Green coffee: how to brew, how to use for weight loss, properties, benefits and harms

Unroasted beans contain significantly less caffeine, but it is not recommended to abuse the drink, especially if there are contraindications to its use. Wild coffee trees were first discovered in Ethiopia. Local residents used the raw fruits as a means of giving energy and increasing tone. Only in the 12th century did they begin to make a drink from coffee berries, but the fruits were not subjected to heat treatment. Several centuries later, people learned to roast grains, grind them and pour hot water, adding all kinds of spices for flavor and milk.

Composition and characteristics

Raw green grains contain more than 800 essential oils, carbohydrates make up about 50% of the total mass, proteins - 10%. The product has a low glycemic index (40) and calorie content: 100 g contains 220 kcal, that is, one cup of the drink contains only 2 kcal. Green coffee has less caffeine than traditional black coffee - about 40 mg.

In addition, the composition is represented by the following components:

pectin and fiber,

vitamins of groups PP, E, C,

tannins,

amino acids,

alkaloids, including theophylline and caffeine,

wax,

minerals,

organic acids,

tocopherols.

A product with antioxidant properties helps protect the body from the destructive effects of free radicals; the polyunsaturated fatty acids contained reduce the risk of blood clots, improving blood composition. Green grains are good for weight loss due to the chlorogenic acid they contain, which slows down the process of fat accumulation in the body. Phenolic compounds help improve the functioning of the nervous system, and amino acids strengthen the immune system.

With regular consumption of the drink, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves, blood vessels are strengthened, and toxins and salts of heavy metals are eliminated faster. Green coffee has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties due to the tannins it contains. Drinks and oils from raw berries are used to get rid of wrinkles, care for dull and dehydrated skin, and strengthen and shine hair.

Roasting and grinding

Green coffee beans are usually sold on store shelves. Accordingly, after purchasing such a product, you will need to first grind it. This must be done so that the taste of the drink becomes richer and more pronounced. In addition, the process of brewing ground coffee is much easier and faster. But it is recommended to roast the grains first. To do this, they need to be washed with running water. Then the grains are laid out on a napkin and dried. After which you can send them to the frying pan. However, you should not roast the entire package of coffee at once. You need to do this in portions. It is necessary to fill the frying pan with grains in a layer of no more than 2 cm.

During frying, you need to constantly stir them so that they do not cake and spoil. Fry the grains over low heat for 5-10 minutes. It is important to monitor the time and not overdo it, otherwise the coffee will lose its special tart taste. In addition, not too long frying will retain all the beneficial substances in it. It is recommended to buy a new frying pan for this and use it specifically for coffee. Then the product will not absorb any foreign odors.

Coffee beans can be roasted in the oven. To do this, you need to heat it to 350 degrees. Then the grains are poured onto a baking sheet in one layer. After this, it is placed in the oven for 10-15 minutes. During this, it is also necessary to stir the grains. When they are ready, you need to take them out and give them time to cool. After which you can pour the grains into a jar or bag.

Such a product must be ground with special care. It is highly undesirable to use an electric coffee grinder for this. Green coffee has a high density, so it can break the knives of household appliances. Here it is better to use a manual coffee grinder, the so-called mill. It is necessary to grind the grains into particles of approximately the following size: 1.5x1 mm.

If a manual coffee grinder is not in your arsenal, then use a meat grinder. To grind grains, you need to use spice attachments rather than meat knives. You can grind green coffee beans using a mortar. But here you will need to put in a lot of effort and spend a lot of time on this process.

Beneficial features

Green coffee is considered more beneficial for humans than black coffee due to its low caffeine content, high antioxidant properties, and a large number of valuable substances in its composition. A drink made from unprocessed coffee berries, when consumed in moderation, has a positive effect on the body, improving overall well-being and health. The main beneficial properties include the following:

decreased blood sugar levels;

prevention of premature aging;

increased physical and mental activity;

assistance in the rapid healing of wounds, the fight against scars and stretch marks;

increased blood pressure (useful for people suffering from hypotension);

acceleration of metabolism, improvement of lymphatic drainage;

increasing blood clotting and vascular elasticity;

suppression of the growth of pathogenic bacteria in the body;

relief from headaches and intestinal problems.

Moderate amounts of unroasted coffee ensure normal heart function. The product is recommended for people exposed to stress and suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Green grains are widely used in the cosmetology field to improve skin and hair health due to their moisturizing, strengthening and toning properties.

Green coffee in cosmetology

Cosmetologists often use essential oil of green coffee beans. It is added to creams, tonics, face and body masks to enrich the composition with valuable antioxidants and nutrients.

Regular use of enriched products allows you to achieve excellent cosmetic results:

Skin cleansing.
Renewal of superficial epidermal cells.
Moisturizing and nourishing dry skin.
Smoothing out wrinkles.
Hair strengthening.
Relaxing massage effect.

At home, in a few minutes, you can carry out cosmetic procedures that are not inferior in effectiveness to expensive salon sessions.

Hair strengthening mask. Prepare 10 parts of your favorite hair conditioner and 1 part green coffee oil. Mix the ingredients and apply to the scalp with light massage movements. Wrap your head in a towel for 10-15 minutes. Rinse your hair well with warm water.

Coffee face scrub. Take a tablespoon of ground green coffee, mix with two tablespoons of sour cream. Apply the mixture to your face, massage along the massage lines and wash with heated water.

For those with oily or combination skin, it is better to use low-fat natural yogurt instead of sour cream.

Nourishing face mask. Prepare equal amounts of olive and coffee oil and stir. Soak a soft cloth in the resulting mixture. Place the napkin on your face and lie there for about 15 minutes. After removing the napkin, rinse your face with warm water.

If you perform this mask 2-3 times a week, the skin will acquire a healthy, radiant appearance, tone and elasticity will return to it.

Massage with green coffee oil. Green coffee oil is used for massage in its pure form or in oil compositions. For example, to achieve the most relaxing effect, prepare:

50 ml green coffee oil.
3 drops of lemon oil.
4 drops of orange oil.
2 drops of mint, green tea or bergamot oil.

All components are mixed. The mixture is heated in the palms and massage is performed with light movements.

Features of use

The recommended dose of caffeine, which will not harm, but will help improve the functioning of vital systems and organs, is 300 mg. It is best to prepare the drink yourself in a Turk, French press or coffee machine. Instant coffee does not contain the same amount of beneficial components as those found in unprocessed beans. Initially, the grains should be ground so that the drink has a pronounced taste and intense aroma of essential oils. For this, it is best to use a hand grinder, since an electric grinder will not be able to grind hard green berries well. In addition, the manual process is slower; the grains do not have time to heat up, which means they retain all their valuable properties.

Crushed coarse grains (about 1.5 mm) should be poured into a Turk with cold water (2 spoons per 200 ml, it all depends on the desired strength of the drink). The mixture should be heated to 90 degrees, without boiling. Otherwise, the drink will lose its special aroma and taste.

You should drink green coffee between meals and no more than 3 cups per day. Brewed green coffee berries go well with ginger. The finished product reduces the level of bad cholesterol, relieves inflammation, and strengthens the immune system. People trying to lose weight should brew coffee with cinnamon or chicory. A few peas of black pepper add a wonderful aroma to the drink, and cardamom adds spice and a sweetish taste. If desired, you can drink green coffee with sugar and milk.

How to brew, recipes

Whole beans are much denser and firmer in texture than roasted beans. Therefore, to grind them you will need a good hand mill or coffee grinder. The beans are ground a little coarser than for roasted beans.

When brewing in a cup, the grains can be poured with hot boiling water. If the brewing process is carried out using a Turk, do not allow the drink to boil. After boiling, most of the vitamins and chlorogenic acid pass into another state and evaporate - the drink loses its basic value.

Infuse coffee for 3 to 5 minutes in a cup, French press and Turk. Oddly enough, among the cooking recipes there is also an option for brewing in a thermos. For this, 2 tsp. ground grains, pour 1 glass of boiled water and leave in a thermos for 30 minutes. This drink is drunk to lose weight, curb appetite and speed up metabolism. You can drink 2 servings of this coffee per day.

A very effective drink that many people use to lose weight is coffee with spices and fresh ginger. It is also brewed in a cup or thermos. For one serving of the drink, take the same amount of ground grains and fresh grated ginger.

Cooking technology:

Put 1 tsp in a cuke. green coffee
Add 1 tsp. ginger
Pour 150 ml of cold water.
Bring to the first foam over low heat.
Leave for 4 minutes, pour into a cup.

Ginger is well known for its fat-burning and stimulating properties, and when combined with the components of green grains, its effect is enhanced. Thus, you get a powerful cocktail to fight fat and extra pounds. The minimum course of drinking this drink is 14 days.

Green coffee for weight loss

Green coffee beans help effectively fight extra pounds, so many nutritionists recommend including this product in your daily menu. American scientists have proven that the drink really helps to reduce body weight when consumed regularly between meals, 100 or 200 ml. The maximum daily intake is 600 ml (about three large cups). Green coffee reduces fat absorption by almost 50%, while a traditional drink made from roasted beans by only 15%. However, do not forget about moderate physical activity and a healthy diet.

The effectiveness of green coffee for weight loss is due to its ability to suppress sugar cravings due to its high chromium content. People who drink the drink half an hour before meals eat much less than usual. The product is also useful for the manifestations of cellulite. You can get rid of the “orange peel” by regularly making wraps from crushed grains.

Typical cooking mistakes

Quite a lot of people, having bought green coffee and started grinding it, are disappointed in the product. And the thing is that they cannot make small granules from grains. As a result, after grinding they only get coarse crumbs, and they believe that they are absolutely unsuitable for cooking. However, green coffee is almost impossible to grind thoroughly. Therefore, you should not be upset when you manage to get quite large particles. Feel free to use them to make a drink.

Often, when roasting grains, some people keep them on fire for more than 15 minutes in order to give them a more aesthetic appearance. This is strongly not recommended. After all, then you will get the usual black coffee that we are all accustomed to.

When making coffee, some actively use ginger, which is known to speed up metabolism and burn fat. However, you should not overuse this spice. Nutritionists say that drinking more than one cup of green coffee per day with ginger is harmful. Therefore, use different spices. Even though the weight will come off a little slower, you will still be able to maintain your health.

Contraindications and possible harm

Harm to health is possible not from the product itself, but from its excessive consumption. A person who drinks more than 600 ml of green coffee may experience increased heart rate and rapid breathing, which indicates a problem with the heart. In addition, sleep disturbance, irritability, nervousness, and headaches cannot be ruled out. On the digestive side, negative effects such as bloating, diarrhea or constipation may be observed. All this can be avoided if you follow the recommendations for consumption and do not exceed the daily allowance.

The main contraindications to taking unroasted coffee beans are the following:

osteoporosis,

pregnancy,

high blood pressure,

lactation period,

irritable bowel syndrome,

glaucoma,

children up to 14 years old,

bleeding disorders,

exacerbation of a stomach ulcer or gastritis.

It is worth noting that coffee drinks lead to dehydration, so the amount of liquid you drink needs to be increased. If green coffee is consumed for weight loss, then sugar should not be added. Mixing with a small amount of fructose or stevia is acceptable.

How to drink green coffee?

Gastroenterologists recommend drinking freshly brewed green coffee a quarter of an hour before a meal or 30 minutes after it. It is better if you do not use sweeteners when cooking.

Combining a cup of green coffee with a cigarette or any alcohol leads to a sharp increase in blood cholesterol. It is important to remember that the active components of coffee enhance the effects of nicotine and ethanol.

If you consider yourself a coffee lover, be sure to include large portions of fish, cheeses, and dairy products in your diet. This measure will compensate for the loss of minerals washed out of the body.

Green coffee is a natural diuretic. To replenish the fluid excreted by the kidneys, you should drink a sufficient amount of clean, still water.

Selection and storage

When choosing a high-quality natural product, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

Color. Real grains cannot be emerald or rich green. They should have an olive, light gray, greenish-brown or pistachio tint.

Size. All grains should be approximately the same in size.

Smell. The aroma of coffee berries is not sharp, reminiscent of dried grass.

Bean quality. Uneven edges, holes, and depressions indicate damage to the fruit by insects, and black spots indicate the beginning of the rotting process.

In addition, you should buy a product without oil deposits and traces of moisture. The packaging must be hermetically sealed and made from environmentally friendly materials.

Green coffee that is not subject to heat treatment can retain its excellent taste for one year. However, it should be stored in cardboard, glass, and ceramic containers. Metal or plastic containers are not acceptable. The grains retain their properties at moderate temperatures (20 to 25 degrees) and low humidity (50%). Do not store the product in the refrigerator or in a brightly lit place.

How to select and store

Green coffee is commercially available in bean and ground form. If you plan to purchase products for frying at home to the desired degree, you need to buy grains of this product. If coffee is used for weight loss, you need to take a ground product. Grinding green fruits is very difficult, you can even break the blender, so it is better not to spoil your equipment.

When choosing green coffee, it is important to buy goods in trusted stores, where the buyer will not be deceived. The spoilage of the fruits of the coffee tree is indicated by direct signs when traces of rot and contamination are visible on the beans.

The storage conditions for green beans are not as harsh as for the processed product. You can pour the grains into a container with an airtight lid and store them at a temperature of 20 degrees; this will not affect the beneficial qualities.

Description

A little historical background: this species appeared as a drink back in the 12th century. It began to be extracted from the pulp of the fruits of the coffee tree. It is logical that at first people did not think of heat treating the grains themselves, which is why they were green. Hence the name that is now known.

Green coffee is significantly different from the coffee beans we are used to, precisely because it is not roasted. But modern people no longer do this out of ignorance, but on purpose. After all, this way it is possible to preserve a number of important properties.

Does green coffee exist?

Yes, it really does exist. It’s just that a couple of decades ago, many considered green coffee only as a semi-finished product of black coffee. And only a few people in Brazil drank coffee in its raw (green) form. And, apparently, for good reason.

It has been proven that during heat treatment, coffee beans, although they acquire the very taste for which they are loved, lose a lot of useful elements (vitamins, antioxidants, minerals).

What does green coffee look like?

Externally similar to lentils. The grains have a pleasant pale olive color without a glossy sheen. They contain more moisture than fried ones.

The color of the product is ideally uniform and monochromatic. Dark spots indicate improper storage and transportation.

What does it taste like?

Those who have tried it say that this taste is not for everyone. It is not at all like your usual coffee drink. There is no astringency and richness, there is no velvety aftertaste. And the aroma is not so bright and alluring.