Are You Enjoying Your Mold-free Coffee? Discover the Benefits
The benefits of coffee are widely known. However, because coffee comes from a plant that produces mold, mold is also a concern for coffee drinkers. As per the FDA’s guidelines, there are strict limits on how much of the substance can be left on coffee beans and in a cup of brewed coffee before being considered unsafe to consume. These limits are set at 10 parts per million (or 10 ml of mold) per kilogram of product. While some people may not be affected by these levels, others may experience unpleasant side effects like heartburn or headaches.
If you want to learn about how to enjoy your coffee without having to worry about mold, read on!
What is mold?
Mold is a type of fungus that grows on plants and produces spores. The mold on coffee beans can be found in the ground, on coffee trees and coffee beans, and at points during processing. A common misconception about mold is that it’s only dangerous when it’s green; however, there are over 100 types of mold, and many of them are unsafe to consume.
Coffee and Mold
Mold is a natural byproduct of growing coffee beans and is often unavoidable. Mould can form in the coffee bean’s interior or on the surface of the bean. Mold can also grow inside a ground coffee container, as some types of mold produce spores that can become airborne.
While mold won’t necessarily be visible to the naked eye, it can be detected using a blacklight. If you suspect your coffee might have been exposed to harmful levels of mold, there are steps you can take to ensure your safety.
How Much Mold Is Safe?
Coffee beans are exposed to a lot of moisture. This is what causes the beans to grow and develop their flavor profile. Unfortunately, as the beans grow and mature, they can also become contaminated with mildew or mold. There are strict limits on how much of this substance can be left on coffee beans and in a cup of brewed coffee before being considered unsafe to consume
The FDA’s guidelines state that there should be less than 10 parts per million (or 10 ml of mold) per kilogram of product. If you want to make sure your coffee is safe, read the labels on your beans carefully. They should say that they are “mold-free” or contain “no detectable levels” of mold.
If you find that your favorite brand doesn’t have any information about its mold content, try switching brands or roasting until you find one that meets your needs. You may even want to try changing the way you brew your coffee for a cleaner taste altogether!
How to Enjoy Your Mold-free Coffee
Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy your coffee without worrying about mold. The FDA’s guidelines for coffee beans states that the substance can be present in batches of ground or whole bean coffee when it is up to 10 parts per million (or 10 ml of mold) per kilogram of product. For reference, a one-ounce serving would have less than .03 ml of the substance.
If the mold content you find in your cup of brewed coffee falls within the limit, then you should be able to drink it without experiencing any side effects. However, if you notice any unusual symptoms after drinking a cup with high levels of mold, like headaches or heartburn, then it may be best to switch to instant coffee or tea instead.
Conclusion
Mold is found in many foods, so it’s important to know what is safe to consume. If you are making your own coffee, you can use a milk separator to remove any mold that may be present in the milk. You can also use a coffee filter to make sure that no mold is left in the coffee.
However, if you are drinking ready-to-drink coffee, it’s best to be more careful. There are many products that claim to kill the mold, but there is no guarantee that they are effective. It would be best not to risk it and just switch to a different coffee brand.