Coffee is a beloved beverage known for its deliciously aromatic taste and ability to boost energy levels due to its high caffeine content. In addition to its energising effects, drinking coffee (black coffee in particular) has been linked to a long list of potential health benefits, giving you all the more reason to reach for that tasty cup of freshly brewed coffee.
In this blog, we’ll take a look some of the many benefits of drinking black coffee including its ability to increase energy levels, promote weight loss and protect against chronic disease.
What is Black Coffee?
Black coffee is coffee in its simplest form with nothing added – no milk, cream, sweetener or coffee syrup. There are many ways to make black coffee though the process typically involves soaking ground coffee beans in water to release their flavour, colour, caffeine content and nutrients. Drinking black coffee allows you to enjoy the health benefits of black coffee without additives that are more calorific. Although coffee is often served hot, it can also be served iced.
How to Make Black Coffee?
The only elements you need to make a delicious cup of black coffee are quality ground coffee, water and your preferred coffee maker. The key to making great black coffee is choosing the right coffee grind size. You can grind your own coffee beans from whole, roasted coffee beans, or you can purchase pre-ground coffee. Make sure to check out our blog posts on different types of coffee makers and how to use them, and which grind size is best for different coffee makers for expert tips and tricks to help you master the art of coffee brewing.
Cafetière – hot water and ground coffee steep in the cafetière for a few minutes before slowly moving the coffee grounds to the bottom using the plunger, keeping the coffee grounds trapped below and allowing you to pour the brewed black coffee into your cup.
Pour over coffee maker – hot water is poured over medium ground coffee in a filter paper and brewed black coffee drips into the mug below. You can purchase our hourglass shaped Hario V60 for a great cup of coffee without the need for bulky electrical coffee machines.
Moka pot – pressurised boiling water in the form of steam from the bottom chamber of this stove top coffee maker passes through the ground coffee and into the upper chamber. This method makes coffee that is smooth and rich, so they are an excellent choice for espresso.
Chemex coffee maker – the Chemex’s unique design encourages excess air to escape from the bottom of the carafe, through a paper filter, allowing the coffee to filter at a perfect rate.
Aeropress coffee maker – ground coffee is steeped in water just off the boil for 10-50 seconds and then forced through a filter by pressing the Aeropress plunger through the
Coffee pods – using an electrical coffee machine, the top side of the capsule is pierced, and water passes through the ground coffee pod, providing you with a great cup of coffee.
How Many Calories are in Black Coffee?
Black coffee without milk or cream is low in calories. One typical cup of black coffee, or 240ml, only contains around 2.4 calories, 0.3g of protein, 0g of carbohydrates and 0g of fat. Coffee contains small amounts of other vitamins, minerals and polyphenols which offer some apparent health benefits of drinking black coffee. A single serving of black coffee has 118mg potassium, 7.2mg magnesium, 7.1mg of phosphorus, 0.1g of manganese, 4.7mcg of folate, 6.2mg of choline and 4.8mg of sodium.
Benefits of Black Coffee
Coffee is a beverage that has been studied by researchers for its many health benefits including its ability to increase energy levels, promote weight loss and protect against chronic disease. In moderation (about 3 to 4 cups a day) drinking coffee has been associated with several health benefits and is safe for most adults. Here we’ve listed some of the health benefits of black coffee:
Promotes Weight Loss
Drinking black coffee may provide a slight boost to your metabolic rate, or the calories you burn at rest, and the caffeine content increases your energy level. There is also some evidence that black coffee drinkers experience a suppressed appetite which in turn aids weight loss.
Could Protect Against Parkinson’s Disease
Several studies have shown that regular black coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than someone that doesn’t drink coffee. If you already have Parkinson’s, drinking coffee has been known to help you gain better control over your movements.
Reduces Risk of Heart Failure
While there is often concern about the links between caffeine and heart health, a moderate amount of coffee should be fine for most people. Some research even shows that drinking black coffee may benefit heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Could Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes
Some studies suggest that drinking black coffee can help you fight type 2 diabetes risk more effectively. One benefit of black coffee is that regular consumption can help to boost insulin production in the body which may help to manage blood glucose levels.
Could Help Prevent Liver Disease
Some studies show that black coffee may help to reduce the level of harmful enzymes found in the blood, promoting the healthy functioning of the liver and reducing the risk of liver disease. There is also some evidence that drinking black coffee can reduce your risk of liver scarring or cirrhosis.
Could Help Prevent Cancer
Black coffee helps to reduce internal inflammation and several studies show that coffee may help reduce the risk of getting specific cancers however, more studies are needed to fully understand how drinking coffee may affect cancer risk.
Disadvantages of Black Coffee
When consumed in moderation black coffee doesn’t have many downsides though too much caffeine can cause side effects like an elevated heart rate, stomach upset and insomnia. It’s recommended that adults only consume 400mg of caffeine per day or less – that’s about 4 cups or 960ml of coffee.
If you know you are particularly sensitive to caffeine you should limit your coffee intake or switch to decaffeinated coffee that offers the same great taste as regular coffee, but without the caffeine.
Some of downsides to consuming too much coffee include:
- Excess coffee before bed may disrupt your sleep routine.
- Too much coffee could lead to anxiety or stress.
- Caffeine present in coffee could lead to hyperacidity.
- Coffee diuretic effect, meaning it may cause you to produce more urine.
- Too much coffee makes it difficult for your body to absorb minerals from your daily diet.
So, whether you enjoy coffee as a delicious morning pick-me-up or savour it as a social ritual, know that black coffee can offer some surprising health perks. Just remember moderation is key and make sure to balance it with a healthy lifestyle and stay hydrated!