Dark roast coffee is simply roasted longer and at a higher temperature. The result is darker beans and a full-bodied coffee with a bold and intense flavour.
If you prefer your coffee when it doesn’t taste bitter, you might already know that dark roast coffee is less bitter than light roast coffee. This happens because as the beans roast longer, the chlorogenic acid they contain breaks down to give you a smoother taste.
But the benefits of dark roast coffee go way beyond its taste and colour, as you’re about to find out.
Benefit #1: Dark roast coffee contains a lot of antioxidants
Drinking dark roast coffee has many benefits for your health. And although the longer roast time of this type of coffee means it contains fewer polyphenols than light roast coffee, it can boast a higher level of antioxidant activity.
Antioxidants protect your body’s cells against damage, and many antioxidants have strong anti-inflammatory properties. This means regularly drinking coffee with a high level of antioxidant activity will help fight inflammation and even help prevent some health issues.
Benefit #2: Dark roast coffee is less acidic than light roast coffee
As previously mentioned, the chlorogenic acid in green coffee beans breaks down when roasted to produce dark roast coffee. Therefore, dark roast coffee is less acidic than light roast coffee.
This is good news if you suffer from acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues. You can enjoy dark coffee roasters daily and trust it to be gentler on your stomach than light roast coffee.
Benefit #3: Drinking it is associated with a lower risk of certain diseases
Since drinking dark roast coffee regularly helps fight inflammation in your body, it can also help reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases.
Your coffee could help protect you from certain types of cancer, heart disease, and liver disease, to name a few. It could also reduce your risk of developing Parkinson’s or type 2 diabetes.
Yes, dark roast coffee is good for you. And obviously, it will be even better for your health if you don’t add a lot of sugar and cream to it.
Benefit #4: It can help improve your mental health
If you can’t start the day without drinking at least one cup of coffee, you know that your favourite beverage is good for your mental health.
But on top of almost instantly improving your mood, drinking dark roast coffee benefits your mental health. It can make you more alert and improve your cognitive function.
Drinking a few cups of dark roast coffee daily could help lower your risk of developing depression and reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Benefit #5: It has caffeine for those mornings when you need a boost
Lightly roasted coffee beans have more moisture inside them and are more dense. They also tend to contain more caffeine than dark-roasted, less dense beans.
But you can still count on dark roast coffee to provide caffeine for those mornings when you need energy. Caffeine can help you feel more alert and focused, so you can enjoy the benefits of dark roast coffee throughout the day if you want to.
Benefit #6: Drinking it can help you lose weight
If you want to lose weight, dark roast coffee can help you meet your goal.
This is because dark roast coffee contains a substance called N-methyl pyridinium ions. This substance, coupled with a low concentration of chlorogenic acid, can help your body lose weight more efficiently.
Of course, you would also need to exercise and eat more healthy foods. But drinking dark roast coffee helps you lose weight is interesting, isn’t it?
Benefit #7: It can help make you a better athlete
If your goal is not to lose weight but to become a better athlete, dark roast coffee can also help you. Caffeine is a stimulant that helps reduce fatigue and increase endurance, which makes coffee a great beverage to drink before working out or playing sports.
Conclusion
Although dark roast coffee has many health benefits, it’s important not to drink too much. You should try to drink no more than 4 or 5 cups of coffee daily or no more than 400 mg of caffeine.
Drinking too much coffee could result in anxiety, restlessness, irritability, tremors, and insomnia, which is not what you’re after. To enjoy the wonderful health benefits of dark roast coffee, consume it in moderation.
