Just How Much Caffeine is in that Cup of Coffee
July 21, 2010 by Darren "DWilly" Williger
Filed under Caffeine
Coffee isn’t simply just coffee, it’s actually a mixture of the different components that make up the coffee bean. Some of these components which are chemical are destroyed while the coffee bean is being roasted. Some of the chemical components that are involved aren’t destroyed and one of these components that haven’t been destroyed by roasting is the caffeine in these coffee beans. When hot water is added to the coffee ground mixture, a lot of caffeine gets extracted from the coffee bean.
Scientists actually found that caffeine was present in coffee in the year 1820. Caffeine is a mild stimulant. It functions by increasing the blood pressure and stimulating the central nervous system as well. It also stimulates the performance of the heart and lungs as well. It also follows through and ensures urine formation and it ensures urine formation, is a diuretic and prevents fatigue. Fortunately caffeine has some side effects that are quite positive: it can alleviate migraines and this is because it dilates the blood vessels and reduces the pain. It can also slightly relieve asthma attacks. Caffeine however may be linked to other negative things such as cancer and birth defects. Officially there is no actual confirmation from health watchdogs of these side effects.
Different levels of caffeine can actually be found inside coffee beans. A regular cup of coffee may contain between 90 to 150mg of caffeine inside it. Any coffee that is made in a drip coffee maker has a substantially larger amount of caffeine. You can find an average of 115 to 175 mg of caffeine in such cups of coffee. Other coffee makers have an average amount of caffeine that is between 80 to 135 mg of caffeine.
An espresso will have as much caffeine as any regular cup of coffee. You may find up to 100 mg of caffeine in any espresso cup. The serving size of an espresso is a whole lot less. There is more caffeine in a milliliter of espresso than there is in a regular brew of coffee. You can also ingest a whole lot more caffeine in an espresso because of the concentrated nature of the dosage in the cup of the espresso.
Different amounts of caffeine are available in different blends of coffee. You can find the following amounts of caffeine in the different coffee blends that are available.
Brazilian Bourbons – has 1.20% caffeine
Columbia Excelso – has 1.34% caffeine
Columbia Supremo - has 1.34% caffeine
French Roast – has 1.22% caffeine
Costa Rican Tarrazu – has 1.35% caffeine
Vienna Roast – has 1.27% caffeine
Decafs – has 0.02% caffeine
People who develop adverse effects to the caffeine that can be in coffee can decide to drink decaffeinated coffee instead. If you drink coffee this way you still get to enjoy a great coffee taste but without most of the caffeine. Coffee is usually prepared this way by treating the coffee beans especially in chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. The solvents are then removed and the coffee is roasted quite ordinarily. You can get used to decaffeinated coffee and worry less about the side effects of the caffeine.
About the Author:
Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for MicroKarma.com, TheCaffeineZone.com, and PrimeYoga.com.
