Coffee – I’ll have mine even healthier
More good coffee news for all you coffee lovers, like us you will be delighted to hear that new research has shown that switching to dark-roasted coffees such as espresso, for example, will in fact stop the build-up of acid in the stomach.
It has long been understood by the medical profession that the consumption of coffee can lead to the over-production of acid, which is attributed to a proportion of drinkers reporting heartburn and pain in the abdomen. On occasions, this has actually led to drinkers either giving up the drink altogether or, alternatively, switching to decaffeinated versions. However, this may no longer have to be the case thanks to results found in a recent study performed by Austrian scientists, Dr. Veronika Somoza and Dr. Thomas Hofmann.
The study identified the three chemical compounds that produce stomach acids in coffee drinkers – caffeine, catechols and N-alkanoly-5-hydroxytryptamides. However, they were surprised to stumble across the constituent N-methylpyridium (NMP) which appears to halt the stomach creating hydrochloric acid.
According to the American Chemical Society, although it does not appear to be present in raw coffee beans, NMP is created through roasting, with the darker forms of coffee found to be containing up to twice the amount.
It is estimated that one in five people suffer from abdominal pain when drinking instant coffee, although this minority might soon find themselves being able to enjoy the beverage by switching to darker roasted variants. There is now further research taking place in order to establish a new brew which will help those people who find their stomachs to be overly sensitive to drinking coffee.
Remember to take a look at our fresh coffee beans for the best possible espresso.