Chocolate-Covered Coffee Beans, Your New Bestfriend

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”

― Linda Grayson, Printwick Papers

   

Chocolate is one of the most loved and well-appreciated treat around the globe. Regardless of where you live, or your preference of where the chocolate you love comes from, the thought of chocolate makes you flutter. 🙂 Belgian pralines, French truffles, Swiss bars, Brazilian brigadeiros, Spanish churros on hot chocolate, Japanese matcha-everything chocolate, as is, as cake, cupcake, macarons, cake pops, ice cream, as bittersweet, semi-sweet, couverture, gianduja, or unsweetened; whether white, milk, or dark, as powder, solid, liquid; hot, or cold, chocolate is always a good choice and a surefire mood lifter.

Chocolate cake in itself, with icing, eaten at home, at a friend’s house, in a dessert parlour: be it pancake, waffle, crepe, as dessert sauces, even as a drink, shake, smoothie – you can never go wrong with chocolate. And chocolate will never disappoint.

Loving chocolate doesn’t mean though that it can be consumed as much as you like; “hello high-sugar count!” is not something we would want to utter at the end of the day after enjoying our favourite chocolate bar or chocolate cake.

Good news for us chocolate lovers – and those who enjoy consuming healthy and delicious snacks (alongside caffeine), there are chocolate-covered espresso beans in the market we can indulge in. Chocolate-covered espresso or other coffee beans offer a myriad of health benefits without the guilt, nor without sacrificing flavour of each bite. 

Caffeine

Caffeine is one of the most common stimulants used today in society, especially as it is safe to consume (even in larger quantities). Brewing coffee is an art itself, it’s just different from instant cups. Using caffeine is ideal to help “wake the brain” and to get a jumpstart with each day. While consuming caffeine is most popular in both coffee and tea form, chocolate covered coffee beans offer the same results with an entirely new and refreshing experience.

Mood-Lifting Abilities

Because most chocolate-covered espresso beans use dark chocolate, you gain plenty of mood-lifting benefits as dark chocolate helps to increase the release of both endorphins and serotonin throughout the body. Combining dark chocolate with caffeine daily is ideal to make the most out of your body’s all-natural “feel good” chemicals and hormones that are released. Because both coffee and chocolate cause positive reactions in the body, they are some of the most popular choices for energy and snacks today.

Chocolate and coffee beans also release natural dopamine, which is why you are likely to experience a mood boost and perk up in the morning when combining the two.

Antioxidants

A major draw to combining both coffee and chocolate is the antioxidants that come along with the delicious and addictive treats. Both chocolate and coffee release antioxidants which are also known as flavonols. Flavanols help to protect the body from free radicals, which have been known to be linked to cancer and other life-threatening illnesses and diseases.

Free radicals in the body are mainly caused due to surrounding environmental factors, such as pollution, cigarette smoke inhalation, or poor air quality altogether. When antioxidants are present as they are in espresso beans along with chocolate, the body is able to better combat potential threats that are seeking to destroy and cause harm.

 

Here’s an easy recipe of chocolate-covered coffee beans you can try at home.

Ingredients

1 cup freshly roasted coffee beans (arabica or robusta – or both)

12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips (if like me you prefer dark chocolate, use those, it’s much healthier – research says)

How to make Chocolate-Covered Coffee Beans

 

 

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Put the beans on a tray lined with baking sheet and toast for about 8-10 minutes. Let cool for a bit.

Melt the chocolate of your choice in a double boiler over soft simmering water, stir until smooth. Pour in the beans slowly and continue stirring until they are coated.

Take out the beans with a fork and allow the excess chocolate to drip off.

Place the beans on baking paper, carefully putting them apart to prevent sticking.

Set to cool, then put in the fridge a little more.

Homemade chocolate-covered coffee beans may not be as glossy and perfect-looking as those bought from the store, but they will surely be as yummy.

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Combining both cacao and caffeine has become an extremely trendy method of creating delicious and divine snacks, whether you prefer dark or milk chocolate. With a thorough understanding of the perks both caffeine and chocolate have to offer the body, choose snacks and desserts that truly benefit your body long-term.