Green Coffee: What Is It and When Is It Used?

You’ve probably heard or read about green coffee, especially related to weight loss. Green coffee isn’t some exotic variety from specialized growers or distant lands. In reality, there’s a vast amount of green coffee beans on every coffee farm and plantation. However, if you’ve ever gone to a supermarket or local café looking for green coffee, there’s a good chance you were disappointed or ended up with a popular matcha latte instead. In recent years, the benefits of green coffee supplements for weight loss have generated quite a bit of controversy and conflicting opinions. Despite this, it remains a fairly popular supplement in the health world, backed by numerous studies regarding its quality.

What Is Green Coffee?

Simply put, green coffee refers to coffee beans that are not roasted. In other words, the beans are green when harvested and only develop their characteristic brown color through the roasting process.
Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants and other pharmacologically active compounds. Researchers believe that some of these compounds, specifically chlorogenic acid and caffeine, are responsible for many of the health benefits associated with green coffee beans. Due to chemical changes during roasting, coffee beans have different effects on the body when roasted or unroasted. Unfortunately, most of the chlorogenic acid is lost during roasting due to the high temperatures. Nevertheless, roasted coffee still contains many other healthy compounds.

Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Loss Supplement

About a decade ago, green coffee was widely hailed as a miracle cure for obesity. Many manufacturers, encouraged by research featured on the Doctor Oz talk show, promoted green coffee extract supplements and promised significant results. They often sponsored numerous studies themselves, which led to skepticism about the credibility of the results. Despite the negative publicity, several studies and analyses have shown that green coffee bean extract can indeed help people lose weight. A 2017 study conducted on women struggling with obesity showed that taking 400 mg of green coffee extract in capsules for 8 weeks, along with a balanced diet, resulted in a slightly greater weight loss compared to using only a balanced diet. Women who took the extract also had reduced total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and free fatty acids. Researchers found that the use of the extract influenced fat breakdown in the body, which could potentially help people with weight management. However, it’s a fact that no supplement will show long-term healthy and significant results without certain lifestyle changes. Green coffee supplements are beneficial for those who are willing to engage in physical activities and make dietary adjustments, all with the goal of managing their desired weight.

What Makes Green Coffee Different?

Green coffee is notably different from regular roasted coffee, not only in color but also in taste.
The flavor of the coffee we’re accustomed to, along with the recognizable aroma of the drink, can be attributed to the roasting process. If someone were to give you green coffee without telling you what it is, you might not even realize it’s coffee. Its taste is much milder, and when properly prepared, it is slightly thicker than regular coffee. The flavor is often compared to green or herbal tea, but it is not exactly the same. However, these are merely “surface” differences. An important question, at least when considering health and medical benefits, is whether roasted and green coffee have the same chemical properties. The answer is – no.

The Roasting Process Alters Coffee Properties

As previously mentioned, during the roasting process, green coffee beans lose chlorogenic acid. This is the first difference between roasted and unroasted coffee. Additionally, there is another difference between green and regular coffee, which is their caffeine levels. It’s hard to generalize, as the type of beans and roasting methods also influence the chemical processes that occur. However, roasting gradually reduces the amount of caffeine in coffee. For example, dark-roasted beans contain less caffeine than light-roasted beans.

Does Green Coffee Have Health Benefits?

According to the results of some studies, green coffee and its extract can improve blood glucose levels, triglyceride levels, and overall lipid profile. These compounds are intricately linked to the development or control of type 2 diabetes. In other words, it may be beneficial for regulating blood sugar levels. There is also evidence that chlorogenic acid, which is rich in antioxidants, can improve insulin sensitivity and aid in the treatment of metabolic syndrome—the main cause of diabetes—in prediabetic patients. The effects are observable in both healthy and obese study participants.
Certain clinical trials have also shown that chlorogenic acid from green coffee extract positively affects lowering blood pressure in patients suffering from hypertension. It appears that using dietary supplements with green coffee extract could be an effective component in treating hypertension, although any use of alternative medicine approaches for treating diseases should first be approved by your primary healthcare provider. Furthermore, evidence from other available studies suggests that supplementation with green coffee extract leads to a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels. It is recommended that green coffee supplements be standardized to at least 45% chlorogenic acid.

Caution with Caffeine

Although existing research shows that dietary supplements with green coffee extract have a good safety profile, it should be noted that they still contain a certain amount of caffeine. Caffeine can have several side effects when consumed in larger quantities, including anxiety, nervousness, and increased heart rate. Depending on the type, green coffee products contain varying amounts of caffeine. People sensitive to caffeine should carefully read product labels before consumption. It is also important to note that there is insufficient research on dosage for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children, or those with liver or kidney conditions, so these groups should avoid consuming green coffee products or consult a specialist before use.

Green Coffee – Yes, but in Combination with Exercise

Green Coffee is a food product that has undergone numerous clinical trials and studies to justify its place in the world of dietary supplements. It undoubtedly offers several health benefits, as does its extract. It is considered safe for use and may contribute to regulating body weight. However, despite all its benefits, green coffee is not a miracle cure and will almost certainly not produce any effects if not accompanied by a healthy lifestyle—exercise and a balanced diet.