💡Bonus tip from the CoffeeNose👃
Coffee, Diabetes & You – What Science Says About the Beans You Brew
By Wouter Brunia, the CoffeeNose 👃 – WB.coffee / Amsterdam Coffee Lab
Coffee has always been more than just a pick-me-up — it’s a daily ritual, a sensory journey, and now, increasingly, a focus of serious medical research.
A new study from the Kunming Institute of Botany (China) has revealed that roasted Arabica coffee contains powerful natural compounds that may help the body handle blood sugar more efficiently — offering a new perspective on how coffee can fit into a healthy lifestyle.
Let’s explore what this means for you — whether you’re managing diabetes, curious about coffee’s health effects, or simply love brewing the perfect cup.
☕ The Science: Coffee Compounds with Antidiabetic Potential
Researchers have identified a new class of compounds — caffaldehydes A, B, and C — in roasted Coffea arabica. These molecules show strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, meaning they can slow the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose.
In plain words: coffee might help reduce sharp blood sugar spikes after meals.
This adds to previous findings that compounds like kahweol and cafestol (natural diterpenes) found in Arabica may also support glucose control and reduce inflammation — especially in moderate, daily coffee drinkers.
However, as exciting as this is, it’s not a cure — just another reason to appreciate what’s inside your cup.
🌿 What This Means for Coffee Drinkers
- Coffee is not medicine, but a functional food — it contains bioactive compounds that support metabolic health.
- The quality of your coffee — bean origin, roast degree, and freshness — directly affects what you get in your cup.
- Brewing method and dose also play a role in how your body responds to coffee’s chemistry.
💡 Practical Tips for Coffee Lovers with (or Preventing) Diabetes
These are simple, CoffeeNose-approved steps to get the most out of your daily brew:
1️⃣ Skip the sugar and syrups
Use your coffee’s natural sweetness. Specialty beans (like our CN Chocolaty & Nutty or FF Floral & Fruity) already offer pleasant, balanced flavor without added sugar.
2️⃣ Go for filter or Aeropress brews
Filter methods (Moccamaster, Aeropress, Clever Dripper) are gentle, low in fats, and extract more of the beneficial compounds while reducing diterpenes that can affect cholesterol.
3️⃣ Mind the milk
If you enjoy milk, go for steamed milk in small amounts or try oat milk without added sugar. Avoid sweetened creamers or flavored milks.
4️⃣ Prefer medium to light roasts
Studies suggest lighter roasts retain more active compounds and antioxidants.
Dark roasts may contain less beneficial chemistry and more acrylamide — a compound linked to overroasting.
5️⃣ Keep your coffee clean
Old residues or oils in your espresso machine or filter basket can oxidize and affect flavor and health. Use cleaners like Urnex or Cafetto regularly to keep your setup pristine.
6️⃣ Stay hydrated and time your coffee
Coffee before meals can slightly reduce appetite and help with glucose uptake, but balance it with plenty of water throughout the day.
7️⃣ Experiment with brewing ratios
A lighter brew (1:16–1:18 coffee-to-water) can bring out more clarity and complexity — and keep caffeine levels moderate.
8️⃣ Choose freshly roasted coffee
Freshly roasted and ground coffee, like ours roasted in Weesp on 100% renewable energy, ensures both flavor and antioxidant activity are at their peak.
⚙️ Brew Methods Worth Exploring
Try the AeroPress Workshop or Filter Brewing Masterclass at Amsterdam Coffee Lab in Weesp to learn how different methods and grind profiles affect both flavor and extraction health.
Filter coffee is often seen as the healthiest way to enjoy coffee, with clean flavors, less oil, and high antioxidant retention.
🌎 WB.coffee’s Sustainable Advantage
At WB.coffee, we roast and brew on 100% renewable energy and operate with a zero-waste philosophy — proving that great taste and sustainability can go hand in hand.
So every cup not only supports your well-being but also the planet.
👃 Final Thoughts from the CoffeeNose
Coffee is science, ritual, and pleasure in one.
It’s fascinating to see how compounds inside a simple Arabica bean can influence how our bodies process energy.
But the real takeaway is simple: drink better coffee, enjoy it mindfully, and make it part of a balanced lifestyle.
So next time you brew, remember — what’s in your cup can be good for both your taste buds and your body.
Stay curious, keep tasting, and let’s make every cup count.
Filter coffee is healthier
Filter coffee is low in cafestol (cholesterol) while being rich in caffeine.
Cafestol is present in high amounts in certain coffee types, such as espresso, French press, and Turkish coffee, which can elevate LDL cholesterol levels. In contrast, coffee brewed with a fine paper filter significantly reduces cafestol content, making it a healthier choice.
No need to worry; caffeine flows through paper filters, which means filter coffee actually has more caffeine than espresso and energy drinks! It's compatible with a low cholesterol diet and can help in preventing diabetes, particularly when compared to coffee made with metal filters.
Low in calories: high-quality filter coffee is best enjoyed without any additives like milk or sugar, making it a healthy choice (up to 5 cups daily). A typical serving of filter coffee has approximately 2 kcal per 250ml.
Hydration benefits: with over 98% water content, filter coffee hydrates the body nearly as effectively as pure water does.
Loaded with flavonoids (Polyphenols): for the greatest health advantages, filter coffee is a better choice (91.4 mg/serving) than espresso (28 mg/serving). These same advantageous compounds are found in red wine, fruits, and vegetables.
Acrylamide in coffee?
what coffee to choose
Acrylamide is a chemical that is produced naturally during the roasting of coffee beans. But why should we be concerned? Since 2002, the detection of acrylamide in various food products, including coffee, has been a topic of investigation due to its potential health risks, which may include carcinogenic effects and possible damage to the nervous system.
Acrylamide forms in coffee due to the Maillard Reaction, a process that involves the interaction of sugars and amino acids, notably Asparagine, at high temperatures. This reaction not only contributes to the unique color and flavor profile of coffee beans but also results in the formation of acrylamide, which is less pleasant in comparison.
Which Type of Coffee Contains the Least Acrylamide?
Extending the roasting time at lower temperatures results in a reduction of harmful compounds in coffee. Many commercial blends and supermarket brands tend to be roasted quickly, as longer roasting processes require more time and consequently increase costs.
Arabica coffee beans produce the least amount of Acrylamide, making a slow, artisanal roasting process preferable as it results in lower Acrylamide levels. Consequently, standard espresso blends tend to have the lowest Acrylamide concentrations as they are often roasted longer than filter coffee blends.
While instant coffee has a lower caffeine content, it actually contains nearly double the amount of Acrylamide compared to regular coffee. The elevated Acrylamide levels are considered minimal and safe for consumption.
When choosing coffee capsules, it's important to pay attention to the type of beans and the roasting method used. Most commercial blends, supermarket capsules and big brands (yes also the Clooney) typically involve rapid heating, which can increase Acrylamide levels.
Likewise, with coffee pads, the coarseness of the grind is crucial, as finer grounds can lead to a greater extraction of compounds into the brewed coffee.