Surprisingly, coffee flour doesn’t taste much like coffee — it adds more of a fruity, citrus note to dishes. And while it does contain some caffeine, it’s significantly less potent than your average cup of java.
The Other Coffee Flour
The coffee flour made from parbaked coffee beans is currently under development and not yet on the market. It was invented by Daniel Perlman, a biophysicist from Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
This coffee flour is estimated to have 200 mg per tablespoon so it will have a greater impact on the caffeine content of the food that it is used in.
The coffee flour did add a slight bitter flavor to the pound cake. But Id bet that it would pair well with something sweeter, like chewy chocolate cookies, and would be delicious swapped into a coffee cake (make that a Coffee Coffee Coffee cake), or any sweet baked good with chocolate and a decent amount of sugar.
And though the #wasteless angle reeled me in, its the nutritional aspects that really sold me. Coffee flour is way more than an excuse to just get more caffeine in your day-to-day routine. (In fact, according to one producer, it only contains about as much caffeine as dark chocolate, ounce per ounce.) Gram for gram, the brand Coffee Flour touts its product as having more iron than fresh spinach; more fiber than whole grain wheat flour; more antioxidants than pomegranate; more protein than fresh kale; more potassium than banana; and less fat than coconut flour. Whoa.
Although the name makes it sound like its simply ground-up coffee (that would be, uh, coffee), its actually a by-product of the coffee industry (read: #wasteless) made from drying out the outer fruit, or cherry, of the coffee plant, a material usually tossed as waste. Once dried, the dehydrated coffee fruit is turned into a powdery substance thats a cross between a flour and a spice.
Im not one of those people. In fact, I rarely, if ever, drink the stuff, choosing water, or the occasional cuppa tea (and do make it matcha please), as my drink of choice. But when a coworker recently told me about a new, nutrient-packed coffee product that was supposedly great for baking, I perked up.
Plus the real reason Id cook with coffee flour again is not for its flavor, but for the nutritional boost it offers. Of course, you arent eating that much of it; the pound cake recipe I tested, for instance, contained only 3/4 cup coffee flour in the whole cake. But still, that provides a whole lot more antioxidants and nutrients than the cake flour the recipe originally called for, which makes this one coffee item I would definitely turn to again.
The Ugly Truth About Coffee’s Effects On Your Body
FAQ
Does coffee flour have caffeine?
What is in coffee flour?
How is coffee flour made?
Is the fruit of a coffee plant edible?
Does coffee flour contain caffeine?
Coffee cherries and the coffee flour that’s made from them are slightly caffeinated, but they don’t contain nearly as much caffeine as the beans or regular coffee. A tablespoon of coffee flour contains a very small amount of caffeine equivalent to about one-quarter cup of regular-strength coffee. Why Would I Use Coffee Flour?
What are the disadvantages of caffeine?
Excessive consumption of caffeine can cause side effects or symptoms such as insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, stomach pain, nausea, headache. For those who are sensitive to caffeine, they should be careful even with energy drinks, as most of them have a high concentration of caffeine.
Does coffee flour have fiber?
The fiber content in coffee flour is incredibly high. With 2 grams of fiber per tablespoon, it’s an ideal ingredient for promoting digestive health and regulating blood sugar levels. The intricate composition of this element’s fibers is crucial for the overall function of the digestive system.
Is coffee flour bad for You?
Coffee flour is way more than an excuse to just get more caffeine in your day-to-day routine. (In fact, according to one producer, it only contains about as much caffeine as dark chocolate, ounce per ounce.)