Green coffee bean extract can help people lose weight, lower their blood pressure, prevent diabetes, and fend off numerous age-related conditions.
Green coffee bean supplements can also boost metabolism, enhance cognitive function, alleviate arthritis pain, and show promise as an anti-cancer treatment.
Today, there are more than 100 green coffee bean supplements on the market. Some are powerful allies in the quest for better health. Others are a waste of money.
After extensive consideration, our team of experts concluded that the following are the best green coffee bean supplements of 2020.
Rankings
1. Essential Elements Green Coffee Bean
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Essential Elements goes the extra mile to find the best Arabica coffee beans for their green coffee bean extract. They’re so confident in the quality of this supplement they offer an unconditional 365-day money-back guarantee.
What we like: Essential Elements Green Coffee Bean is 50% chlorogenic acid, which means you enjoy optimal benefits from this antioxidant-rich supplement. This is a great choice for those looking to lose weight, lower blood pressure, or lower blood sugars.
Flaws: Not as widely available as some of the competition.
2. Purely Inspired Green Coffee Bean
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Purely Inspired Green Coffee Bean provides one of the largest doses of green coffee bean extract you’ll find in any major supplement. With chlorogenic acid content at 45%, it’s all-in on the weight loss, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
What we like: Purely Inspired is formulated to optimize the weight loss potential of green coffee bean extract. They expect you to take a lot of this. Fortunately, they break those big servings up into several small, easy to swallow capsules.
Flaws: Though it claims to be ‘non-stimulant’ this is not a decaf supplement.
3. NutriGold Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract
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If you are not out to drop a lot of weight fast, there is no need to take enormous servings of green coffee bean extract. NutriGold understands this and pulls back on the serving sizes for their Svetol-based, antioxidant-rich Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract capsules.
What we like: This is a pure, potent, effective green coffee bean supplement delivered in a veggie capsule that’s easy to swallow. It’s a good choice for those interested in the long-term benefits of chlorogenic acid.
Flaws: There is nothing ‘wrong’ with Svetol. But when all is said and done, it’s no more potent than most other green coffee bean extracts.
4. Source Naturals Green Coffee Extract
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Source Naturals Green Coffee Extract is chock full of chlorogenic acids that take on oxidative stress and reduces fat production by limiting glucose absorption.
What we like: This is one of the more caffeine-intensive green coffee bean supplements. But it’s also one of the best at bolstering metabolism and enabling weight loss. Meanwhile, the chlorogenic acid protects your heart, skin, and brain.
Flaws: Not the cheapest green coffee bean supplement.
5. Nature’s Craft Green Coffee Bean Extract
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Nature’s Craft Green Coffee Bean Extract is formulated to kickstart your metabolism, short-circuit fat production, stabilize blood glucose, and bolster cardiovascular health. And that’s just for starters.
What we like: Nature’s Craft is not fooling around with their 800 mg green coffee bean capsules. They’re packed with 50% chlorogenic acid that will light a fire under your weight loss efforts while providing anti-cancer and other benefits.
Flaws: These 800 mg capsules may be a bit too much for older folks.
6. NatureWise Green Coffee Bean
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NatureWise Green Coffee Bean is another power-packed supplement designed to promote optimal weight loss. Along the way, it also happens to lower blood pressure, prevent diabetes, and protect your mind from cognitive decline.
What we like: The 50% chlorogenic acid content is right up there with the best. There are no counterproductive or artificial ingredients. And the caffeine buzz, while real, is modest compared to some other green coffee bean supplements.
Flaws: We are not fans of ‘proprietary blends’. We favor full disclosure.
7. Green Coffee Maxx with Svetol
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Green Coffee Maxx with Svetol serves up 800 mg capsules that contain 45% chlorogenic acids. If you are in search of a supplement to help burn off fat, that’s what you want to see. You also want to see that you get a full month’s supply, which you do.
What we like: Unlike some green coffee bean supplements that expect you to take four or even six pills a day, Green Coffee Maxx provides everything you need in two capsules.
Flaws: According to the marketing photo, the bottle is a foot tall. We kind of doubt that.
8. aSquared Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract
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aSquared Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract capsules are 800 mg of pure antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency. They’ll help you lose weight, fend off premature aging, protect your skin and heart, and much more.
What we like: Each veggie capsule is 50% chlorogenic acid by volume. Also, even though these are 800 mg capsules, the caffeine load is reasonably light. We also appreciate that they provide 90 days worth of capsules.
Flaws: Make sure you drink plenty of water with each capsule to enjoy optimal benefits.
9. VitaPost Green Coffee Plus
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VitaPost Green Coffee Plus is pure and potent and packs a metabolic punch. The capsules are large, but they’re not stuffed with fillers. Each one is loaded with potent antioxidant potential, free of artificial ingredients and vegan friendly.
What we like: There is a pretty noticeable caffeine kick with these, which makes them a good choice for people who want to combine weight loss and exercise. The 50% chlorogenic acid is also a plus. As is the single capsule serving.
Flaws: One of the more expensive green coffee supplements.
10. Sports Research Green Coffee Bean Extract
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The last of our best green coffee bean supplements is from Sports Research. SR has a solid reputation for quality and always stands behind the products they make with one of the best satisfaction guarantees in the business.
What we like: A lot of folks will find the 400 mg size of these capsules to be much more agreeable than some competitor’s 800 mg behemoths. The SR capsules are also low in caffeine and use fatty acid-rich coconut oil as a vehicle.
Flaws: Coconut oil won’t agree with those allergic to tree nuts.
Who Needs Green Coffee Bean Supplements?
People looking for an easy way to lose weight should consider green coffee bean supplements. Green coffee bean is one of the few natural supplements that do not require takers to make fundamental changes to their diet or lifestyle to enjoy some weight loss benefits.
People with high blood pressure should also look into taking green coffee bean supplements. As should those struggling with high blood glucose levels, including diabetics and prediabetics. The impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of green coffee bean make it an attractive supplement for older folks looking to fend off cognitive decline, heart disease, and the worst symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
How We Ranked
Ranking green coffee bean extract supplements is a pretty straightforward endeavor. The things that make this supplement click are well understood and don’t change from brand to brand. Those things include the amount of chlorogenic acid, the size of the capsule, the amount of caffeine, and what other ingredients were added that might compromise the supplement.
The amount of chlorogenic acid is important because it is the compound that provides green coffee bean supplements with their antioxidant power. Ideally, we want these supplements to be at least 45% chlorogenic acid. Any less and the supplement loses some of its ability to produce weight loss and other benefits.
Next, we considered dosage. When any type of capsule flirts with 1000 mg, it becomes unwieldy for a couple of reasons. First, because a 1000 mg capsule can be a beast to swallow, especially for older folks. And second, because in the case of green coffee bean supplements, the caffeine load in a 1000 mg capsule might be uncomfortably large for some people. So we disregarded capsules over 800 mg in size.
The amount of caffeine was also considered. Caffeine in the context of green coffee bean supplements is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it helps boost the metabolism, which is good for weight loss and energy levels. On the other hand, caffeine can produce upset stomachs and insomnia. So we included both regular and decaffeinated supplements on our list.
Finally, we looked at superfluous ingredients that might undermine the effectiveness of the supplement or create allergic or other reactions in users. And for the record, we gave little extra weight to proprietary labels, including ‘Svetol’, which is little more than a marketing gimmick.
Benefits
Green coffee bean can help you lose weight. The weight loss reputation of green coffee bean extract rests almost entirely on two things: the fact that chlorogenic acid can reduce carbohydrate absorption, and the fact that the caffeine in green coffee bean extract can increase your metabolic rate. The most important thing to remember when using green coffee bean for weight loss is to be patient.
Green coffee bean is anti-inflammatory. Inflammation is at the heart of numerous health problems, including heart disease and cancer. Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (1) and irritable bowel syndrome (2) have a severe impact on a person’s quality of life. Green coffee bean extract is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that provide both short and long-term health benefits.
Green coffee bean is a potent antioxidant. The benefits of antioxidants can’t be overstated, as we will see repeatedly below. Antioxidants are the only defense we have against the scourge of free radicals and play a key role in overall health. Since roasting tends to magnify the antioxidant properties of green coffee beans, the raw extract is not quite as antioxidant-rich as a cup of coffee. But it’s pretty close.
Green coffee bean is good for your skin. Because of its potent antioxidant properties, green coffee bean has the perhaps unexpected benefit of being good for your skin. Oxidative stress is a major contributor to skin degradation (3). It undermines skin integrity, causes it to become leathery and saggy, promotes wrinkles, and lays the groundwork for psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions. Green coffee bean can help prevent that.
Green coffee bean can reduce the risk of some illnesses. As it turns out, the chlorogenic acid in green coffee bean is a potent preventive agent, reducing the odds of a person developing diabetes, heart disease, and myriad other illnesses and conditions. In spite of the name, chlorogenic acid does not contain chlorine. Instead, the name derives from the fact that this type of acid turns green when oxidized.
Green coffee bean is good for your heart. Green coffee bean extract is both an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. Both are known to benefit your heart. The antioxidant mechanism prevents oxidative stress that leads to inflammation and heart disease. And the anti-inflammatory mechanism limits the damage caused by any inflammation that does occur. So your heart enjoys double coverage.
Green coffee bean may be helpful in lowering blood sugar. Inflammation is the driving force behind many acute and chronic conditions, including diabetes. Recent studies suggest that green coffee bean extract may improve insulin sensitivity (4), which would result in more stable blood glucose levels. This could help diabetics control their condition, and perhaps help prevent some people from developing diabetes.
Green coffee bean extract is the enemy of free radicals. Any time you hear or read something about oxidative stress, it’s really about free radicals (5). Free radicals are what cause oxidative stress. They are unstable atoms that course through our system (we all have them), undermining, and killing otherwise healthy cells. The only antidote to free radicals is the antioxidant. Green coffee bean is an excellent source of antioxidants.
Green coffee bean boosts your metabolism. There is no secret behind this benefit. Studies are clear that caffeine is one of the most effective ways available to boost your metabolic rate (6). While green coffee bean supplements do not typically contain as much caffeine as you will find in regular coffee, there is enough to elevate your metabolism.
Green coffee bean may have anti-cancer properties. That seems like quite a statement, and it is. But it is based on sound scientific evidence (7). That scientific evidence strongly suggests that the chlorogenic acid in green coffee bean has the ability to communicate with cancer cells. When it does, it prompts them to differentiate, rather than simply multiply. The effect is to slow the spread of the disease, in some cases, significantly.
Green coffee bean may help reduce the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Arthritis is perhaps the most common inflammatory condition known to man. According to the CDC, nearly 1/4 of all Americans have some form of arthritis (8). Inflammation is the source of most pain and stiffness related to osteoarthritis. And it is at the heart of rheumatoid arthritis. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, green coffee bean can help.
Green coffee bean may help with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by plaque buildup in the brain and a slow, inexorable cognitive decline. As of this writing, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. But green coffee bean extract may be able to reduce, or even prevent, some symptoms of the disease. This benefit seems to stem from the chlorogenic acid present in green coffee bean extract (9).
Green coffee bean may help lower blood pressure. This is one of the most commonly claimed benefits of green coffee bean. It also happens to be one of the claims that is most widely supported by clinical evidence (10). Numerous studies have looked into the blood pressure-lowering abilities of green coffee bean. They’ve concluded that it can lower blood pressure and produce virtually no adverse effects while doing so.
Green coffee bean has numerous cognitive benefits. Caffeine is the most popular stimulant in the world. Nothing else is even close. That said, caffeine is not everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak. But there is no denying that it possesses the ability to enhance alertness, and improve focus. Caffeine also has the ability to put wind in our sails. That is, motivate us to push on with things when we might otherwise run out of steam.
Green coffee bean can enhance your workouts. Green coffee bean extract will not only raise the antennae on your brain, but it will also help you power through to new personal bests in your workouts. People who spend lots of time in the gym have long understood the value of caffeine. Many opt for a robust cup of coffee prior to their workout. But if you don’t have time for that (or you don’t like the taste of coffee), try green coffee bean extract instead.
Green coffee bean can provide anti-aging benefits. Aging is inevitable. But a lot of the effects of aging you see in the mirror, or on other people, are not. Oxidative stress attacks the body in numerous ways, undermining your heart and skin, and accelerating cognitive decline, among other things. Because it has potent antioxidant properties, green coffee bean extract fights oxidative stress and minimizes the effects of aging.
Green coffee bean may help you feel better on a daily basis. As we age, everyday aches and pains become part of life. One day it’s your knee, the next day it’s your back, the next day you just feel achy all over, and so on. A lot of these everyday aches and pains are the result of inflammation. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, green coffee bean may make it a little easier to get out of bed in the morning.
Green coffee bean may help reduce symptoms of depression. As we mentioned, green coffee bean has anti-inflammatory properties. That’s important because inflammation is not only one of the culprits behind arthritis and heart disease, it also affects brain function and mood (11). So, while green coffee bean is not likely to cure depression, it may help alleviate some of the symptoms and improve quality of life for depressed individuals.
Green coffee bean is safe. Green coffee bean extract is considered safe for most people. Any side effects that do occur are typically related to the caffeine content of the extract. So, those would be the same as some people experience after consuming coffee: nervousness, upset stomach and so on. Keep in mind that some green coffee bean supplements are decaffeinated. In which case, these side effects would not come into play.
Green coffee bean is affordable and widely available. Finally, you don’t have to search high and low to find green coffee bean extract supplements. They are available in supermarkets, health food stores, pharmacies (without a prescription), and countless online retail outlets.
FAQs
Q: What is green coffee bean extract?
A: Green coffee bean extract is comprised of the bioactive compounds found in raw, unroasted coffee beans. Green coffee bean extract (often referred to simply as ‘green coffee bean’), is a potent antioxidant and has robust anti-inflammatory capabilities. Many of its benefits are produced by a substance in the extract known as chlorogenic acid (12). The extract may take powder or liquid form, with the gelcap being the preferred delivery method.
Q: How are green coffee beans different from brown coffee beans?
A: The difference between green coffee beans and brown ones is that the brown ones have been roasted. You cannot make coffee from raw, unroasted green coffee beans, but it is possible to extract their essence and use that as a dietary supplement.
Q: What is ‘chlorogenic acid’?
A: Chlorogenic acids are the compound in raw, green coffee bean that provides much of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Chlorogenic acid is also responsible for stabilizing blood glucose levels. The raw, green coffee beans are rich in chlorogenic acid. Once roasted, however, the amount of chlorogenic acid in the beans is greatly diminished, and many of the benefits are lost.
Q: Can green coffee bean extract produce weight loss?
A: Yes, green coffee bean extract can produce weight loss, though exactly how much will depend on a number of factors. Those factors include how much excess weight a person is carrying, what and how much they eat while taking green coffee bean extract supplements, and whether they take the supplements regularly or intermittently.
Q: How does green coffee bean extract generate weight loss?
A: It is the chlorogenic acids in green coffee bean that provide the weight loss benefit. There are a couple of ways they do this. The first is by reducing glucose intake, thereby reducing fat cell production. The second is by stimulating thermogenesis (13). Thermogenesis is the term used to describe the heat generated by metabolic activity. The more heat a body generates, the more calories it burns off to produce that heat energy.
Q: How fast will I lose weight with green coffee beans?
A: How quickly a person loses weight will depend on a number of factors. Some are within the person’s control. Some are beyond their control. The things they can control are how much of what types of food they eat while taking green coffee bean supplements, and whether or not they exercise. Those beyond their control are things such as genetics (14) and the person’s natural metabolic rate.
Q: Does green coffee bean contain caffeine?
A: Most green coffee bean supplements do contain caffeine. But not all. There are an increasing number of decaffeinated green coffee bean supplements on the market today designed to accommodate those who are sensitive to caffeine’s side effects. But it should be noted that even among the supplements that contain caffeine, the dose is only about 1/4 to 1/2 what you would experience drinking a regular cup of coffee.
Q: When should I take green coffee bean supplements?
A: When you take them depends on what benefit you are hoping to achieve from them. If you are primarily concerned with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, you can take green coffee bean capsules at any time of the day. (Just be aware that most contain caffeine. So don’t take them too close to bedtime.) If you are taking them to help with weight loss, you should take them about half an hour before eating.
Q: Are there any side effects to green coffee bean?
A: For the vast majority of people, green coffee bean extract does not produce adverse side effects. Most green coffee bean supplements, however, contain caffeine. As such, individuals who are sensitive to caffeine may experience caffeine-related side effects (15) such as insomnia, nervousness, upset stomach, or increased heart rate. To avoid that, all they need do is choose one of the many decaffeinated green coffee bean supplements on the market today.
Q: Can’t I enjoy the benefits of green coffee beans by just drinking coffee?
A: You may be able to enjoy some of the benefits of green coffee bean extract by drinking coffee. But not all of them. That’s because beans used to make coffee are roasted. And that roasting process undermines the effectiveness of the chlorogenic acid in green coffee beans. You may well enjoy some caffeine-related benefits, such as increased metabolism. But many of the chlorogenic acid-related benefits will be compromised or lost.
Q: How is green coffee bean extract made?
A: Green coffee bean extract is made by soaking the green coffee beans in water for an extended period of time. As they soak, the caffeine and other compounds in the bean are released into the water. The beans are then removed, and the water allowed to evaporate. Once it does, what is left is the extract of the green coffee bean. That is then put into a capsule and sold as a supplement.
Q: Can green coffee bean help control diabetes?
A: There is a growing body of evidence that green coffee bean extract can lower blood glucose levels (16). The evidence strongly suggests that the chlorogenic acid in both green coffee bean extract and regular coffee is the agent that lowers blood sugar levels. The exact mechanism by which it accomplishes this feat is not yet understood. But study results suggest a potential role for green coffee bean in diabetic treatments going forward.
Q: Does green coffee bean extract lower cholesterol?
A: Yes, there is compelling evidence that green coffee bean extract can have a favorable effect on blood lipids, including triglycerides and cholesterol. Studies conducted in various countries have come to the same conclusion: that green coffee bean extract can lower LDL cholesterol levels to a significant degree (17)(18). If you suffer from high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about whether green coffee bean extract is right for you.
Q: Why do decaf green coffee bean supplements cost more?
A: Decaf green coffee bean supplements cost more because removing the caffeine requires extra steps that cost manufacturers money. Any time a producer needs to add additional steps to a process the time, energy, and manpower involved needs to be accounted for. The cost of those things is then added to the cost of the product. Green coffee bean extract is no different than any other product in that regard.
Q: Do I have to change my diet to lose weight with green coffee beans?
A: The consensus is that green coffee bean extract can help a person lose weight regardless of whether they change their diet or not. However, if a person sticks to a diet high in carbs, sweets, and fatty foods, the amount of weight they lose is bound to be minimal. If you want to optimize the weight loss potential of green coffee bean, it would behoove you to eat more fresh vegetables and fruit, drink lots of water and avoid junk food.
Q: Can green coffee bean damage your kidneys?
A: There is no evidence to support the notion, yet concerns continue to circulate that chlorogenic acid may damage the kidneys or liver. How such things get started is something of a mystery. But again, there have been numerous human studies involving chlorogenic acid, and no adverse effects on kidneys or liver have been reported. In fact, quite the opposite (19).
Q: Does green coffee bean extract interfere with medications?
A: Green coffee bean extract is safe and effective and is not known to produce adverse reactions with any medications. Although stories abound that it may interfere with blood pressure medication, there is simply no clinical evidence to support that notion. That said, if you are currently taking prescription medications for any reason and have doubts or concerns, be sure to discuss them with your doctor.
Q: Can I take green coffee bean supplements if I don’t have to lose weight?
A: Of course. While many people use green coffee bean supplements to help them shed pounds, lots of other people take them for their numerous other benefits. So even if you do not have any compelling need to lose weight, green coffee bean extract can still help you live a healthier life.
Q: How can caffeine be good for my heart?
A: People sometimes think that because green coffee bean contains caffeine that it can’t possibly be good for your heart. First of all, some green coffee bean supplements are decaffeinated. So you have a choice in that regard. But more importantly, green coffee bean extract has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and these are the things that provide cardiovascular benefits (20), not the caffeine.
Q: Is there a prescription version of green coffee bean extract?
A: No, there is no prescription version of green coffee bean. If you are interested in a green coffee bean supplement that contains the highest amounts of chlorogenic acids or caffeine (or both), you just need to spend a bit of time reading labels.
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Green coffee bean extract is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capable of producing an array of benefits for your heart, mind, skin, and more.
Many people today use green coffee bean supplements to lose weight and because green coffee bean can regulate blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
The green coffee bean supplements profiled above are the best on the market. Use this guide to help you determine which one is right for you.
For cpoe.org’s #1 recommended green coffee bean supplement, click here.