Coffee bean vs. cocoa bean – what’s the difference, you might ask?
Well, in this post, we’re going to get into how different, and similar they are, what they look, and taste like, and what their applications are.
Let’s get right into it!
Where do coffee beans and cocoa beans come from?
Coffee beans are the coffee plant’s seeds, which is a tropical evergreen shrub.
The fruit-like berries of the coffee plant contain two seeds: one larger bean called a “bean,” and another smaller berry called a “peaberry.”
Peaberries are rare because they’re only produced by about 1% of all harvested coffee beans.
Cocoa beans come from cacao trees, which are also tropical evergreen trees.
The cacao tree produces fruits that look like small oranges with a pink or yellow flesh and white pulp. But inside each fruit, you’ll find 30 to 40 small brownish-red cocoa beans (cocoa pods).
Cocoa pods grow only on mature cacao trees and take between five and seven years before they grow into full-size fruits.
Coffee beans are seeds.
Coffee beans are actually seeds. The seeds grow inside a fruit called a coffee cherry, which is what you’d drink if it were all by itself.
To remove these beans from the cherry and prepare them for roasting and brewing, they’re picked when they’re ripe and then carefully logged into bags to be shipped out.
How are coffee beans and cocoa beans processed?
As we’ve established, the beans are different. But how do they differ in terms of processing? Well, here’s what you need to know:
- Coffee beans are roasted at a higher temperature than cocoa beans.
- Coffee beans are roasted for a shorter time than cocoa beans.
- When coffee is made roasting, it looks brown; when cocoa is done roasting, it looks black!
So what does a coffee bean look like?
A coffee bean is a small, round, green seed that grows on the coffee plant. It’s what you use to make your morning cup of joe.
When you are done roasting it, though, the coffee bean changes color—it becomes dark brown and hard.
As you can see in this picture below, the two beans look very similar:
What does a cocoa bean look like?
Cocoa beans are small and round, with a dark brown outer shell.
They can be covered in white powder, which is cocoa butter (the fat that gives chocolate its smooth texture).
What does coffee taste like?
Coffee is a bitter drink.
But it can also be sweetened with sugar, or cream and chocolate, or fruit juices.
It’s made into many different beverages: espresso, cappuccino, latte and Americano.
What does cocoa taste like?
Cocoa powder is a bitter-sweet powder made from roasted cocoa beans.
The taste of cocoa is often described as “dark” or “earthy”. It’s also used as an ingredient in many chocolate products.
Now that you know what cocoa powder tastes like, let’s look at coffee beans next!
How much caffeine is there in coffee bean?
What about caffeine?
Coffee beans contain more of it than cocoa beans, which is why you get that jolt when drinking coffee.
The average cup of brewed coffee contains about 100mg of caffeine, while a cup of hot chocolate or mocha has around 30mg.
Caffeine is a stimulant that’s known to boost energy levels, improve mental focus and help sustain attention.
It’s also the reason why people often feel alert after drinking coffee—though not everyone agrees on whether or not they need their morning cup in the first place!
How much caffeine is there in cocoa bean?
Cocoa beans contain about 1-2% caffeine, while cocoa powder contains about 10%.
That’s why drinking a cup of hot chocolate can give you the same buzz as two cups of coffee.
Chocolate has slightly more caffeine than cocoa beans do.
Health benefits of coffee
Coffee beans are high in antioxidants, which help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Coffee is also associated with lower rates of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Coffee helps you manage your weight by reducing your appetite and creating a feeling of fullness for hours after drinking it.
The caffeine in coffee can increase your metabolism slightly as well as boost energy levels and alertness so that you feel better throughout the day.
Coffee contains magnesium, which may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Magnesium also helps improve brain function and memory by increasing serotonin levels (a neurotransmitter).
Health benefits of cocoa
Cocoa contains many health-promoting antioxidants, including flavanols and polyphenols.
Flavonoids are substances found in cocoa that have been linked to lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Polyphenols are also abundant in raw cocoa powder.
They form the basis for a wide range of health benefits: they’ve been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, improve cognitive function and protect against certain cancers (such as breast cancer).
Cocoa beans are also rich in minerals (like magnesium), vitamins A, B2 & C as well as fiber—all of which contribute to its antioxidant properties!
How is coffee made?
Once you’ve decided which type of bean you want to buy, you’re ready to start making coffee! Here’s how:
- Roast your beans. If you’re roasting your own beans, spread them out on a baking sheet and roast them in an oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes until they’re dark brown (the amount of time will vary depending on the size and age of your beans). If you are buying pre-roasted beans, look for ones labeled “medium” or “dark.” These roast levels have been found to have optimal flavor in terms of both acidity and bitterness levels.
- Grind the roasted beans into coarse powder using a hand grinder or food processor (using pre-ground coffee from the grocery store is just fine). Do not use pre-ground espresso! The espresso will get too hot while grinding—this can lead to scorching, which affects its flavor profile by causing too much bitterness due to phenolic compounds being released into solution during heat treatment
How is chocolate made?
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are fermented, roasted and ground into cacao nibs. These nibs are then mixed with cocoa butter, milk and sugar to create chocolate. There are many different ways to make chocolate and they all result in a similar product but with slightly different tastes depending on how the final product was made.
How are coffee beans and cocoa beans used in food and beverage products?
Coffee beans are used to make coffee. Cocoa beans are used to make chocolate. Chocolate is a food product that contains cocoa solids and cocoa butter, as well as sugar, milk or other dairy products (such as soy milk), and other ingredients such as nuts or dried fruit.
Cocoa beans are also used to make cocoa powder, which is similar in texture to a fine flour but much darker in color. You can use it in baking and cooking or mix it into smoothies for an instant chocolate boost!
Finally, you can use the pulp from roasted cocoa beans (the nibs) to create the stuff that bakers put into cakes: unsweetened baking chocolate!
Are coffee and cocoa beans good for you?
Cocoa beans are rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants, but not as much as cocoa.
Coffee has been linked to a decrease in the risk of liver disease and diabetes.
Coffee and cocoa have similar beginnings, but they’re very different products.
The coffee bean is a seed, and the cocoa bean is a seed. That’s where the similarities end.
Coffee beans are roasted to create your morning cup of joe—or any other time you need a caffeine kick—while cocoa beans are roasted only after they’ve been processed into chocolate bars, chips and other snacks that have become popular with people across the globe.