Can chewing coffee beans refresh your mind?

Whether chewing coffee beans can help you stay alert has been a hotly debated topic. Some people believe that chewing coffee beans can help improve concentration and alertness, thereby enhancing brain function. However, others believe that this practice may have negative effects on the body.

First, let's look at the main ingredient in coffee - caffeine. As a natural stimulant, caffeine can increase alertness and concentration by stimulating the central nervous system. When we drink a steaming cup of coffee, the caffeine in it is quickly absorbed into the blood and travels to the brain.

However, there is an important detail in this process: the grinding and brewing process. When making modern espresso or drip coffee, the freshly ground powder is usually left in contact with water for several minutes to release more flavor and aroma, and to contain a higher concentration of soluble substances (including but not limited to a higher concentration of caffeine).

In contrast, chewing coffee beans doesn't fully release the caffeine in them. While you may experience some stimulation and flavor, the amount of caffeine ingested this way is relatively low. And since there is no grinding and brewing process in the mouth to extract more substances, swallowing the whole bean may cause discomfort or digestive problems.

In addition, it should be noted that excessive caffeine intake may have a series of negative effects in some cases. For example, it can cause insomnia, palpitations, anxiety and other adverse reactions, and long-term and large-scale intake is also related to other health problems (such as high blood pressure and gastric ulcers).

In summary, there is not enough evidence to show that chewing coffee beans directly can achieve the desired effect in terms of refreshing the mind. In contrast, drinking a cup of freshly brewed coffee is often more effective, and controlling the intake within a reasonable range can also avoid negative effects. If you need to refresh your mind, it is recommended to choose a moderate amount of coffee or other caffeinated beverages.