Are coffee and chocolate made from the same beans?

In case you're wondering if coffee and chocolate are made from the same seeds, here are a few things to know. Coffee and chocolate are made from different beans. Coffee beans grow naturally, while chocolate is a product made from cocoa beans. Although coffee and cocoa trees grow in areas close to the equator, they produce beans with a different appearance, taste and smell. People often wonder if coffee and chocolate come from the same seeds, so we've put together this simple guide to explain what makes each unique.

The difference between cocoa trees and coffee trees

Although trees grow in similar regions and climates, they are quite unique. Cocoa trees, often called gods trees, are much taller. Its official name is Theobroma cocoa. Coffee trees tend to be shorter but produce more fruit. The coffee and cocoa trees are famous for producing a characteristic and different fruit shape. These fruits are known for their multiple benefits. The coffee tree bears cherry-like fruits, which are then roasted to become coffee beans known for their dark brown shape, while pods grow on the cocoa tree that envelop the cocoa fruits like bean pods, where the fruits are located inside.

What is the difference between the taste of coffee fruits and cocoa fruits?

Coffee beans and raw cocoa are bitter and have an unsavory taste. You won't find anyone who greedily eats them like peanuts. It is the roasting process that brings out the famous flavors of these cereals. Let's start with cocoa; there are four common types of cocoa plants: Forastero, Criollo, Timurantario, and Nacional. Each produces a fruit that differs slightly from the other in shape and color. The flavor of the roasted cocoa bean can be described as resembling dark chocolate. They are crispy and have a tart and nutty taste. A person who loves chocolate will not find the taste of cocoa beans satisfying or very familiar. Grains are crushed, mixed with sweeteners, shaped into chocolate bars and other chocolate products.

As for coffee beans, they are a final product that is neither manufactured nor reused, they contain a variety of flavors that really depend on the product. Coffee suppliers pride themselves on the flavor of their coffee beans. Unique flavors are the result of roasting methods as well as the place where the beans are grown. For example, Brazilian coffee beans are different from Colombian and different from American coffee. Also very roasted coffee beans taste different from half-roasted or slightly roasted. In the latter the method of preparation and the source of this cereal is the one that distinguishes it.

What are the most common coffee beans around the world

The most common coffee beans come from Central and South America and Africa. This may sound like something normal or expected, but African coffee beans have distinct flavors such as citrus, flowers and fruits, while their South American counterparts tend to have hazelnut, chocolate, and caramel flavors. This shows that there is more to learn about the difference between African coffee beans and South American coffee beans. The two most common types are Arabica and Robusta, but more coffees are still discovered in Ethiopia to this day.

Is the chocolate and coffee industry connected?

As you can notice now, they are not related. Coffee and chocolate come from different trees, fruits and seeds. They even grew up on different continents. Coffee originated in Africa. Ethiopia and Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula specifically. Today they are grown in areas close to the equator around the entire planet. Cocoa beans come from South America and are a much more recent discovery. Most of the world's cocoa is currently grown in Africa, while South America has taken over the coffee trade.

Brazil and Colombia are known for manufacturing the best coffees, while Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are world leaders in cocoa exports. So, coffee and chocolate, or cocoa are two completely different things. Although they grow in similar areas and share colors, they are the shape of the grains and the taste and aroma of each of them are completely different. And most importantly is their effect on your body. Coffee contains caffeine that boosts your energy. Perhaps that is why it is the most famous drink on the planet. As for chocolate, it is a dessert. They were originally created for royal families but were made available to ordinary people soon after. Cocoa also contains caffeine but not in sufficient quantity to be a stimulant.

What do coffee and cocoa have in common?

One of the main similarities between coffee and chocolate is their ability to stimulate our brains. The caffeine in coffee and theobromine in chocolate focus our brains and attention. Despite chocolate's brain-stimulating effect, it is not recommended to replace coffee with it, because the effect of theobromine in chocolate is much weaker than caffeine, but it is noticeable, especially in those who reduce their chocolate intake. They are both dried, usually in the sun, and then roasted using sophisticated machinery. The roasting process releases the chemicals in the seeds that determine their flavor, aroma and acidity.

Are there a large number of types of coffee beans?

Coffee flavors vary across the globe, with more than 100 different types of coffee beans. But two coffees are the world's most consumed: Arabica, which accounts for 90% of total consumption, and Robusta. But the journey of the world of coffee does not end with these two types, but extends to many varieties with distinctive flavors and characteristics.