Now and again, a food matchup comes along that seems like a match made in heaven.
Chocolate and coffee seem to fall into this category: crunchy, smoky, rich espresso beans enrobed in sweet and creamy chocolate is a treat for the senses, and they’re addictive. It’s hard to stop with just one!
However, have you ever considered how many carbs in chocolate-covered espresso beans there are? Considering how easy it is to munch down a handful, it might be worth looking into what you’re eating every time you pop in one of these delicious morsels.
Let’s Take a Look at the Nutritional Breakdown
To know just what is inside a chocolate-covered espresso bean, let’s look at the nutritional breakdown of one serving of the beans. For the sake of this article, we’re going to use a serving size of 28 beans, or around 40 grams.
First, let’s tackle the original question: how many carbs in chocolate-covered espresso beans in this serving size? For 40 grams of beans, there are around 24g of carbohydrates. As for the other nutritional contents, here they are:
- Total Fat – 12g
- Cholesterol – 5.2mg
- Sodium – 10mg
- Protein- 3g
Most chocolate covered espresso beans use dark chocolate because only dark chocolate can stand up to the flavor of espresso beans. Milk chocolate and white chocolate do not pair well with espresso beans because the beans can overpower the chocolate flavor.
Where Can I Get Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans?
There are so many brands that make chocolate-covered espresso beans, from big names such as Starbucks and Trader Joes to small independent gourmet makers. If you want guaranteed quality and freshness, you should purchase chocolate covered espresso beans from trusted brands. These brands sell their beans in sealed packages to ensure freshness, and you’ll be able to see a manufacturing date on the label as well. What’s more, manufacturers add a nutritional label and serving size suggestion on their packages so that you can have an idea of how much carbs, fat, and sugars you’re consuming.
Are There Health Benefits to Eating Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans?
Yes, there are health benefits to eating chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Antioxidants
Both dark chocolate and espresso beans are known to contain antioxidants, which help neutralize free radicals in the body. Free radicals are compounds that are linked to cell damage and tissue inflammation.
Dark chocolate can also help lower blood pressure, as well as improve the levels of good cholesterol in your body.
Mood Boost
Have you ever wondered why you feel better after eating chocolate? This is because chocolate increases the levels of serotonin in your system. Serotonin functions as a mood regulator, and high levels of serotonin cause feelings of joy and satisfaction.
What about coffee? Well, consuming coffee is linked with an increase in dopamine. Dopamine is known as the “happy hormone”. When you combine the production of dopamine and serotonin, you will experience feelings of happiness and overall well-being.
Are There Risks to Eating Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans?
Of course, there is a flip side to eating chocolate covered espresso beans, such as:
Heartburn
Coffee contains catechol, a compound that is linked to an increase of stomach acid. Eating too many chocolate-covered espresso beans can cause the production of too much stomach acid resulting in the stomach acid pushing up the esophagus and causing nausea and heartburn.
Disrupting Your Sleep Cycle
While eating espresso beans covered in dark chocolate can give a quick energy boost, eating too many of them can lead to sleep deprivation. Each chocolate covered espresso bean contains roughly around 5mg of caffeine. So for the serving size, we used above, you will be consuming around 140mg of caffeine if you finish all of the beans.
Consider this: a typical 8oz cup of coffee contains around 95mg of caffeine, which means that you’ve already ingested almost one and a half times the amount of caffeine when you eat a single serving of espresso beans. And as we’ve previously mentioned, it’s far too easy to exceed the suggested serving size of 28 beans because of the delicious flavor of the beans!
How Much is Too Much? Signs of a Caffeine Overdose
Yes, we understand that it’s hard to keep track of how many chocolate-covered espresso beans you eat, especially if you’re a big fan of espresso and dark chocolate. Most people don’t even know that they’ve gone over the serving suggestion amount until they feel the signs of caffeine overdose.
Here are some signs of a mild to moderate caffeine overdose:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and dizziness
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Heartburn
- Sleeplessness
- Irritability
If you already feel the effects of caffeine, stop consuming chocolate covered espresso beans and other caffeinated products immediately. Drink a lot of water to help flush out the caffeine in your system.
Here are signs of a severe caffeine overdose:
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Irregular and fast heartbeat
- Uncontrollable muscle movements
- Convulsions
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to seek medical attention immediately.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy adult can ingest up to 400mg of caffeine per day. While this seems like a high number, a lot of people can easily go past this amount. This is because caffeine isn’t just found in coffee! It can also be present in other food and drink items such as chocolate, tea, and energy drinks. Find out more about espresso beans.
Some Final Thoughts from the Earl
Now you know how many carbs in chocolate-covered espresso beans there are, as well as the benefits and risks of eating these beans. While experiencing a caffeine overdose might sound scary, it’s easy to avoid it by consuming the espresso beans in moderation. If you’re having trouble controlling yourself because the beans are so good, find a friend and split the beans with them!