Are you looking for a caffeine alternative?
There’s no question that most people’s morning ritual is sipping a fresh cup of coffee. However, coffee is not for everyone and may not even be the best choice. One could never escape coffee’s association with palpitations, insomnia and restlessness, potential addiction, and heartburn.
But don’t fret, Frido Cacao is here to help you avoid these unpleasant side effects. Cacao is, by far, the best natural coffee alternative that has ever existed.
What Are the Benefits of Cacao?
Cacao as a coffee alternative outruns the benefits offered by a coffee. Below is a list of the advantages of drinking cacao products.
Packed With Vital Nutrients
Pure cacao benefits include having potent antioxidants that keep your cells healthy. Antioxidants can aid your skin in looking refreshed and dewy by fighting the signs of premature ageing and wrinkles.
Cacao also contains plenty of magnesium, iron and potassium that help support oxygen delivery and stable blood sugar. Apart from this, cacao is also one of the world’s richest sources of flavonol, a free-radical fighter that is linked in recent research to better cholesterol levels and healthy blood pressure.
It is even safe for kids to drink, especially if you purchase it from an organic brand like Frido Cacao.
Neutral pH Value
While you may experience acid reflux and/or heartburn when drinking coffee, you wouldn’t have that with cacao products because of their neutral pH value. Their pH value usually ranges from 6.4 to 6.8. So, it won’t be as acidic and harsh on your digestive system as coffee does.
Improves Mood and Aid in Weight Loss
Cacao drink benefits boast of cacao’s fair share of phenylethylamine, aka the ‘love drug.’ It’s the same chemical our bodies release when we fall in love, which improves moods and increases focus and alertness.
A cup of brewed cacao can also help suppress your appetite and promote weight loss. It’s low in carbohydrates, calories and fat.
Can You Replace Coffee With Cacao?
Absolutely. More and more people are switching from coffee to brewed cacao. It can be done by steeping it in a French Press for about 6 to 10 minutes before straining or cold brewing. Cold-brew cacao is made by soaking it in cold water for 24 hours.
Cacao does not only keep you healthy, but it also gives a distinct taste as compared to coffee. It is likely compared to coffee but with a taste of dark chocolate. It is rich, sweet and slightly viscous.
Cacao’s natural taste is enhanced with a spoonful of added sweetener, but sugar isn’t necessary as it tastes amazing on its own. Coffee, on the other hand, has a lighter mouthfeel and is bolder with some nutty and caramel notes. It has a more pronounced bitterness than cacao.
Is Cacao Like Coffee?
Cacao is considered one of the best alternatives to coffee because it resembles that bitter taste. Similar to coffee, cacao is also bitter, earthy and slightly nutty. Moreover, when brewed, cacao has the richness of a chocolate flavour.
Perhaps, one of the big differences between cacao and coffee is the level of caffeine and its effects. Instead of experiencing the negative effects of caffeine, cacao is a healthy option.
The brewing method for cacao and coffee also varies at some point. Below are the differences between the methods and the convenience of brewing cacao and coffee.
- Coffee
With the advanced technology, coffee nowadays can be brewed in many ways, and it all depends on one’s skills, preference of flavours and time. One is to manually brew and the other is to automatically brew. To brew manually is to use a French press, pour-over or make a premium instant coffee. On the other hand, automatic brew is to use the automatic method with a coffee machine that takes an average time of 5 minutes.
- Cacao
The recommended and probably the only method that can be used to brew cacao powder is by using a French press. This is a manual method that can take between 6 and 10 minutes. If you don’t have a French press, it would significantly take you more time, and you would have difficulty filtering and brewing the cacao thoroughly.
What Is the Difference Between Cacao Powder and Coffee Powder?
To obtain raw cacao powder, unroasted cocoa beans are cold-pressed, and the remains are dried into a powder. The said process retains the living enzymes and removes the fat (cacao butter) of the bean. Cacao powder is typically used as an ingredient in smoothies, homemade chocolates, baked treats or hot chocolate.
On the other hand, coffee powder is a beverage derived from brewed coffee beans. It is quick to prepare hot coffee by adding hot water or milk to the powder or crystals and stirring. Coffee powder is instant as it quickly dissolves into the water. However, it is not as healthy as cacao powder. This is why although a coffee powder may be instant in its preparation, cacao powder is still a better option because of its many benefits.
Experience the Natural Goodness of Cacao Through Frido Cacao
If you want to avoid too much caffeine or give up coffee entirely but still need to boost your energy, switch to drinking cacao products. And Frido Cacao has everything you need from cacao beans and nibs to chocolates. We also have a blend of flavours, including vanilla, chilli and cardamom. Contact us for more details.
