In this post, you’ll learn about the best chocolate covered espresso beans. Including caffeine levels, how long they last, energy boost, and our picks for top brands.
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Chocoholics Guide to Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
Maybe you like the richness of chocolate candy. Maybe you’re in it for the jolt of caffeine that you can get without waiting in line at Starbucks.
Whatever your reasons for seeking chocolate covered espresso beans, there are a few things that you should know before you order a gigantic tub of these sweet treats. Let’s dive into the world of coffee and talk about what makes it great.
What makes espresso beans different from regular beans?
Fundamentally, there’s no difference between coffee beans and espresso beans. They’re both harvested from the same plants. There’s no such thing as an “espresso tree” where espresso beans are grown separately from coffee beans.
There can be differences in how they’re roasted, however, and this can impact everything from their taste to their shelf life.
Here’s the rundown:
- Since espresso beans are valued for their strong flavor, they’re usually roasted for longer periods of time.
- A longer roast makes them larger and darker than other coffee beans. Their water evaporates, and their fibers expand.
- Regular coffee beans can run the gamut between light, medium, medium-dark and dark, but since espresso beans are roasted more, they’re always medium-dark or dark.
To put it another way, coffee beans and espresso beans are plucked from the same trees, but they undergo different roasting processes that make espresso beans darker, larger and stronger.
Why are espresso beans larger than regular beans?
The roasting process causes the water to evaporate from the beans. As the beans dry, the fibers expand, causing them to expand. The darker the roast, the larger the beans will be. Because espresso beans are often dark roast, they are larger than the same beans roasted less time.
Do chocolate covered espresso beans give you energy?
Yes. Not only will the sugar content of the chocolate spike your glucose levels, but you’ll also consume more caffeine by eating whole espresso beans rather than distilling them into a beverage.
The average cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine, but the average serving of chocolate-covered espresso beans has 150 – 175 milligrams.
How much caffeine do espresso beans have?
How did we arrive at 150 – 175 milligrams? Let’s do the math.
The average espresso bean has 6 – 7 milligrams of caffeine. This might not seem like a lot, but you never eat just one bean! Most people have a handful at a time, and that puts the total bean count at 25 or so.
So 25 beans with 7 mg of caffeine each equal 175 mg per serving.
After plugging the numbers into a calculator, you’ll get a figure of 150 – 175 milligrams of caffeine for a single serving of espresso beans. If you eat more than one serving, you’ll get an even bigger rush.
How much caffeine is in a chocolate covered espresso bean?
The caffeine content of chocolate-covered espresso beans is pretty much the same as plain espresso beans.
There might be a few milligrams more, but chocolate doesn’t have that much caffeine; it would take around four candy bars to give you the same buzz as a cup of coffee. It’s the sugar more than the caffeine that makes chocolate-covered espresso beans so addictive.
Are chocolate covered coffee beans good for you?
There are some surprising health benefits to chocolate-covered coffee beans. They won’t replace an apple per day, but they aren’t complete junk food!
For example, coffee and chocolate both contain a number of antioxidants. Coffee boasts oxazoles and phenols; chocolate will give you flavanoids. These antioxidants can help with everything from circulation issues to blood pressure regulation.
Dark chocolate can help your heart. Coffee can reduce your risk for heart disease, prostate cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.
It doesn’t even matter how your snack is delivered. You can sip a latte; you can munch on coffee beans by the handful. You can eat or drink your chocolate. The health benefits remain the same.
How long do chocolate covered espresso beans last?
The longevity of your coffee beans will depend on several different factors, including their original roast date and how tightly that they’ve been sealed to protect them from oxidation.
You might have anywhere from weeks to months before they start to go bad. A tell-tale sign that they’re getting stale is when the chocolate starts going white.
11 Best Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (Our Favorites)
Now that you’ve learned a little about chocolate covered espresso beans, it’s time to consider specific products.
Which ones will hit the spot when you’re craving some chocolate? Which ones will give you a boost of energy before a long day at work? Here are just a few of the best.
1. Hoosier Hill Farm (Gourmet Dark)
Gourmet Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans: You might recognize Hoosier Hill Farm as a brand that makes all kinds of candy and confections. They’ve recently expanded their horizons to chocolate-covered espresso beans, and the world is better for it.
Between the richness of their chocolate and the crunchiness of their whole espresso beans, the Hoosier Hill Farm Gourmet Beans are the kind of treat that you won’t be able to stop eating. Fortunately, it’s a two-pound package, so you won’t be running out anytime soon.
Do you like sweet and sugary flavors? Do you enjoy a little caffeine buzz with your snacks? Consider the Hoosier Hill Farm Gourmet Beans for your next chocolate experience.
- Feature: Gourmet dark chocolate
- Units: 32 ounces (22 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 20 pieces
- Calories: 170 calories
- Fat: 9 grams
- Sodium: None
- Carbs: 22 grams (2 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 1 gram
2. Trader Joe’s (Dark Chocolate)
Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans: Trader Joe’s is known for their organic products, and while their Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans don’t quite meet that USDA standard, they’re still a step above the rest in terms of natural ingredients.
With no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, these chocolate snacks will give you energy without any chemical assistance.
Another great thing about Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans is that they’re made with 100% arabica beans. From the gourmet chocolate dipping to the very heart of the espresso bean, they’re made with an eye towards quality.
Additionally, these beans are packed with vitamins and minerals. They’ll offer part of your recommended daily values of iron, fiber, protein, and calcium all at once!
Who says that chocolate snacks can’t be good for you? Let Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans prove otherwise.
- Feature: No artificial colors, chemicals, flavors or preservatives
- Units: 14 ounces (10 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 1/4th cup
- Calories: 170 calories
- Fat: 8 grams
- Sodium: 10 milligrams
- Carbs: 21 grams (2 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 3 grams
3. SweetGourmet (Chocolate Variety Pack)
Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Blend: If you can’t decide between white, dark and milk chocolate, order the SweetGourmet Espresso Beans Blend and enjoy them all mixed together in a flavorful variety pack. Each piece is made with a full coffee bean that will provide texture and crunch under a smooth, rich layer of chocolate.
They don’t skimp on the chocolate coating, either. These are robust little candies that will definitely satisfy your craving for sweetness and sugar. They’ll also give you a nice jolt of energy: Each serving will deliver around 270 milligrams of caffeine.
There are many reasons why you might be interested in a variety pack. Maybe you’ve never had chocolate-covered espresso beans before, and you’d like to try different flavors to see which ones are your favorite. Maybe you already have favorites, but you don’t like choosing between them.
The SweetGourmet Espresso Beans Blend will solve your conundrum. With three kinds of chocolate in every one-pound bag, you can root around for different chocolate flavors like trail mix!
- Feature: Variety pack, kosher, gourmet
- Units: 16 ounces (11 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: White, dark and milk chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 31 pieces
- Calories: 200 calories
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: 25 milligrams
- Carbs: 25 grams (3 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 2 grams
4. First Choice Candy (Dark Chocolate)
Dark Chocolate Covered Espresso Coffee Beans: Convenience is the name of the game with the First Choice Candy Espresso Beans. Not only do they arrive in a resealable pouch to prevent your beans from going stale, but if you’re ordering them in the summertime, they’ll be packed with ice to prevent them from melting in the heat. They don’t mess around when it comes to the quality of their shipments.
The packaging isn’t the only nice thing about this product, however. The First Choice Candy Espresso Beans are unique in the sense that they don’t use a full espresso bean for every morsel; there’s only a small piece of bean tucked inside a thick circle of dark chocolate.
If you like a lot of crunch in your espresso snacks, these aren’t the ones for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a caffeinated treat that won’t overwhelm you with the strong, bitter taste of java, the First Choice Candy Espresso Beans could be exactly what you desire.
- Feature: Gourmet chocolate, resealable pouch, ice-wrapped packing
- Units: 32 ounces (22 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 40 grams
- Calories: 210 calories
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: None
- Carbs: 23 grams (2 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 3 grams
5. Dilettante Chocolate Espresso Bean Blend
The Dilettante Chocolate Espresso Bean Blend is another variety pack that doesn’t force you to choose between white, dark and milk chocolate.
Every single morsel comes double-coated with the good stuff, and the company even uses a revolving kettle to make sure that the chocolate is evenly distributed over the surface of the bean.
The best thing about the Dilettante Chocolate Espresso Bean Blend, however, is that it comes in a whopping three-pound jar. It’s easily sealed and transported so that that you can share your beans at any kind of social occasion.
Take them to work to treat your colleagues; arrange them in a treat dish at your next party; stuff them in clear bags as wedding or baby shower favors. The possibilities are endless.
If you’re a hesitant or first-time buyer, you might not want to jump into the deep end with this huge assortment of chocolate-covered espresso beans. But if you’re a chocoholic who knows what they want, these beans will give it to you!
- Feature: Variety pack, double-coated, in-house coffee beans
- Units: 48 ounces (34 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: White, dark and milk chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 13 pieces
- Calories: 200 calories
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: 15 milligrams
- Carbs: 23 grams (1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 2 grams
6. Madelaine Chocolate Company (Premium Dark Chocolate)
Premium Dark Chocolate-Covered Espresso Coffee Beans: As you might expect from a company with “chocolate” right in its name, the Madelaine Chocolate Company Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans are a fantastic snack.
They’re made with a silky, velvety coating of gourmet dark chocolate that’s 72 percent cacao and 100 percent deliciousness. They’ll melt in your mouth like butter, but they’ll still have the slight bitterness of pure dark chocolate.
If you like to nibble, the Madelaine Chocolate Company Beans will satisfy that urge as well. They use whole espresso beans for every piece, so you’ll get to bite through the chocolate layer and enjoy an even bigger bite underneath.
The only downside of this product is that its caffeine content could be higher. However, that’s a small price to pay for such a solid snack. If you’re looking for gourmet chocolate, you could do a lot worse than these espresso beans from the Madelaine Chocolate Company.
- Feature: Gourmet, kosher
- Units: 16 ounces (16 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 28 pieces
- Calories: 100 calories
- Fat: 8 grams
- Sodium: 15 milligrams
- Carbs: 18 grams (6 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 2 grams
7. Hoosier Hill Farm (Gourmet Milk)
Gourmet Milk Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans: We’ve already covered the dark chocolate espresso beans from Hoosier Hill Farm, but their milk chocolate variety is also worth a look.
They offer the same great quality as their dark-roasted and dark-colored cousins, but they’re lighter, sweeter, and more palatable for people who might not like coffee.
For example, if you get the jitters from big cappuccino drinks, these chocolate-covered espresso beans could be a nice alternative. If you want to create a treat dish that doesn’t exclude people who are trying to cut back on their java, this could be the solution.
Espresso snacks don’t have to be tart. If you choose something like the milk chocolate Hoosier Hill Farm Beans, you can enjoy sweetness without bitterness.
- Feature: Gourmet milk chocolate
- Units: 32 ounces (22 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Milk chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 20 pieces
- Calories: 170 calories
- Fat: 9 grams
- Sodium: None
- Carbs: 25 grams (2 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 1 gram
8. Yankee Traders Brand (Triple Shot)
Triple Shot Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans: These “triple shot” espresso beans come in three flavors: white chocolate, dark chocolate, and coffee cream.
Not only will their flavors blend together in decadent chocolatey bliss, but they’ll also look great in a jar or party favor bag. They’re small, speckled little morsels that will delight the eye as well as the palette.
There’s plenty to go around if you want to share with friends. Shipped in a resealable two-pound bag, you won’t need to replace your Yankee Traders Triple Shots in a while. Each serving is a hefty 31 pieces, so even if you have the self-control not to eat the entire bag at once, you’ll still enjoy a satisfying snack.
The caffeine content is excellent as well. This is especially true if you munch on the espresso beans covered in coffee cream. Who knew that getting a java jolt could be as easy as tossing some bite-sized snacks into the air and catching them with your mouth?
- Feature: Arabica beans, variety pack, gourmet chocolate
- Units: 36 ounces (22 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: White chocolate, dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 31 pieces
- Calories: 200 calories
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: 25 milligrams
- Carbs: 25 grams (3 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 2 grams
9. WinCrest BulkFoods (Dark Chocolate)
Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans: This tub will make a resounding thud when you put it on your kitchen counter. It tips the scale at 1.5 pounds, and it’s stuffed to the brim with fat and tasty chocolate chunks. The WinCrest BulkFoods Chocolate Espresso Beans will definitely make you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
Once you crack the seal, however, you might be surprised to find that these are light and delicious chocolate-covered coffee beans. Their crunch won’t rattle your teeth, and their caffeine won’t wallop you over the head. They’ll gently lift your energy levels until you’re ready to face the day with a renewed sense of purpose.
The WinCrest BulkFoods Chocolate Espresso Beans even come in a sugar-free variety if you’re watching your caloric intake. They’re designed to make your life easier and tastier in every way!
- Feature: Gourmet dark chocolate
- Units: 24 ounces (17 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No, but sugar-free beans are available
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 40 grams
- Calories: 200 calories
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: 35 grams
- Carbs: 22 grams (2 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 2 grams
10. It’s Delish Gourmet Chocolate Espresso Beans
Offering five pounds of pure chocolate madness, It’s Delish Gourmet Chocolate Espresso Beans will keep you caffeinated for weeks to come.
They’re made with dairy-free dark chocolate that won’t aggravate any of your allergies. They boast whole coffee beans in every bite for a full, satisfying crunch. They even come sweetened with sugar and vanilla extract to mask the bitter taste of the espresso.
You probably won’t be able to finish It’s Delish Gourmet Chocolate Espresso Beans by yourself, but the good news is that they’re easily transportable for work, school, home, and travel. You can take your favorite treats everywhere so that you’re never without a caffeine fix.
- Feature: Gourmet, kosher, dairy-free
- Units: 80 ounces
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 1.2 ounces
- Calories: 200 calories
- Fat: 12 grams
- Sodium: None
- Carbs: 25 grams (2 grams of fiber, 20 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 2 grams
11. Island Princess (Hawaiian Style)
Chocolate Covered Hawaiian Style Coffee Beans: Hawaii is known for brewing a great cup of joe, and it all starts with their coffee beans. Their shade and soil conditions are perfect for growing coffee tree seedlings; their climate is excellent for nurturing the plants to full health.
As you might expect from a coastal product, the Island Princess Hawaiian Coffee Beans take full advantage of their location. Not only do they have great raw materials, but they bring them together in a way that creates a delicious snack.
There’s an amazing harmony between chocolate and coffee bean: Neither of them overshadows the other. You’ll enjoy a creamy blast from the chocolate at the same time that you get a buzz from the caffeine of the coffee bean.
If you ask us, however, the very best thing about the Island Princess Hawaiian Coffee Beans is that they come in a 10-ounce bag. It’s the perfect size to get you through the day. It’s also small enough to hide when you don’t feel like sharing!
- Feature: Gourmet chocolate
- Units: 10 ounces (10 servings in total)
- Price: Check current price.
- Type of chocolate: Dark chocolate
- Fat-free/sugar-free? No
Nutrition Info, Per Serving
- Serving size: 1 ounce
- Calories: 133 calories
- Fat: 8 grams
- Sodium: None
- Carbs: 16 grams (1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar)
- Protein: 1 gram
The Bottom Line
Coffee and chocolate are two of the greatest pleasures known to man, so it should come as no surprise that putting them together is a stroke of genius.
Whether you’re a fan of cocoa, coffee, caffeine or all of the above, let these chocolate-covered espresso beans become your new favorite treat!
I don’t know how the wonderful beans I found compare to others, but I can’t find anywhere to but them online. TJ Maxx carries Gourmet Goodies dark chocolate espresso beans, and they “don’t rattle your teeth” with crunch that I have to spit out. They are small, great for watching your waistline, thus not a full bean, price is right, and they have a better coffee flavor than others I’ve tried. I have searched and searched, but no luck for an online purchase. TJ Maxx is 70 miles away, so I can’t look very often. Any ideas for an equivalent?
I am wanting thinner chocolate coating. Trader Joe’s has a very thick dark choc and it is overwhelming and just too sweet for me. I guess I’d like more of a balance so the bean and choc tastes are equal. Starbucks’ have less dark chocolate, I think. But, I’d like to find a pound or 2 for convenience and saving money. Do you know where Starbucks gets its dark choc espresso beans?
Wonderful review. Any thoughts on organic varieties?