popular choice, but other spices like nutmeg and allspice also work well. Spices add flavor to bulletproof coffee without changing the nutritional content, making them a great way to coax a little more flavor from your coffee.

You could also change things up by using different sources of fat. Butter is the classic example, and MCT oil and coconut oil are also good choices, but more exotic options are nut butter, cacao butter, and ghee. Bulletproof coffee made from ½ tablespoon of butter and ½ tablespoon of natural almond butter is a delightful treat and one of our favorite variations.

Finally, you can use different coffee styles. If you usually brew coffee in a pour-over, try French press bulletproof coffee or vice versa. One more adventurous way to make bulletproof coffee is using cold brew. Once you make the cold brew, heat it before blending with butter, and voila, you have an even smoother, slightly sweet version.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

1.Buttered Coffee

Buttered coffee is a popular trend making the rounds in celebrity and professional-athlete circles. Adding a tablespoon of butter to a cup of black coffee is supposed to make the caffeine stronger; Plus, it brings out the natural nutrients in the brew. Additionally, when you add butter to coffee, it acts as a secondary appetite suppressant making it easier to skip breakfast. Companies that are cashing in on this trend are able to increase their prices exponentially for the extra ingredient. Whether this trend is here to stay or not is hard to say.

2.Heath Conscious Coffee

Health-conscious food and beverages have long been a trend in popular culture, and coffee, as one of the most consumed beverages, is not immune. Brands like Purity Coffee are putting antioxidants and other health boosting nutrients first in their production and marketing efforts. Some brands are going a step further by adding additional ingredients to increase the health benefits. What’s more, coffee shops are featuring coffee alternatives like matcha lattes, as well.

3.Coffee and Tourism

Coffee has become more popular among the younger generations, but not just for the caffeine. Instead, they’re in it for the experience. Millennials, in particular, have found coffee to be an experience that is better served in an authentic environment. Traveling to different locations to find the best cafes and coffee farms has become the Euro backpacking of 2022.

4.Nitro Cold Brew Coffee

Another millennial coffee trend is cold brew. Cold brew is a sweeter, smoother, less bitter version of hot coffee. That being said, cold brew has been on the rise for several years. Nitro cold brew, however, is just now bringing people back to coffee shops. Due to the pandemic, many cold brew lovers have found ways to make their favorite cold coffee at home. Nitro cold brew is more accessible through a cafe, however. It has become a popular cafe trend for 2022.

5.Snapchilled Coffee

Snapchilled coffee gives the trend above a run for its money. Unlike cold brews, snapchilled coffee is made a lot quicker, and it changes the brew’s natural sweetness. Additionally, there is less coffee waste with this method Another point in snapchilled’s favor is the flavor. It is not diluted by the process nor by the ice typically added to ice coffee. Although this is a fairly new trend in the cold coffee area, we expect to see it take root this year.

6.Bottled Coffee

Canned and bottled coffee used to only be available in one or two options that left a lot to be desired.  In a society that is always on the go, however, it seems like every major coffee brand has dedicated a portion of their business to canned or bottled brew. They are not only convenient, but they don’t require standing in long coffee shop lines or expensive at-home gadgets. As the quality of bottled brew has improved immensely, this is a trend that is likely to stay put for some time.

7.Fair Trade Coffee

Fair trade is a term heard quite often. Our society has taken a deeper look into the fairness of working conditions and labor guidelines in the communities that produce our products and goods. In this case, fair trade indicates that the farmers who grow coffee plants are being compensated fairly for their crops. Coffee brands that indicate they are fair trade certified are not only on-trend, but many people feel it has become a sociological necessity.

8.Koji Fermented Coffee

Koji fermented coffee has been a hit in the coffee scene. Introduced in 2019, this particular type of coffee includes an extra step in the normal processing procedure of coffee beans. In this case, a type of ancient Japanese mould spore is added to the green beans prior to roasting. The beans are also left to sit for several days to allow the mould to ferment. Fans of koji coffee find that it makes dark roasts less bold, and it lessens the acidity of light roast beans.

9.Quality Blends

The opinion among coffee experts has long since thought that the best coffee with the highest quality comes from single-origin beans. It has been the same in specialty shops and the top coffee cafes for many years. Recently, beans blended from different origins have started to take over. Blending different types of coffee together used to be a way to improve flavor and keep costs down. However, some of the top baristas in the world have been using blends in such effective ways that they have garnered more recognition and appreciation. As the future of coffee production is not certain, blends seem to be a trend that is going to last.

10.Energy-Efficient Coffee Shops

Brands, coffee and otherwise, are no strangers to eco-friendliness, and the reduction of carbon footprints. In fact, it has moved from a trend to an all-out global movement. It is an attempt to rectify the damage already done to our environment. With the United Nations set to have their Climate Change Conference in November, a strong pull towards reducing carbon footprints is at hand. This trend will likely take many shapes and forms such as the popularity of micro cafes, the use of equipment with fewer carbon emissions, and less waste-producing, single-serving coffee products. While there is no definitive way to know what the future holds, this is a trend that is very unlikely to dissipate any time soon.

11.Milk Alternatives

Another not-so-new trend is the use of non-dairy milk in coffee. Adopting plant-based milk goes hand-in-hand with the health trend that has been in full swing for many years. Most coffee shops and cafes offer alternative kinds of milk like oat and soy already. It does not seem as though this trend will slow down. Milk alternatives for coffee are becoming more inventive with companies producing plant-based flavored creamers that mix more easily with coffee. Besides that, potato milk is also gaining momentum as the new alternative to dairy milk.

12.Coffee Subscriptions

The popularity of coffee subscriptions has been a direct result of the pandemic where people were unable to get out to their favorite cafes. Although we are seeing a rise in visits to coffee shops, coffee subscriptions are still hanging on strong. Not only do they allow customers to have fresh beans on their doorstep when they need them, but it is also a great way to try out new blends and single-origin beans. Many subscription services offer sample packs that make great gifts. Even if coffee shops are back in business, most people still consume coffee at home, and subscriptions provide a hassle-free way to obtain quality coffee.

Final Thoughts

Many coffee industry trends for 2022 are based on environmental and convenience factors. While some of them may still be a direct result of the passing pandemic, others are new to the industry with the goal of improving it for the better.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

If you’re an avid coffee drinker, you’ve probably wondered just how many different types of coffee beans there are and what makes them unique. We’ve got the answers!

There are four different types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. The most common (and popular) are Arabica and Robusta, but you might get lucky and run into the other two. Keep reading to learn all about these delicious beans, plus handy buying tips.

The 4 Different Types of Coffee Beans:

1.Arabica Coffee Beans (Coffea arabica)

Arabica beans are by far the most popular type of coffee beans, making up about 60% of the world’s coffee. These tasty beans originated many centuries ago in the highlands of Ethiopia, and may even be the first coffee beans ever consumed! The name Arabica likely comes from the beans’ popularity in 7th-century Arabia (present-day Yemen).

The downside of Arabica beans is that they’re harder to grow. Because of this, Arabica beans are pricier. All coffee beans grow in the so-called Bean Belt, an area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in 50 countries around the world. But Arabica beans need extra shade, water, and high altitude to grow properly. These plants are more susceptible to plant diseases and must be grown at an altitude of at least 2,000 feet. They’re also smaller plants, measuring between 8 and 15 feet when fully grown.

What do they taste like?

Most gourmet coffee brands advertise that they use 100% Arabica beans. Why? Arabica coffee beans are considered the most high-quality variety. They’re known for their smooth, complex flavor and distinct lack of bitterness.

Depending on where they’re grown, Arabica beans can offer many different tasting notes, from earthy Indonesian to floral Ethiopian. If you want to amaze your tastebuds, pick up a bag of single-origin Arabica beans!

Where can you buy Arabica beans?

Arabica beans are widely available, especially from gourmet coffee companies. If you want to try Arabica coffee, check the label to ensure that it hasn’t been blended with Robusta beans, the second variety.

2.Robusta Coffee Beans (Coffea caniphora)

The second most popular type of coffee bean is Robusta. This bean originated in sub-Saharan Africa and is now grown primarily in Africa and Indonesia. It’s also particularly popular in Vietnam and is often mixed into coffee blends. It’s a less expensive variety, making it a very budget-friendly choice for roasters.

Robusta beans are larger and more rounded than the other bean varieties. These plants typically grow much larger than Arabica plants, measuring between 15 and 20 feet. Robusta beans are typically considered to be hardier because they can grow at lower altitudes and resist diseases. But recent research suggests that they don’t handle heat as well as was previously thought.

What do they taste like?

Many people think that Robusta coffee is harsher and more bitter. It often has a strong smell and a somewhat flat, almost burnt taste. Robusta beans also have significantly more caffeine than Arabica beans.

Though many fans of gourmet coffee turn up their noses at Robusta, we’d recommend trying it every once in a while. You may be surprised! We sampled an excellent Robusta bean from Angels’ Cup coffee subscription. The unusual Thai beans were earthy and spiced, without a hint of bitterness.

Where can you find Robusta beans?

Robusta beans are pretty easy to find since they’re common in blends. Some gourmet roasters offer special Robusta blends, and you can check Vietnamese coffee suppliers like Len’s Coffee. Plus, instant coffee is typically 100% Robusta.

3.Liberica Coffee Beans (Coffea liberica)

Native to central and western Africa – specifically Liberia, hence its name – Coffea liberica is prized for its piquant floral aroma and bold, smoky flavor profile. This hardy species is frequently mixed with other varieties to add body and complexity, but rarely receives any credit. Unheard of in Western civilization before the late 1800s, Liberica gained a foothold with Southeast Asian coffee producers after a fungal disease (“coffee rust”) wiped out much of the region’s Arabica crops.

Growing from a much larger plant than Arabica or Robusta, most Liberica cherries tend to be irregular in shape and closer to Robusta in size and general appearance. It’s also tolerant of hot, humid climates and does well at low altitude. Now produced mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the bean makes up roughly 2% of the world’s coffee supply. Over 95% percent of the Malaysian coffee yield is Liberica beans. However, it’s not commonly found in North American and European markets.

What do they taste like?

Among enthusiasts, Liberica coffee has a controversial and polarizing reputation for wild inconsistency. Those who’ve tried this rare variety either love it or hate it. Some coffee drinkers adore the unusual, nutty, woody flavor and sneaky backbite on the finish. Others compare the flavor to burnt garbage.

Where can you buy Liberica beans?

Perhaps the most renowned Liberican coffee is found in the Philippines, where it’s known as “kapeng barako” (Barako coffee), which translates to “macho stud” in Philippine culture. Typically served black with sugar, this hard-charging Liberican brew is not for the faint of heart. Considered somewhat of a relic from an older generation, kapeng barako is still widely available on the shelves of local supermarkets and served in coffee shops across the Philippines. In fact, outside of Southeast Asia, your best bet for finding Barako coffee (or Liberica beans) is in a market that caters to the Filipino ex-pat community.

4.Excelsa Coffee Beans (Coffea excelsa)

The fourth major type of coffee bean is called Excelsa. Though it was once considered a separate coffee species, scientists recently reclassified it as a Liberica variant.

Excelsa beans grow almost entirely in Southeast Asia, and they’re shaped somewhat like Liberica beans — elongated ovals. These beans grow on large 20 to 30-foot coffee plants at medium altitudes.

What do they taste like?

In terms of flavor, Excelsa beans are pretty unique. They combine light roast traits like tart notes and fruity flavors with flavors that are more reminiscent of dark roasts. They’re also lighter on aroma and caffeine — while maintaining an unusual depth of flavor. You can sometimes find these unusual beans in blends because they add complexity.

Where can you find Excelsa beans?

Excelsa beans aren’t as common as Arabica and Robusta beans and can be harder to find outside of Asia. Luckily, specialty roasters like Len’s Coffee offer Excelsa beans.

What Kind of Coffee Bean Should You Choose?

Now that you’re familiar with the major types of coffee beans, it’s time to start shopping! If you want the best possible flavor and don’t mind paying a little extra, look for coffee that’s 100% Arabica. Prefer extra caffeine, want to save money, and don’t mind a little bitterness? Go for a bag of Robusta or a blend of Arabica and Robusta.

If you’d rather have something unusual, look for Liberica or Excelsa beans — but be prepared for a more extensive search! These rare coffee beans can be delicious but hard to find.

As always, we recommend buying whole bean coffee and grinding it just before brewing. The extra effort is well worth it, as you’ll get significantly better flavor and freshness, no matter which type of coffee bean you choose. By the way, do you know where coffee beans come from?

Also if drinking coffee causes acidity for you, you can opt for low acid coffee that is perfect for sensitive stomachs. Check out this guide from Sip Coffee House for some good options.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

Does Caffeine Boost Metabolism?

Studies show that caffeine can boost a person’s metabolism, with figures suggesting increases between 10% and 29%. Obese people enjoy less increase, with lean people gaining the most benefits, while it is younger people that get the greatest gains from the stimulant.

How Long Until Caffeine Is Completely Out Of Your System?

Caffeine has a half-life between four and six hours, so this long after consuming it, half of the amount will still remain. In total, it can take up to 10 hours before it completely leaves your system.

Does Vitamin C Counteract Caffeine?

If you’ve consumed too much caffeine or are having an adverse effect to caffeine, you may be looking for ways to counteract its effects. Unfortunately, vitamin C has not been shown to have any effects in combating caffeine. Experts suggest taking a walk to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and encourage the liver to break down the caffeine.

What Enzyme Breaks Down Caffeine?

The liver is primarily responsible for breaking caffeine into three constituent components: paraxanthine, theobromine, and theophylline, and it is the cytochrome P450 1A2, or CYP1A2, that is responsible for breaking it down.

Conclusion

Caffeine is often said to be the most widely consumed drug in the world, because of its stimulant effects and its mass consumption. It is generally considered safe, at least in moderation and for otherwise healthy adults, and there are studies linking its consumption to improved weight gain and increased energy levels. Coffee is the most common method of consuming caffeine, although it can also be found in sodas, other hot beverages, and in some gum, tablets, and powders. While coffee itself has very few calories, you should take note of any additives that you include in coffee drinks, such as milk and sugar, if you are looking to lose weight.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

Bad news for coffee friends: what’s in your cup could actually be hurting your productivity instead of boosting it.

Caffeine is a powerful substance, after all. It can enhance your alertness, give you more energy, and promise you something to look forward to in the morning (or throughout your day). But it’s true that you can have too much of a good thing. No one knows this better than coffee lovers with a sensitivity to caffeine.

How do you know if you’re one of them? The signs of caffeine sensitivity often fly under the radar. Here are a few symptoms to keep an eye out for if you’re wondering if your daily cup of joe is doing more harm than good.

1.Racing Heartbeat

Have you ever experienced what it’s like to max out on caffeine and feel it rush straight to the heart? You might hear your heart pounding in your eardrums or feel it pulsing in your temple. It can be an energizing flood of adrenaline or a distracting sense of stress.

Either way, it’s not abnormal to have this happen when you drink too much coffee. The difference for people with a caffeine sensitivity is that this will happen at a much lower dose. If it’s happening as soon as you start your first cup, for instance, it may be a sign that you’re sensitive to caffeine.
2.Headaches

If you’re one of the many people who turns to caffeine for headache relief, this one may seem counterintuitive. But for those with a sensitivity, it’s frequently the opposite.

It’s important to make sure that it is caffeine causing your headaches, though. Keep track of your headaches and note any patterns that might recur regarding them. If your headaches start while you’re drinking coffee or another caffeinated beverage, or soon after, it may be related to a sensitivity.

3.Anxiety or Nervousness

Anxiety is influenced by so many different factors, which can often make it difficult to understand the cause. It’s important to recognize if there’s anything going on in your life that could be responsible for an anxiety spike.

If not, and you’re noticing an increase in your levels of anxiousness or nervousness, especially when you’re drinking coffee, it might be time to re-examine your caffeine intake.

4.Restlessness or Jitters

Everyone gets the jitters after drinking coffee on occasion—knee bouncing up and down, fingernails tapping on the table, can’t sit still, etc.

Whether you’ve had more coffee than usual or drank your first cup on an empty stomach, it’s common to feel jittery as a result of caffeine. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of eating a snack or opting out of that last cup for the day.

Other times, it can point to a sensitivity. When the jitters get to the point of true discomfort, or if they’re interfering with your daily life, your body could be trying to tell you something.

5.Insomnia

It comes as no surprise that caffeine can keep you up at night. Maybe you want a treat after a hard day, so you hit Starbucks on your way home from work—but you forget to order decaf. You might have trouble sleeping later that night.

Caffeine can interfere with your body’s natural production of adenosine, which helps you get sleepy at bedtime. That’s why it’s not a good idea toconsume any caffeine within six hours of going to sleep, whether you’re sensitive or not.

If you are sensitive, you may notice a more dramatic impact on your ability to fall asleep on the days when you’ve had caffeine. A good way to test this is to see if cutting out caffeine for a day (or a few days) helps you drift off to sleep more easily at night.

6.Stomach Issues

Coffee can be hard on the stomach, especially if you haven’t eaten breakfast first. And thanks to its laxative qualities, it’s not unusual to pay a visit to the bathroom after a cup or two.

But caffeine can have a unique effect on the stomachs of the caffeine-sensitive. It triggers your body to produce more acid than normal, so when you’ve consumed too much caffeine, the high amounts of acid can hurt your stomach.

A caffeine sensitivity lowers your tolerance for caffeine, meaning that reaching that limit happens faster. This could lead to discomfort.

Conclusion

If you’ve discovered that you do have a caffeine sensitivity through this article, don’t be discouraged. Knowledge is power, and knowing your limits is the first step to finding a balance that will allow you to enjoy a warm beverage in the morning and stay productive—all while symptom-free. And if nothing else, there’s always decaf.

Source: Kate MacDonnell - coffeeaffection.com/author/kate-macdonnell

Homemade Coffee Creamer Recipe
To make a basic coffee creamer, you just need a few creamy ingredients and a mixing container. You can add other flavors like chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla to this recipe.